BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN REMOVAL

Chapters 3, 4 & 5 - EPA Manual

p. 218 - 255 - Benefield & Randall
p. 699 - 733 - Metcalfe & Eddy


Three-Stage Biological Removal

- nitrification and denitrification
- to mazimize rates, US practice has been to utilize three reactors in series,
each with its own clarifier to recycle the optimum biomass.

Stage 1 - carbonaceous BOD removal
- short SRT (2 - 4 d.) to prevent significant nitrification from
occurring
- short nominal HRT (1 - 2 hrs.)

Stage 2 - nitrification
- required SRT will be 4 to 15 days, depending upon temperature
- still fairly short HRT (3 - 5 hrs.)
- (see comparison table for single sludge system) p. 4 - 14, EPA
Manual

Stage 3 - denitrification
- SRT of 2 - 10 days (if methanol used)
- HRT of 1 - 2 hrs. (if methanol used)
- if a portion of raw sewage bypassed to stage 3 for use as
carbon source, HRT must increase markedly, especially in cold
climates (5 hrs?)




aerobic
nitrification
stage
RAS
aerobic
SC
carbonaceous
stage
RAS
SC
anoxic
RAS
SC
Methanol
denitrification
stage
FIG. 1 THREE STAGE NITROGEN REMOVAL
simple carbon
stirred tank

SINGLE SLUDGE NITROGEN REMOVAL

a) Post-denitrification

x x x x x
x x x x
x
x x
Q
Q
Q
RS
Aeration Anoxic Removal

- either add methanol, or bypass part of influent, or provide long anoxic
HRT
- relative mixing regimes in aerobic and anaerobic respiration?
- A/V in denitrification zone?
- DO level in aerobic?
- problems in clarifier?


b) Pre-denitrification

x x x x
Q Q
x x
x x
x x x x
QR
Q
RS

c) Pre and Post-denitrification
x
x x x x
x
x x
Q Q
Q
RS
x x
x x
x x x x
QR


QUESTIONS:

1) What differences in design total SRT would you anticipate between
alternatives a, b, and c?
2) What differences in clarifier performance might one expect between
alternatives a, b, and c?
3) For a given nominal HRT in the bioreator, what would determine max.
practical QR? (in terms on N-removal).
4) What would you anticipate to be the relative design sizes of the 2 anoxic
(anaerobic respiration) zones in alternative c?
5) For an "average" North American Sewage (BOD = 200 mg/L, tot. N = 40 mg/L),
what aerobic SRT (and total SRT) would be advisable at a mixed liquor
temperature of 10
o
C?

TABLE 4-2

CALCULATED DESIGN PARAMETERS FOR A 1 MGD
COMPLETE MIX ACTIVATED SLUDGE PLANT


Minimum
temp. for
nitrification, C




Maximum
possible
nitrifier
growth rate
N, day-1

Assumed
allowable
MLSS/MLVSS
mg/l

Safety
Factor,
SF

Design
solids
retention
time, days

d
c

Steady state
effluent
NH
4
+
-N,
mg/L

Organic
removal
rate
lb BODrem/
lb MLVSS-day

Hydraulic
retention
time,
a

hours

BOD
5

loading
(volumetric)
lb/1000/cf/day
b



10


0.175



2.0
2.5
3.0

11.5
14.3
17.2


0.23
0.15
0.11


0.21
0.19
0.17

11.0
12.8
14.0

20.5
17.5
15.8

15



0.285
2.0
2.5
3.0
7.0
8.8
10.5
0.40
0.27
0.20
0.29
0.25
0.22
6.4
7.5
8.5
34.9
29.9
26.5

20



0.465
2.0
2.5
3.0
4.3
5.4
6.4
0.73
0.49
0.36
0.44
0.36
0.32
4.4
5.2
6.0
51.5
43.0
37.3
1,500
2,000
1,875
2,500
2,250
3,000

a
At ADWF

x
x x x x
x
x x
Q Q
Q
RS
x x
x x
x x x x
QR
b
62.4 lb/1000 cf/day = kg/m
3
/day




ZONE

PRIMARY
EFFLUEN
T


RAS


PRE-ANOXIC


ANAEROBIC


RECYCLE


ANOXIC

AEROBIC

CLARIFIER

2 3 4 SLUDGE EFFLUENT
D.O.
ORP.
BOD
TSS
TKN
NH3
Q
NO
X

Air Flow
T-P
Ortgho P


BIOCHEMISTRY OF NITROGEN REMOVAL

A. Nitrification

2NH
4
+
+ 3O
2
2 NO
2
-
+ 4H
+
+ 2H
2
O



2NO
2
+
+ O
2
2 NO
3
-

Nitrosomonas
(Autotroph)



NH
4
+
+ 2O
2
1 NO
3
-
+ 2H
+
+ H
2
O
Nitrobacter
(Autotroph)


QUESTION: What happens to pH?

Let's say we have a wastewater with:

TKN = 35 mg/L as N
alkalinity = 250 mg/L as CaCO
3

moles/L TKN = 35 x 10
-3
g/L = 2.5 x 10
-3
14 g/gmm

equiv./L alkalinity = 250 x 10
-3
= 5 x 10
-3
100 g/g - eq.
2

If all alkalinity is present as HCO
3
-
(which will be essentially true at normal
pH of raw sewage [pH < 7.5]), then equiv./L = moles/L.


[HCO
3
-
] = 5 X 10
-3
m/L

From eq. , one mole NH
4
+
produces 2 moles H
+


H+ released during nitrification = 5 x 10
-3
m/L

If there was alkalinity present, what would pH drop to?

pH = log 1 = log 1
[H
+
] 5 x 10
-3


= 2.3 (pretty low!!)

