A novel control strategy for enhancing biological N-removal in a granular sequencing batch reactor: A model-based study

• N-removal efficiency in a GSBR was explored with a calibrated and validated model.
• A novel cascade control strategy was proposed to enhance N-removal in a GSBR.
• Imposing adequate DO as to keep 5 mg N–NH4+ L−1 in the effluent enhances N-removal.
• N-removal enhancement is independent of granule size, NLR or inflow C/N ratio.

Biological nitrogen removal in aerobic granular sequencing batch reactors is sensitively affected by process conditions (e.g. dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, nitrogen loading rate (NLR), influent C/N ratio, among others). The variation of one of these process conditions affects the others, because often they are tightly linked. These interrelationships are a drawback for the experimental assessment of the target domain of process conditions required to enhance N-removal. Here, we have developed a model to determine the guidelines to design an automatic control strategy with the final aim of enhancing biological N-removal in a granular sequencing batch reactor. The model was first calibrated with experimental data from a granular sequencing batch reactor treating swine wastewater. Specific simulations were designed to elucidate the effect of DO concentration (0.5–8 mg O2 L−1), granule size (0.5–3.5 mm), influent C/N ratio (4–10 g O2 g−1 N) and NLR (0.41–0.82 g N L−1 d−1) on the nitrification–denitrification efficiency. Simulation results showed that, in general, high N-removal efficiencies (from 70% to 85%) could be obtained only setting the appropriate DO concentration. That appropriate DO concentration could be easily found based on effluent ammonium concentration. Those results were used to propose a control strategy to enhance N-removal efficiencies. The control strategy was based on a closed DO loop with variable DO set-point. The DO set-point was established at a constant value for the whole cycle (i.e. once per cycle), based on the on-line measurement of ammonium concentration at the end of the previous cycle.