Biological reactors in sequential battles with and without material support for simultaneous removal of nitrogen and sanitary sewage phosphorus.

Abstract

In water bodies subject to eutrophication problems, biological nutrient removal (RBN) is of great importance. The combination of sequential batch reactor technology with fixed biomass system in a mobile bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is an interesting option in the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus in sanitary sewage. The objective of the present work was to compare the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency of two reactors (R1 and R2) operated in sequential batches, in which one of them was used support material. A decrease in the organic matter concentration was observed in the effluent from both reactors. The concentrations of NTK and total phosphorus effluent were, in some instances, higher than the tributaries. The highest ammoniacal nitrogen efficiencies were 47% and 52% for the reactors R1 and R2, respectively. Regarding Orthophosphate, the maximum efficiencies were 47% and 58% for the reactors R1 and R2, respectively. In relation to the amount of biomass adhered to the support medium, it was low. There was greater biofilm formation in the inner part of the carrier material, due to the shear force caused by the propellers of the agitator present in the reactor. The reactors were still in the adaptation phase, since only one removal was observed after a few weeks of operation. The removal in the reactor R2 was more significant in relation to the analyzed parameters, but both reactors remained in an approximate range, taking into account the efficiencies.