With alkalinity of 5 x 10
-3
m/L of HCO
-3
, H+ will be used up to convert
HCO
-3
to H
2
CO
3
and CO
2
.



H
2
CO
3
= H
+
+ HCO
-3
K = 4.2 x 10
-7


(H+) (HCO
-3
) = 4.2 x 10-7
(H
2
CO
3
)

At sewage pH of, say, 7.0

(H
2
CO
3
) = (10
-7
) (5 x 10
-3
)
(4.2 x 10
-7
)

= 1.2 x 10
-3



After all this H
+
is added due to nitrification, the approximate
situation will be:

new (H
2
CO
3
) = 1.2 x 10
-3
+ 5 x 10
-3
= 7.2 x 10
-3
m/L

new (HCO
3
-1
) = 5 x 10
-3
- 5 x 10
-3
= 0

(in fact, it will not go to zero, because some H
+
will also react with OH
-
to
form H
2
O).

Without doing a more complex calculation, lets say new (HCO
-3
) = 10
-5
m/L.


new (H
+
) = (4.2 x 10
-7
) (7.2 x 10
-3
)
(10
-5
)

= 3 x 10
-4
m/L

or pH = 3.5 (still pretty low)

B. Denitrification

Empirical total effect of conversion to:

1. ammonia for cell synthesis
2. nitrogen gas during use as an elector acceptor in place of oxygen

NO
-3
+ 1.08 CH
3
OH + H
+
.065 C
5
H
2
O
2
N

+ .47 N
2
+ .76 CO
2
+ 2.44 H
2
O

(assuming methanol as carbon source)



o one mole NO
-
3
uses up one mole H
+

loss of alkalinity if use denitrification after nitrification is
only about 50% of what it would be under nitrification

MANUAL DESIGN EXAMPLE

Skavinge, Denmark

des. population = 10,000
Q avg. = 4830 m
3
/d
Qpk DWF = 9450 m
3
/d
Qpk WWF = 1040 m
3
/hr
BOD
5
(DWF) = 140 mg/L
Tot.N (DWF) = 30 mg/L
Tot.P (DWF) = 12 mg/L
SS (DWF) = 95 mg/L
alkalinity = 180 mg/L as CaCO
3


B

ecause of low BOD/N, don't remove primary solids.

BOD
5
to bioreactor ~ 140 mg/L

Assumptions and design decisions:

1. MLVSS = 0.7 MLSS = 1800 mg/L
2. Winter mixed liquor T = 6
o
C
3. Design for complete nitrification and denitrification
4. Nitrified recycle = 4 Q avg.
5. RAS = 0.75 Q avg.

Design effluent quality:

1. Complete nitrification
2. Total N < 6 mg/L


a) Check adequacy of alkalinity when denitrification not occurring
avg. NH
4
+
conversion = 30 - 1.5 = 28.5 mg/L as N


alkalinity consumed = 7.1 mg CaCO
3
/mg N ox.

or, 7.1 (28.5) = 202 mg/L alkalinity as CaCO
3
plus, better allow for
peaking loads




standby alkalinity feed = (202 - 180) + 50 = 72 mg/L as CaCO
3

b

) When denitrification is occurring - say 5 mg/L NO
3
-N not denitrified

denitrification = 30 - 1.5 - 5 = 23.5 mg/L










alkalinity recovered = 23.5 (.5) (202)
28.5

= 83 mg/L

Since have pre-denitrification, alkalinity increases before it decreases






residual alkalinity = 180 + 83 - 202
= 61 mg/L as CaCO
3

This might be adequate, but will have to have pH monitor in aerobic
zone.

c) Process schematic
Q
Qr
aerobic
anoxic
RAS = 0.75 Q

d) Nitrifier growth rate

assume non-limiting DO & pH conditions (Kn < N)
Kn = half-saturation coef. for Nitrosomonas (~ 1.0 for sewage)

N = ammonia N concentration




NITROGEN & ORGANIC CARBON REMOVAL IN A SINGLE SLUDGE SYSTEM

In this type of system we will generally get a mixed culture of organisms that
includes:

1. heterotrophs that require oxygen
2. denitrifying heterotrophs
3. nitrifying autotrophs

The kinetics of growth and decay of these groups have been found by various
investigators to be dis-similar, and changing environmental conditions affect each
group differently. This makes the design of a bioreactor-clarifier system fairly
complicated, since trial and error solutions are required to satisfy the
requirements for carbonaceous assimilation, nitrification, and denitrification.

In designing such a plant for a community in the Okanagan Valley, for instance, it
will be important to check both summer and winter designs, because:

1. summer loads for BOD and TKN are generally higher than winter
2. winter kinetic rates are lower than summer, especially for denitrification

Let's look at an example:

FREDERIKSWAERK, DENMARK

Design ADWF - 12,700 m
3
/d
Design PDWF - 810 m
3
/hr
Design PWWF - 1900 m3/hr

win er t sum er m
BOD
5
128 mg/L 170 mg/L
TKN 28 mg/L 36 mg/L
Tot.P 8.7 mg/L 11.4 mg/L

anticipated mixed liquor temperatures:

coldest month - 5
o
C
warmest month - 20
o
C

Initial design assumptions:

1. primary clarifier removes 25% of BOD
2. MLVSS = 0.7 MLSS (high SRT)
3. Nitrified recycle = 4 times Q
in

4. Return activated sludge = 0.75 times Q
in


A. Nitrification (winter)

N

itrogen assimilated ~ 3% of BOD5 utilized





N
ass.
= (128 (.75) - 5) .03 = 2.7 mg/L

eff. BOD

Organic nitrogen that will not be oxidized ~ 1 mg/L
(average for domestic sewage)
QPE
QRS/QPE = 0.75
aerobic anoxic
QIR/QPE = 4.0
AN AR
Q eff.

