Simple control strategies of methanol dosing for post-denitrification

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 38; no. 3; pp. 291 - 297
• Main Authors: Puznava, N., Zeghal, S., Reddet, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.08.1998
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.2166/wst.1998.0223

The objective of this work is to propose a simple but efficient way of controlling the carbon addition for the post-denitrification process in order to comply with regulatory constraints and optimize operating cost. A Biostyr® pilot column filled with polystyrene beads was used for the experiments. In order to simulate a secondary treated water from a nitrifying stage with a carbon source addition, the feed water was composed of river water dosed with nitrates, phosphates and methanol. Methanol was added initially with no control (at different constant rates) and in a second stage with different control strategies based on the on-line measurement of inlet and/or outlet nitrate concentrations. This simple dosing mode proved to be very efficient in set-point tracking to ensure the effluent quality and in minimizing the methanol addition (up to 20% less methanol consumption), thus optimizing operation costs.