Advances in wastewater nitrogen removal by biological processes: state of the art review

  • Andrea G. Capodaglio University of Pavia
  • Petr Hlavínek Brno University of Technology
  • Massimo Raboni University LIUC - Cattaneo
Palabras clave: biological processes, deammonification, denitrification, nitrogen removal.

Resumen

The paper summarizes the state-of-the-art of the most recent advances in biological nitrogen removal, including process design criteria and technological innovations. With reference to the Modified Ludzck Ettinger (MLE) process (pre-denitrification and nitrification in the activated sludge process), the most common nitrogen removal process used nowadays, a new design equation for the denitrification reactor based on specific denitrification rate (SDNR) has been proposed. In addition, factors influencing SDNR (DO in the anoxic reactor; hydrodynamic behavior) are analyzed, and technological solutions are proposed. Concerning technological advances, the paper presents a summary of various “deammonification” processes, better known by their patent names like ANAMMOX®, DEMON®, CANON®, ANITA® and others. These processes have already found applications in the treatment of high-strength wastewater such as digested sludge liquor and landfill leachate. Among other emerging denitrification technologies, consideration is given to the Membrane Biofilm Reactors (MBfRs) that can be operated both in oxidation and reduction mode.

Biografía del autor/a

Andrea G. Capodaglio, University of Pavia
Associate Professor in Sanitary Engineering. He also holds a position as Adjunct Professor at Marquette University of Milwaukee (USA) and a fellowship from the Research Institute of Waters (IRSA) of the Italian National Research Council.
Petr Hlavínek, Brno University of Technology
Prof. Dr. Petr Hlavínek is a sanitary engineer with 30 years of professional experience in the field of wastewater collection and treatment. Professor Hlavinek lectures in wastewater collection and treatment at the Brno University of Technology. He has extensive supervisory experience, having supervised 14 PhDs to completion to date. He is a member of a number of professional organizations including the national committee of the International Water Association and Czech Wastewater Treatment Experts Association. Over the past 30 years, he has consulted with more than 300 municipalities in the Czech Rep. concerning sewerage and wastewater treatment. He is author of a number of papers in the field of wastewater collection and treatment. His experience also includes work as independent evaluator for the EC Directorate General Environment, as evaluating & monitoring agent for the Norwegian financial mechanism (environment sector), and as FIDIC engineer for ISPA and cohesion fund projects. Currently, he is director of EGAR (Environmental Geo Applied Research) research group at research center AdMaS (Advanced materials and Structures) at Brno University of Technology and has experience with many trans-national & EU-funded research projects, FP5 projects CARE-S & AQUAREC and FP6 projects AMEDEUS & MBR-train.
Massimo Raboni, University LIUC - Cattaneo
He earned his Master degree in Environmental Engineering in 2006 at the University of Pavia (Italy). In July 2010 he defended his PhD thesis in Civil Engineering on the “Numerical and experimental analysis of multiphysics phenomena” at the University of Pavia. The subjects dealt also with the analysis of two-phase flows and the oxygen mass transfer in activated sludge systems for wastewater treatment equipped with turbulent jets. Post-doc fellow at the:
Publicado
15/04/2016
Número
Vol. 11 Núm. 2 (2016)
Sección
Articulos

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