N oxidized by autotrophs = 28 - 2.7 - 1 = 24.3 mg/L
f

raction of nitrifiers in active mass:
f
n
= 0.15 Nox.
0.15 Nox. + aSr

a = cell yield for heterotrophs
= 0.6 mg MLVSS/mg BOD
5
removed

Sr = mg/L BOD5 removed in bioreactor

f
n
= 0.15 (24.3)
0.15 (24.3) + 0.6 (128) (.75)

= .06 g nitrifiers/g MLVSS

nitrification rate


20
at a DO
concentration
of 2 mg/L

k
n
= 1.04 mg NH
3
-N/mg. nitrifiers - d.

T 20 T-20
k
n
= k
n
(1.05)


T T-20
R
n
= f
n
X
v
(1.04) (1.05) (DO) mg/L-d

2

Lets try X
v
= 3000 mg/L and DO = 2.5 mg/L

N to be oxidized by autotrophs = 28 - 2.7 - 1
= 24.3 mg/L

fraction of nitrifiers in "active" solids

fn = 0.15 Nox.
0.15 Nox. + aSr

where a = Y = cell yield for heterotrophs
= 0.6 mg/ MLVSS/mg BOD
5
removed

Sr = BOD
5
removed
= 128 (.75) = 96 mg/L

f
n
= fn = .15 (24.3) = .06
.15 (24.3) + 0.6 (96)

aerobic SRT


m = maximum specific growth rate @ bioreactor conditions

.098 (T-15)
= [0.8 e ] [ DO ]
Ko
2
+ DO
(Table 11 - 15, Metcalfe & Eddy)

where KO
2
= half velocity constant for DO 1.3 (Table 11 - 15, Metcalfe & Eddy)

let's use a design DO of 2 mg/L






-1
= 0.23 d (growth rate of nitrifiers)


k = rate of NH
3
-N removal = m
Y
where Y = 0.15 for nitrifiers







.098 (5-15)
f m = 0.8 e [ ] [ 2 ]
1.3 + 2

-1
k = 0.23 = 1.52 d
0.15

Now can calculate minimum SRT using equation 8 - 54 (Metcalfe & Eddy)


1 = Y k - k
d

c

m


where k
d
= endogenous decay rate .05

1 = .15 (1.52) - .05 = 0.18

c

m

c

m
= 5.6 d. (1.75) = 9.8 days

to determine design
c
, apply an appropriate safety factor (1.5 < s.f. < 2.5)
depending on importance of maintaining nitrifier population at all times

I generally use 1.75 or 2.

d
= 5.6

c


Aerobic HRT

The design substrate utilization rate for NH
3
-N can be calculated from:

1 = Y U - k
d
(U = design utilization rate)

c
(eq'n. 8 - 46, Metcalfe & Eddy)

1 = .15 U - .05
9.8

U = .152 = 1.01 d
-1

.15

HRT = N
o
-N (Assuming zero order reaction)
UX
nitrification


If make design decision for MLSS = 3500
then X
nitrification
= 3500 (.75) (.06) = 160 mg/L

HRT = 24.3 - 1 = 0.15 d = 3.6 hr.

1.01 (160)
Anoxic HRT


rate of denitrification at 20
o


= .05 mg NO
3
-N/mg VSS - d (endogenous respiration)

= .15 mg NO
3
-N/mg VSS - d (raw sewage)

= .5 mg NO
3
-N/mg VSS - d (Short Chain Carbon Compounds)

our rate at 5
o


= k
20
(1.09)
5-20

den

= 0.1 (1.09)
-15
= .027

- NO
3
-N at end of aerobic zone (mass balance)

= 24.3 (Q) = 4.2 mg/L
5.75 Q

- NO
3
-N entering anoxic zone = 4.2 (4.75)
(5.75)

= 3.5 mg/L

HRT
den
= 3.5 = .053 d
.027 (3500)(.75)(.94)

Nominal HRT
den
= .053 (24) (5.75) = 7.3 hr.

What would bioreactor look like?

Design depth for fine bubble aeration = 4.5 m

for total HRT = 7.3 + 3.6 = 10.9 hr.,

need bioreactor A = 13,000 m
2
/d (10.9)
4.5 m 24

= 1320 m
2







Generally use a minimum of 2 bioreactors (660 m
2
each)


15 m
15 m
aerobic
44 m
O recycle
to Secondary clarifier
anoxic
anoxic
aerobic
O recycle
10 m
5 m
PE
to Secondary clarifier

BNitR BIOREACTOR DESIGN SPREADSHEET
WITH NO FERMENTER OR ANAEROBIC ZONE
WITH SEPARATE ANOXIC FOR RAS DENITRIFICATION

Q (avg) ML/d 12.7
BOD5 mg/L 128 Tot. MLSS yield kg/d 982.3
TKN to be oxid. mg/L 24.7
TKN mg/L 28 u(t) 0.3
Tot P mg/L 8.7 Aer. SRT (nitr.) 6.8
TSS vol. fraction 0.75 Tot. SRT 23.7
Temp. deg. C 5 Bioreactor Volume (cu.m.) 6649.7
Bioreactor HRT hr 12.6
Nitrifier fraction 0.063
Tot. solids yield kg/kg BOD 0.85
fr. MLVSS that are viable organisms 1 NO3-N ent. 2nd ax mg/ 3.0
2nd ax. AHRT hr 1.4
k(den) -1st ax. g NO3-N/g mlss-d 0.027 2nd ax. NHRT hr 7.8
k(den) -2nd ax. g NO3-N/g mlss-d 0.02 2nd ax. Volume cu.m. 4153.1
u(nit) (20 deg C) 0.8 NO3-N ent. 1st ax mg/ 1.8
safety factor - nitr. SRT 1.75 1st ax. AHRT hr 0.6
1st ax. NHRT hr 1.1
PC efficiency - BOD 0.25 1st ax. Volume cu.m. 576.8
PC efficiency - TSS 0.6
min. aer. vol. cu.m. 3657.3
N synthesized g N/g BOD rem. 0.03 des. aer. vol. cu.m. 1919.7


