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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
09:05
Supercritical Nitrogen Processing for the Purification of Reactive Porous Materials
Published on: May 15, 2015
Optimal process pattern for simultaneous sulfur, nitrogen and carbon removal
Chuan Chen1, Aijie Wang, Nanqi Ren
1State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
Summary
The denitrifying sulfide removal (DSR) process is challenging for nitrogen and sulfur removal. An expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor showed better performance than an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor at higher loading rates.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Denitrifying sulfide removal (DSR) involves complex microbial interactions.
- Achieving high nitrogen and sulfur removal rates in DSR processes is practically difficult.
- Wastewater treatment requires efficient methods for removing sulfide, nitrate, and organic matter.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the DSR performance of an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor and an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor.
- To evaluate the efficiency of both reactor types in removing sulfide, nitrate, and acetate from wastewater.
- To identify factors influencing the performance of DSR reactors under varying operational conditions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors for DSR.
- Fed both reactors with synthetic wastewater containing sulfide, nitrate, and acetate.
- Monitored and compared key performance indicators including removal rates and loading capacities.
Main Results:
- The EGSB reactor sustained higher loading rates compared to the UASB reactor.
- The UASB reactor exhibited a lower elemental sulfur production rate during operation.
- Both reactors demonstrated the capacity for combined nitrogen and sulfur removal, with varying efficiencies.
Conclusions:
- EGSB reactors are potentially more suitable for high-rate DSR applications.
- Operational differences, such as elemental sulfur production, impact reactor performance.
- Further optimization is needed to enhance nitrogen and sulfur removal efficiency in DSR systems.
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