Publication Date:
2016-07-09
Description:
Rapid granulation of biomass and reactor start-up has been studied in a novel denitrifying reactor. The effect of wastewater characteristics, reactor operating conditions and reactor geometry on microbial granulation has been studied. It was possible to achieve granulation in just 15 days of reactor start-up. In 15 days the settling velocity of the granules was 1.5 cm s -1 , which is almost 10 folds higher than that of seed sludge. The reactor was able to handle a nitrate loading rate of 50 g NO 3 -N m -3 day -1 in 3 days of reactor start-up with rates reaching up to 460 g NO 3 -N m -3 day -1 in just 30 days of reactor start-up with a removal efficiency of almost 100%. Based on the experimental observation, a hypothesis for the cause of rapid granulation has been proposed.
Print ISSN:
0930-7516
Electronic ISSN:
1521-4125
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