MLSS(max) mg/L 3500

eff. organic N mg/L 1
bioreactor SWD m 4.5
a recycle multiplier 4

eff. BOD mg/L 5
min. aerobic mass fraction 0.55
RAS multiplier 0.75
nitrifier yield gVSS/gNH3-N 0.15
heterotroph yield gVSS/BOD 0.6


BNitR BIOREACTOR DESIGN SPREADSHEET
WITH NO FERMENTER OR ANAEROBIC ZONE
WITH SEPARATE ANOXIC FOR RAS DENITRIFICATION

Q (avg) ML/d 12.7
BOD5 mg/L 128 Tot. MLSS yield kg/d 982.3
TKN to be oxid. mg/L 24.7
TKN mg/L 28 u(t) 0.3
Tot P mg/L 8.7 Aer. SRT (nitr.) 6.8
TSS vol. fraction 0.75 Tot. SRT 23.7
Temp. deg. C 5 Bioreactor Volume (cu.m.) 5172.0
Bioreactor HRT hr 9.8
Nitrifier fraction 0.063
Tot. solids yield kg/kg BOD 0.85
fr. MLVSS that are viable organisms 1 NO3-N ent. 2nd ax mg/ 3.0
2nd ax. AHRT hr 1.1
k(den) -1st ax. g NO3-N/g mlss-d 0.027 2nd ax. NHRT hr 6.1
k(den) -2nd ax. g NO3-N/g mlss-d 0.02 2nd ax. Volume cu.m. 3230.2
u(nit) (20 deg C) 0.8 NO3-N ent. 1st ax mg/ 1.8
safety factor - nitr. SRT 1.75 1st ax. AHRT hr 0.5
1st ax. NHRT hr 0.8
PC efficiency - BOD 0.25 1st ax. Volume cu.m. 448.6
PC efficiency - TSS 0.6
min. aer. vol. cu.m. 2844.6
N synthesized g N/g BOD rem. 0.03 des. aer. vol. cu.m. 1493.1


MLSS(max) mg/L 4500

eff. organic N mg/L 1
bioreactor SWD m 4.5
a recycle multiplier 4

eff. BOD mg/L 5
min. aerobic mass fraction 0.55
RAS multiplier 0.75
nitrifier yield gVSS/gNH3-N 0.15
heterotroph yield gVSS/BOD 0.6


BNitR BIOREACTOR DESIGN SPREADSHEET
WITH NO FERMENTER OR ANAEROBIC ZONE
WITH SEPARATE ANOXIC FOR RAS DENITRIFICATION

Q (avg) ML/d 20
BOD5 mg/L 90 Tot. MLSS yield kg/d 1062.5
TKN to be oxid. mg/L 17.4
TKN mg/L 20 u(t) 0.3
Tot P mg/L 5 Aer. SRT (nitr.) 6.8
TSS vol. fraction 0.75 Tot. SRT 24.2
Temp. deg. C 5 Bioreactor Volume (cu.m.) 6425.8
Bioreactor HRT hr 2.2
Nitrifier fraction 0.065
Tot. solids yield kg/kg BOD 0.85 Aerobic Volume (des) cu.m. 1829.0
fr. MLVSS that are viable organisms 1 NO3-N ent. 2nd ax mg/ 2.1
2nd ax. AHRT hr 0.8
k(den) -1st ax. g NO3-N/g mlss-d 0.027 2nd ax. NHRT hr 4.8
k(den) -2nd ax. g NO3-N/g mlss-d 0.02 2nd ax. Volume cu.m. 4036.2
u(nit) (20 deg C) 0.8 NO3-N ent. 1st ax mg/ 1.3
safety factor - nitr. SRT 1.75 1st ax. AHRT hr 0.4
1st ax. NHRT hr 0.7
PC efficiency - BOD 0.25 1st ax. Volume cu.m. 560.6
PC efficiency - TSS 0.6
min. aer. vol. cu.m. 3534.2
N synthesized g N/g BOD rem. 0.03 des. aer. vol. cu.m. 1816.8


MLSS(max) mg/L 4000

eff. organic N mg/L 1
bioreactor SWD m 4.5
a recycle multiplier 4

eff. BOD mg/L 5
min. aerobic mass fraction 0.55
RAS multiplier 0.75
nitrifier yield gVSS/gNH3-N 0.15
heterotroph yield gVSS/BOD 0.6


