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A kinetic study on the nitrification process in the upflow submerged biofilter reactor
Ayben Polat Bulut1, Şükrü Aslan2
1Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey.
Environmental Technology
|June 26, 2021
Summary
This study optimized ammonium removal using biological nitrification in upflow biofilm reactors. Optimal conditions achieved 96% removal efficiency, with the modified Stover-Kincannon model accurately predicting performance.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Wastewater Treatment
Background:
- Ammonium is a major pollutant in wastewater, necessitating effective removal strategies.
- Biological nitrification is a key process for ammonium removal in wastewater treatment.
- Upflow biofilm reactors offer an efficient method for biological nitrification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and nitrogen loading rate (NLR) on ammonium removal efficiency.
- To determine the optimal HRT and NLR for biological nitrification in upflow biofilm reactors.
- To evaluate and compare different kinetic models for substrate consumption during nitrification.
Main Methods:
- Utilized upflow biofilm reactors for biological nitrification of wastewater.
- Varied HRT and NLR to assess their impact on ammonium removal efficiency.
- Applied Monod, first-order, modified Stover-Kincannon, and Grau second-order kinetic models to study substrate consumption.
Main Results:
- Optimal HRT and NLR were determined to be 80 hours and 0.044 kg/m³·day, respectively.
- Ammonium removal efficiency increased from 53% to 96% with optimized HRT and NLR.
- The modified Stover-Kincannon model demonstrated the best fit for substrate consumption kinetics, with a regression coefficient of 0.997.
Conclusions:
- Optimized HRT and NLR significantly enhance ammonium removal efficiency in upflow biofilm reactors.
- The modified Stover-Kincannon model provides accurate predictions for ammonium removal kinetics in this system.
- This study offers valuable insights for designing and operating efficient biological nitrification systems for wastewater treatment.
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