Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal in a structured bed reactor subjected to intermittent aeration (SBRIA): effect of support material diameter and bed porosity

BACKGROUND A structured bed reactor subjected to intermittent aeration (SBRIA) is a new reactor configuration that simultaneously promotes the removal of COD and nitrogen in a single reactor. Although studies have shown positive results with this reactor model, some reactor construction and operatio...

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Published inJournal of chemical technology and biotechnology (1986) Vol. 97; no. 6; pp. 1436 - 1445
Main Authors Souza, João VR, Silva, Bruno G, Santos, Carla ED, Souza, Theo SO, Moura, Rafael B
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.06.2022
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects
Aeration
Denitrification
Nitrification
Nitrogen
Nitrogen removal
Polyurethane foam
Porosity
Reactors
Response surface methodology
SBRIA
simultaneous nitrification denitrification
structured bed reactor
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Summary:BACKGROUND A structured bed reactor subjected to intermittent aeration (SBRIA) is a new reactor configuration that simultaneously promotes the removal of COD and nitrogen in a single reactor. Although studies have shown positive results with this reactor model, some reactor construction and operation parameters remain empirical. This study aimed to optimise the support material diameter and bed porosity for simultaneous COD and total nitrogen (TN) removal in an SBRIA. RESULTS Support material diameter and bed porosity did not affect COD removal and nitrification efficiencies, which achieved average values of 80% and 90%, respectively. However, the denitrification and TN removal efficiencies were significantly affected. The highest denitrification and TN removal were achieved by adopting a support material diameter of 3 cm and 60% of bed porosity. CONCLUSION The response surface methodology demonstrated that the increase in the support material diameter had a positive effect on denitrification due to the existence of an anoxic zone inside the PU foam. Conversely, when the system was operated at low support material diameters, the increase in the bed porosity increased the denitrification process, improving the overall TN removal. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
ISSN:0268-2575
1097-4660
DOI:10.1002/jctb.6936