[Effect of nitrite accumulation on enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in A2O process treating domestic...

At normal temperature, short-cut nitrification and denitrification was achieved in a lab-scale A2O process treating low C/N ratio domestic wastewater by controlling DO concentration of 0.3-0.5 mg/L and increasing the internal reflux ratio to decrease the actual aerobic HRT. However, the phosphorus removal in A2O process was deteriorated with the increasing of the nitrite concentration in the effluent. The factors causing phosphorus removal deterioration, such as the influent COD concentrations, temperature, pH and free nitrous acid (FNA) were systematically analyzed. Experimental results showed that the nitrite accumulation resulting from short-cut nitrification affected anaerobic P release and aerobic P uptake. Especially, the higher FNA concentration (HNO2-N 0.002-0.003 mg/L) in the aerobic zone significantly inhibited the aerobic P uptake, which was the major reason causing P removal deterioration. Through adding the carbon sources in influent to enhance anaerobic P release and denitrification, the nitrite and FNA concentrations in the aerobic zone were decreased, and the P removal was recovered. More than 96% of PO4(3-) -P could be removed in A2O process.