Influence of COD/N ratio and carbon source on nitrogen removal in a structured-bed reactor subjected to recirculation and intermittent aeration (SBRRIA)

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of COD/N ratio and carbon source on simultaneous nitrogen and carbon removal processes. A continuous up-flow structured-bed reactor subjected to recirculation and intermittent aeration (SBRRIA) was operated with hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 11.2 ± 0.6 h. The carbon sources were meat peptone and sucrose. The COD/N ratio varied by maintaining the organic loading rate fixed at 1.07 kg COD m−3 d−1 and changing the total-N concentration. The COD/N ratios tested were 9.7 ± 1 (sucrose); 7.6 ± 1 (meat peptone); 2.9 ± 1 (meat peptone) and 2.9 ± 0.4 (sucrose). COD removal efficiencies remained above 90% in all experimental phases. At lower COD/N ratios, NH4+-N oxidation efficiencies were higher than 90%. An autotrophic metabolism by anammox process was observed in Phases III and IV, which was responsible for 35% and 27% of total-N loading removal rates, respectively. Therefore, the system achieved total nitrogen removal efficiencies of 84.6 ± 10.1 and 81.5 ± 5.3%, under low availability of organic electron donors.