Nitrogen Removal Comparison in Porous Ceramic Media
Packed-Bed Reactors by a Consecutive Nitrification and
Denitrification Process

Han, Gee-Bong; Woo, Mi-Hee

doi:2011.16.4.231

Environmental Engineering Research 2011;16(4): 231-236. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2011.16.4.231

Nitrogen Removal Comparison in Porous Ceramic Media Packed-Bed Reactors by a Consecutive Nitrification and Denitrification Process

Gee-Bong Han^†, and Mi-Hee Woo

Department of Biosciences & Environmental Engineering, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 420-743, Korea

Corresponding Author: Gee-Bong Han ,Tel: +82-2-2164-4878, Fax: +82-2-2164-4765, Email: geebhan@catholic.ac.kr

Received: September 11, 2010; Accepted: December 2, 2011.

ABSTRACT

Biological nitrogen removal, using a continuous flow packed-bed reactor (CPBR) in a consecutive nitrification and denitrification process, was evaluated. An apparent decline in the nitrification efficiency coincided with the steady increase in NH₄ +-N load. Sustained nitrification efficiency was found to be higher at longer empty bed contact times (EBCTs). The relationship between the rate of alkalinity consumption and NH₄ +-N utilization ratio followed zero-order reaction kinetics. The heterotrophic denitrification rate at a carbon-tonitrogen (C/N) ratio of >4 was found to be >74%. This rate was higher by a factor of 8.5 or 8.9 for NO₃ –-N/volatile solids (VS)/day or NO₃ – -N/m³ ceramic media/day, respectively, relative to the rates measured at a C/N ratio of 1.1. Autotrophic denitrification efficiencies were 80–90%. It corresponds to an average denitrification rate of 0.96 kg NO₃ –-N/m³ ceramic media/day and a relevant average denitrification rate of 0.28 g NO₃ –-N/g VS/day, were also obtained. Results presented here also constitute the usability of an innovative porous sulfur ceramic media. This enhanced the dissolution rate of elemental sulfur via a higher contact surface area.

Keywords: Denitrification | Nitrification | Packed-bed | Porous ceramic | Sulfur media