Biological nutrient removal in suspended growth system

A series of experiments on biological nutrient removal using suspended growth bioreactor with a various reactor configuration have been conducted during the last five years. The first configuration applied a contact stabilization flowed by a denitrification processes in two sludge system. The two sludge systems mean that the aerobic sludge is recirculated in the aerobic circuit, and the anaerobic sludge is recirculated in the anaerobic circuit. The second configuration was conducted in a contact stabilization and denitrification processes in a one sludge system. The one sludge system meant that there are no separation between aerobic and anaerobic sludge; the aerobic and anaerobic processes are in the same circuit and all sludge are recirculated in the same circuit. The third configuration was performed in anaerobic-aerobic-anaerobic reactors and ended by the clarifier to clarify the biosludge before recirculated to the head of the circuit. This configuration was also using a one sludge system. In those three configurations, the hydraulic detention time in the reactors were varied from 2 to 6 hours, and the sludge age from 2 to 15 days. The results showed that the first configuration gave a very high performance in carbon and nitrogen removal. In terms of TOC [total oxygen concentration], the carbon removal achieved up to 92 percent or in terms of total COD [carbon oxygen demand] up to 80 percent, and 97 percent for total nitrogen removal. On the other hand, the phosphorus removal was only limited to the amount required for cells metabolism. More carbon removal were observed in the second configuration (94 percent of total COD) but less total nitrogen were removed (93), however, phosphorus were removed significantly (up to five times of the cells metabolism requirement). The best results in those three nutrients removal was achieved in the third configuration. No less than 95 percent of total COD and 96 percent of nitrogen removal were noticed, and phosphorus were removed at the level of more than six times of the cells metabolism requirement. The experiments concluded that the phosphorus removal was conducted by the aerobic microorganisms which are alternately treated in aerobic-anaerobic conditions. The degree of removal depended on how long the microorganisms were put in the aerobic and anerobic conditions. If the anaerobic condition was too long, the microorganisms would die, and no phosphorus removal took place. If it was too short, the removal would be less. For carbon and nitrogen removals in the system, the hydraulic detention time in the reactors and sludge appeared as the essential parameters in the process