Effect of sludge age on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in membrane bioreactor

S. Murat Hocaoglu, G. Insel, E. Ubay Cokgor, D. Orhon*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of sludge age on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in a membrane bioreactor treating black water. A membrane bioreactor with no separate anoxic volume was operated at a sludge age of 20. days under low dissolved oxygen concentration of 0.1-0.2. mg/L. Its performance was compared with the period when the sludge age was adjusted to 60. days. Floc size distribution, apparent viscosity, and nitrogen removal differed significantly, together with different biomass concentrations: nitrification was reduced to 40% while denitrification was almost complete. Modelling indicated that both nitrification and denitrification kinetics varied as a function of the sludge age. Calibrated values of half saturation coefficients were reduced when the sludge age was lowered to 20. days. Model simulation confirmed the validity of variable process kinetics for nitrogen removal, specifically set by the selected sludge age.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6665-6672
Number of pages8
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume102
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2011

Keywords

  • Black water
  • Membrane bioreactor
  • Modelling
  • Simultaneous nitrification/denitrification(SNdN)
  • Sludge age

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