1. Enhanced Nitrification in UASB Reactor Effluent Using Non-Woven Fabric Filters: A Low-Cost Post-Treatment Solution.
- Author
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Alves, Marília Patrício, Sousa, Tales Abreu Tavares de, Feitosa, Wanderson Barbosa da Silva, Leite, Valderi Duarte, Lopes, Wilton Silva, and Sousa, José Tavares de
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POLYVINYL chloride pipe , *NONWOVEN textiles , *NITRIFYING bacteria , *AMMONIA-oxidizing bacteria , *WASTEWATER treatment , *UPFLOW anaerobic sludge blanket reactors - Abstract
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability and performance of a non-woven fabric filter designed as a biological post-treatment for an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor in wastewater treatment, with a specific focus on nitrification. The filter was set up to operate intermittently with a downward flow. It was constructed using polyvinyl chloride pipe with a diameter of 100 mm and a total height of 2 m. The filter medium comprised multiple non-woven fabric layers in discs forms, totaling 30 cm height, and covering the entire diameter of the reactor. Two distinct application rates were assessed in two phases: Phase I with a flow rate of 6 L·day−1 and an applied surface load of 0.76 m3·m−2·d−1 and Phase II with a flow rate of 9 L·day−1 and applied surface load of 1 m3·m−2·d−1. Chemical characterization was conducted on the influent and effluent of the filter, and quantification of nitrifying bacteria (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria [AOB] and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria [NOB]) was also performed. The results indicate that the average pH values of the effluent for both phases remained similar to the influent, at approximately eight, indicating that the flow rate difference did not significantly affect pH. However, significant alkalinity consumption was observed in both phases, with an average variation between influent and effluent of 186 (28%) and 169 mgCaCO3L−1 (31%) for Phases I and II, respectively. Ammonium nitrogen reduction was substantial: Phase I achieved 36% ammonia removal, with nitrite concentrations of 9.8 mgN.L−1 and nitrate concentrations of 13.7 mgN.L−1. Phase II achieved 54% ammonia removal, with nitrite concentrations of 2.1 mgN.L−1 and nitrate concentrations of 3.7 mgN.L−1. Regarding the quantification of AOB resulted in most probable numbers (MPN) of 8.3 × 105 and 1.6 × 108 per 100 mL, for Phases I and II, respectively. NOB were quantified at 2.5 × 103 MPN·100 mL−1 during the second phase. The findings demonstrate the potential of non-woven fabric filter as an effective post-treatment option for UASB reactor effluent, improving the quality of treated wastewater by physically removing organic products and enhancing nitrification processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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