BNitR BIOREACTOR DESIGN SPREADSHEET
WITH NO FERMENTER OR ANAEROBIC ZONE
WITH SEPARATE ANOXIC FOR RAS DENITRIFICATION

Q (avg) ML/d 20
BOD5 mg/L 90 Tot. MLSS yield kg/d 1062.5
TKN to be oxid. mg/L 17.4
TKN mg/L 20 u(t) 0.3
Tot P mg/L 5 Aer. SRT (nitr.) 6.8
TSS vol. fraction 0.75 Tot. SRT 24.1
Temp. deg. C 5 Bioreactor Volume (cu.m.) 6413.6
Bioreactor HRT hr 7.7
Nitrifier fraction 0.065
Tot. solids yield kg/kg BOD 0.85
fr. MLVSS that are viable organisms 1 NO3-N ent. 2nd ax mg/ 2.1
2nd ax. AHRT hr 0.8
k(den) -1st ax. g NO3-N/g mlss-d 0.027 2nd ax. NHRT hr 4.8
k(den) -2nd ax. g NO3-N/g mlss-d 0.02 2nd ax. Volume cu.m. 4036.2
u(nit) (20 deg C) 0.8 NO3-N ent. 1st ax mg/ 1.3
safety factor - nitr. SRT 1.75 1st ax. AHRT hr 0.4
1st ax. NHRT hr 0.7
PC efficiency - BOD 0.25 1st ax. Volume cu.m. 560.6
PC efficiency - TSS 0.6
min. aer. vol. cu.m. 3527.5
N synthesized g N/g BOD rem. 0.03 des. aer. vol. cu.m. 1816.8


MLSS(max) mg/L 4000

eff. organic N mg/L 1
bioreactor SWD m 4.5
a recycle multiplier 4

eff. BOD mg/L 5
min. aerobic mass fraction 0.55
RAS multiplier 0.75
nitrifier yield gVSS/gNH3-N 0.15
heterotroph yield gVSS/BOD 0.6


EDMONTON GOLD BAR

Design & Operational Considerations for BNR


1. Effluent Quality Requirements

Total P < 1 mg/L
NH
3
-N < 10 mg/L winter
< 5 mg/L summer

All other parameters are immaterial.

2. Nitrification Considerations

Maintain SRT such that:
a) growth rate of nitrifiers (must be > wash-out rate)
b) effect of NH
3
-N concentration in the aerobic zone of bioreactor
(high concentration
=
high removal rate)
c) effect of NH
3
-N mass load - need more volume at given MLVSS to
remove increased mass.
d) effect of DO concentration
e) effect of temperature
f) effect of inhibition (prevalent at Gold Bar)

3. Denitrification Considerations

a) NO
3
-N concentration
b) NO
3
-N mass loadings
c) RBCOD concentration
d) Temperature (Readily Biodegradable COD)
e) RAS rate keep RAS as low as possible 0.75 Q
f) internal recycle rate

4. Phosphorus Removal Considerations

a) P release and organic carbon storage
- negligible O
2
and NO
3

- presence of VFA (SCC) (RBCOD)
- release up to 15 or 20 mg/L is normal in healthy anaerobic zone
(< 10 mg/l as a troubleshooting check)
b) P uptake and stored carbon utilization
- may occur anoxically or will occur aerobically
- anoxic P uptake not well understood

- uses stored carbon for growth; hence fast conversion (driven by
biochemical reaction)
- P uptake rate and capacity is dependent upon amount of stored C
- (N.B. have to have stored carbon for P removal)
- soluble Mg has been linked to good P removal (mg appears to
be a stabilizing effect)
-
Bioreactor 9 & 10 Inhibition Fixes (31 ML/d) 37.2 ml/d max month)

1. With Winter Denitrification
ax an ax
aer
aer
aer
PE
RAS
VFA
o
to Final Clarifier

Design MLSS for normal max = 3600 mg/L


a) indication of inhibition
- afternoon NH
3
-N breakthroughs of about 2 mg/L for 3 or 4
consecutive days
- beauty of online analyzers

b) mitigation
- turn off internal recycle pump, and initiate aeration of 2
nd
anoxic zone

c) effect
- increases aerobic SRT by 15%, which should reverse effects of
15% max inhibition
- increased NH3-N concentration in converted anoxic zone raises in-situ
rate of nitrification (increased concentration of reacting substance)


2. With No Winter Denitrification
aer an ax
aer
aer
aer
PE
RAS
VFA
to Final Clarifier


Design MLSS for normal max = 2900 mg/L

mitigation
- turn off wasting (or at least reduce) as soon as evidence of inhibition is
observed
- let MLSS climb to ~ 3600 mg/l (or until evidence of NH
3
breakthrough is gone)


1. Relative Benefits of Two Scenarios

- Scenario 1 will result in slightly lower blower power requirement as
long as inhibition not present
- Scenario 2 will result in lower solids loading on FC's as long as
inhibition not present


Air Requirements for BNR

A. Total amount can be divided into three components:

1. Carbon Removal (carbonaceous BOD)
2. Nitrification
3. Endogenous Respiration
- bugs eating each other
- as they they get eaten (cannibalization)

Generally speaking, we would design blowers to deliver the above amount
of air at design max. day loads with one compressor on standby.

Designed for Max Day
- not peak hour
- not max month


B. Air Delivery System

- since O
2
is not required at a uniform rate along the whole length of the
aerobic zone, we must provide air injection devices at varying spacing
along the bioreactor aerobic zone.
- if the bioreactor is designed and operated at "optimum" SRT, and
hence MLSS, the relative air demands along the tank look like the
following chart.
- Identifies: blower size
Diffuser density


Carbonaceous BOD
nitrification
endogenous respiration
Distance Along Aerated Zone
Air
Demand
(m
3
/min.)
with denitrification
}
effluent to clarifer
zero order
reaction
(good assumption)
2/3 of bioreactor
1st order reaction
Remember recover
1/2 air demand with
denitrification


Modelling Results - Bioreactor 9 & 10

- 50 % of PS fermented
- design avg. flow per module = 31 ML/d


Conditions


Temp.

