Comparison of Reject Water Treatment with Nitrification/Denitrification via Nitrite in SBR and Sharon Chemostat Process

Abstract

A comparison between three feasible ways of developing Biological Nitrogen Removal (BNR) via nitrite to treat real reject water of 800-900 mg NH4(+)-N l(-1) is proposed. A Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) and a chemostat SHARON (Single reactor High activity Ammonium Removal Over Nitrite) continuous reactor were operated. In the SBR operation 0.8 kg N (d m3)(-1) was achieved, whereas in SHARON/denitrification the removal reached was 0.4 kg N (d m3)(-1). SHARON was also developed with partial nitrification of ammonium in order to obtain a stream ready for Anammox (Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation) process obtaining an effluent with an average composition of 400 mg NO2(-)-N l(-1) and 350 mg NH4(-)-N l(-1).