MLSS

PO
4
- P

Tot.- P

NH
3
-N

NO
3
-N
Max. month, zone 4 ax.
no inhibition
12 3680 0.16 0.8 4.9 10.8
Max. month, zone 4 ax.
no inhibition
12

3500

0.1

0.7

9.9

7.1

NY Step Feed/RC Step Feed 12 3150 1.3 1.7 4.9 8.2
12 3410 2.9 3.2 5.0 6.9
Max. month, zone 4 aer.
no inhibition
12 2890 1.0 1.5 5.0 14.0
Max. month, zone 4 aer.
no inhibition
12 2850 0.1 0.6 9.8 11.2
Max. month, zone 4 ax.
no inhibition
20 1680 1.0 1.2 3.6 9.4
Avg. month, zone 4 ax.
no inhibition
12 2960 0.1 0.6 4.8 6.9
Avg. month, zone 4 aer.
no inhibition
12 2370 0.4 0.8 4.7 11.0
Max. month, zone 4 ax.
10% inhibition
12 4140 0.4 1.1 4.9 9.6
Max. month, zone 4 aer.
20% inhibition
12 3760 0.7 1.3 4.8 14.3
Avg. month, zone 4 ax.
20% inhibition
12 3870 0.1 0.8 4.9 6.9
Avg. month, zone 4 aer.
20% inhibition
12 3060 0.16 0.7 4.7 11.2




PHOSPHORUS STORING ORGANISM GROWTH



Organism Characteristics

1. Aerobic heterotrophs (just like those that we use to remove BOD)

2. Some can also use nitrate as the electron acceptor (anaerobic respiration)

3. Are also capable of improving their energy level under anaerobic
fermentation conditions (does not grow) - no biomass grows

4. Energy level increase then gives that organism a metabolic advantage in
any subsequent aerobic (or anoxic) zone.
(Out competes other organisms in anoxic/aerobic zones)


BIOCHEMICAL MODEL OF P RELEASE
(ANAEROBIC)

Fermentation not Respiration

Ac
Acetyl - P
H
+
H
+
Ac
3H
+
Acetyl CoA
H
B
C
o
A
P
H
B
P
O
4
PO
4
P
n-1
Poly -P
C
e
ll W
a
ll
Simple carbon source
in cysts/granules
Acetate
(Acetic Acid)
Together to balance
Together







Mg help P release (uptake)
PHB
Poly
Hydroxy
Butyrate
PHA
Poly
Hydroxy
Acetate
Alkanates


phosphate
cell wall
ATP
PHB
poly-P
organic carbon
ADP
TCA cycle
(can be methanol)
fu
n
c
tio
n
o
f V
F
A
's





FIG. 4 AEROBIC METABOLISM









BIOLOGICAL PHOSPHORUS REMOVAL

General References

1. Water Quality Management: Biological Nutrient Removal
eds. - Barnard, Randall & Stensel
pub. - Technomic Publishing Co. Inc.
851 New Holland Ave.
Box 3535
Lancaster, PA 17604
Fax: (717) 295-4538

2. Design of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants ( 2 volumes)

WEF Manual of Practice #8 (1992)
Water Environment Federation
601 Wythe St.
Alexandria, VA 22314-1994


A. Why Does Any Specific Biologically Mediated Process Work?

A number of environmental conditions and substrate characteristics have
significant impacts on the types of organisms that flourish in bioreactors.
Some of the more important are:

1. specific substrates present

2. temperature

3. length of time that organisms are in contact with the substrate
(SRT)

4. length of time that substrate is in contact with the organisms (HRT)

5. presence of desired electron acceptor for metabolic activities

a) dissolved oxygen (aerobic)
b) NO
3
-
, SO
4
=
, etc. (anoxic) (anaerobic respiration)
c) organic carbon (anaerobic fermentation)

6. pH

7. toxics - different compounds can have extremely variable effects on
different metabolic pathways. (lyse the cell or block or partially
block metabolic pathway)


Vinces Notes: Not as critical for phosphorus uptake as for
nitrogen conversion.

B. How Do These Parameters Impact the Design and Operation of
Conventional Secondary Treatment Processes?

- widely accepted kinetic model of the process at steady state is:

(complete mix) or plug flow assuming a
zero order reaction
x = c Y (So - S)
(1 + kd c)

where:

X = MLVSS in complete-mix reactor
c = SRT (d)
= HRT = V/Q (d)
Y = cell yield (mg VSS/mg BOD
5
)
So = influent BOD
5
(mg/L)
S = effluent BOD
5
(mg/L)
kd = endogenous decay coef. (d
-1
)

S = Ks (1 + c kd)
Equation 8.43 Metcalf & Eddy
c (Yk - kd)
-1


where: Ks = half velocity constant (mg/L BOD
5
)
= substrate concentration at one half the max. growth rate
k = max. rate of substrate util. (mg used/mg VSS.d)

- the measured values of the "constants" (coefficients) and "unit rates" are in
the following ranges for municipal sewage treatment:

Y - 0.4 to 0.8
kd - 0.025 to 0.075
Ks - 25 to 100
k - 2 to 10
}
at 20
o
C

- the reasons that they vary over such a wide range relate back to the list
given on page 2. For instance, if a sewage happens to be higher than
normal in % of BOD that is due to proteins or lipids (as opposed to
carbohydrates, k will be low and Ks will probably be high - hence effluent S
will be higher for a given c.
- generally speaking, the designer uses average values for these constants
(coefficients) and the operator then adjusts the actual c (SRT) as needed
to achieve the necessary effluent value of S.
- usual steps:

i) choose values for Ks, kd, Y, and k
ii) choose a desired value of c, based on type of activated sludge
process desired
iii) calculate expected S, and check if adequate
iv) choose either a desired value of X or of , and calculate the other
v) if satisfactory, design recycles, clarifier, etc.
vi) if not satisfactory, redesign process - computer programs are
available to do this job, using this kinetic model, or others. The
important thing to remember is that any model is only as good as the
estimates for the wastewater characteristics and the various model
coefficients. Piloting may be necessary to determine them in some
situations.
vii) temperature impacts on these model coefficients are usually
determined by an equation of the type

r
T
2
= r
20

(T-20)


may have to be determined experimentally


C. What Additional Biochemical Processes Do We Wish to Promote in Bio-P
Removal?

- since P cannot be biologically converted to a gas (like nitrogen forms
can), the best we can do is have it taken into microbial cells and then
dispose of it as part of the waste biomass.
- the observed results of such a process were first documented in the
mid-sixties

Jour. WPCF, 39, 750 - 777 (1967)
Science, 155, 1269 - 1271 (1967)

but neither the biochemical pathways involved, nor the environmental
conditions necessary to promote such end results were known.


D. Initial Process Development

1. Much of the original scientific work associated with understanding the
process sufficiently to allow the purposeful removal of P in an activated
sludge system was carried out by Barnard

Water Research, 9, 485 - 490 (1975)
Water Pollution Control, 74, 2, 143 - 154 (1975)


2. The primary requirement for successful P removal that arose from this
early work was the necessity for the biomass to be recycled through a
zone of deep anaerobic stress before being re-introduced into the
aerobic reactor of an activated sludge system.

3. To ensure the presence of deep anaerobic conditions, it was quickly
realized that any nitrate formed in the aerobic zone needed to be
removed before the Return Activated Sludge (RAS) is returned to the
anaerobic zone. Hence, bio-P plants also tended to be designed for
nitrification and denitrification as well.

(Remove nitrates they block P pathways) (University of Cap Town)

Q in
Q eff.
aer. recycle
an. ax. aer.
UCT Process
anoxic recycle
(nitrate ~ O mg/L)
RAS
denitrification
Modified


aer. recycle
an. ax.
aer.
Bardenpho
ax.
a
e
r
.




3. General Design Requirements in Early 1980's (for weak North American
sewage) - original Kelowna SRTs 18 day summer 30 d winter
- now SRTs 8 day summer 10 d winter

a) SRT - 8 to 30 days, depending upon temperature, and whether
purposeful nitrogen removal was necessary

b) HRT (nominal) = V/Q
in


- anaerobic zone - 2 to 3 hrs.
- first (main) anoxic zone - 2 to 4 hrs. depending on: mass of nitrate
returned in RAS, or in RAS plus aerobic recycle (UCT Process);
mass of nitrate in aerobic recycle (Bardenpho).
- aerobic zone - 4 to 7 hrs. to get carbon metabolized and P taken up.
- would be increased to perhaps 10 hrs. if nitrification also required
(see combined N & P removal notes).
- second anoxic zone - 2 to 3 hrs. to remove the nitrates that didn't get
recycled to the first anoxic zone (Bardenpho).
- final aerobic zone - 1/2 to 1 hr. to "sweeten" the mixed liquor so that
no significant denitrification occurs in the clarifier (Bardenpho).

E. What Have We Learned since the Early 80's?

1. Several species of bacteria are capable of storing polyphosphate
internally, but the main ones that have been isolated from successfully
operating bio-P plants are members of the Acinetobacter group.

- they are aerobic heterotrophs (require O
2
as an electron acceptor,
and organic carbon for cell synthesis)
- at least some Acinetobacter species are also capable of using NO
-
3

in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic respiration)
- under anaerobic fermentation conditions, they are capable of
improving their internal energy levels by
i) ingesting organic carbon, converting it and then storing it as
polyhydroxy alkanoates (PHA); and
ii) releasing some previously stored polyphosphate. These
observed occurrences can be explained by biochemical
models developed at UBC and modified by researched in
South Africa

- in a subsequent aerobic environment, they utilize the stored PHA as
readily available substrate, and concurrently take up large amounts
of soluble phosphate to be ready for their next encounter with the
hostile anaerobic environment.

2. The provision of a consistently high level of simple carbon compounds to
the flow entering the anaerobic zone allowing sufficient PHA storage in
Acinetobactor organisms to occur within a very short time frame (1/2
hour). For our wastewater characteristics (5 to 7 mg/L of total P), some
25 mg/L of volatile fatty acids (VFA), expressed as HAC, is sufficient.
(Generally 5 mg/l VFA for 1 mg/l P to be removed)


3. Purposeful fermentation of primary sludge is easily capable of providing
the VFA concentration required in the anaerobic zone of the bioreactor.

4. Denitrification of RAS can occur concurrently with P uptake in a well
designed anoxic zone.

5. Well designed and well operated secondary clarifiers are mandatory to
achieve consistently good P removal.

6. WAS handling must be done in such a way as to avoid significant release
of previously stored P, if any liquid recycles to the main process are used.
Can release P under aerobic conditions (secondary P release)
endogenous respiration

F. How does this Knowledge Translate into Design Requirements?

1. Primary clarifier - see "Ancillary Processes"
Conventional AS highest BOD removal efficiency BNR and provide a
sludge to be fermented to drive P removal in bioreactor.

2. Nominal HRT of Bioreactor

- anaerobic zone - 1/2 to 1 hr., with good VFA presence (VFA/p ~ 5/1).
- anoxic zone - 1 to 4 hrs., depending upon:
i) whether purposeful nitrification is practiced
ii) whether nitrogen removal is to be practiced
iii) whether significant VFA (or other short chain organics) are still
available entering the anoxic zone

- aerobic zone - 4 to 8 hrs., depending upon raw wastewater
characteristics and degree of nitrification desired.

SRT

- 6 to 20 days, depending upon wastewater characteristics (simplicity
of carbon available), and desire to achieve nitrification.

3. Configuration of Bioreactor

Important considerations are:

- flexibility of zonal HRT's
- good DO control in all aerobic cells
- by-pass capabilities in high growth rate municipality
- flexibility of recycle sources and destinations

- careful attention to mixing energy and mixer placement (low mixing
energy as long as properly placed).

4. Use of Design Mathematical Models

- Bio Sim (produced by Dr. Peter Dold) is a very useful steady state
model

BUT

it still requires a very good understanding of some 10 to 15 design
coefficients that are necessary to get meaningful results.

- a new non-steady state model developed by Dr. Gilles Patry and his
company is newly available. Its usefulness as a design model is still
to be proven.
- if process design for a "green fields" plant is being undertaken, the
degree of accuracy needed for the model inputs is not so great.
Previous experience can be usually used to set the design
coefficients.
- if retrofit of an existing activated sludge plant is being considered,
where the necessary degree of de-rating is very important to the
economic viability of the project, much more pilot-scale work may be
necessary to obtain accurate values of the coefficients.




COMPLETE BNR (13 Cell Bioreactor)



1. Possible Effluent Quality

tot. P < 0.5 mg/L
ortho-P < 0.3 mg/L
nitrate-N < 3 mg/L
amm.-N < 1 mg/L
tot.-N < 5 mg/L

2. High Nitrate in Effluent

- "a" recycle too low
- 2
nd
anoxic zone too short
- lack of VFA in anoxic zone and lack of denitrifying bio-P bugs
- too much O
2
getting back to 2
nd
anoxic
- toxics

a) if NO
3
-N = O (or close) at the end of 2
nd
anoxic, then "a" recycle is
too low
b) if NO
3
-N significant at the end of second anoxic (say > 2 mg/L),
then check mass denitrification rate (g NO
3
-N reduced/g MLVSS-d).
- if it is lower than expected, then probably have O
2
or toxics
problem.
- could help the situation temporarily by increasing RAS, if
there is spare denitrification potential in 1
st
anoxic zone

3. High Ammonia in Effluent

- aerobic SRT too low for temperature conditions
- aerobic HRT too low
- toxics
- O
2
in aerobic zone too low (2.0 mg/l N.B.)

a) check DO probes and historical air demand to rule out low O
2

b) test nitrification mass removal rates, and compare to standard. If
lower than normal, may have
- lower than normal fraction of nitrifiers
- temporary toxic impact
If normal, may need more HRT or move DO to cope with an increased
NH
3
load.


FERMENTATION OF PRIMARY SLUDGE



PURPOSE

- To change VSS in primary sludge to soluble short chain carbon (SCC) to feed
Bio-P organisms.

METHOD

- Contact primary sludge with anaerobic biomass that is grown at a long enough
SRT to promote hydrolyzation and acid formation, but not so long as to allow
methane formation.
- Research carried out at UBC indicates very strongly that an SRT between 5
and 10 days with an HRT between 10 and 15 hours provides maximum
conversion to VFA, and at the same time does not permit methanogens to
grown.

PROCESS OPTIONS

1. "Active" Primary Fsermenter

- deep sludge blanket with recycle of thickened sludge to inlet.
- must be able to maintain a deep enough sludge blanket to get the desired 5 d
SRT.

Sludge Blanket
PE
Q
RS
Recycle
Waste



2. Complete Mix Fermenter

- covered, stirred tank with solids recovery and recycle in PC.
- obtain high enough TSS concentration in fermenter to achieve 5 d SRT.






3. Complete Mix Fermenter with Dedicated Thickener

- easy to regulate both SRT and HRT.
PC
PE
Q
RS
Recycle
Waste
PC
PE
PS
Recycle
Waste
VFA










4. Static Fermenter

- carry high enough sludge blanket to achieve desired SRT.


Waste
PC
PE
Q
RS
VFA
Ferm.
PS


- must be able to estimate mass of solids in Fermenter, and know mass/d of
solids in PS, so that ~ 5 d SRT can be maintained.


OPERATING RESULTS

1. Loss of TSS

- well designed and operated fermenter will solubilize 40% to 60% of the PS
TSS. Both VSS and FSS are reduced.
- hence solids load to digesters is dramatically reduced, with design life of
existing digesters being substantially extended.
- but, total gas (methane) production will be reduced, perhaps up to 30% if all
PS is fermented.

2. Soluble COD Gain in Supernatant

- operating results elsewhere have shown that for every kg of TSS
hydrolyzed, about 0.25 kg. of COD
5
is formed.

3. VFA Production

- operating results show that 60% to 70% of COD
5
will be in the form of VFA.



COD
5
and VFA in Static Fermenter Supernatant


0
0 5 15 10 20
concentration




GOLD BAR SCENARIO

If fermenter 50% of produced primary sludge at average loading conditions for 310
ML/d design average flow:

primary solids to fermenter ~ 20,000 kg/d with 60% TSS loss,

COD
5
= 20,000 (0.6) (0.25)

= 3000 kg/d

VFA produced = 3000 (0.65) = 1950 kg/d


VFA addition to PE = 1950
310

= 6.3 mg/L