Model-based evaluation of two BNR processes--UCT and A2N

Water Res. 2001 Aug;35(12):2851-60. doi: 10.1016/s0043-1354(00)00596-0.

Abstract

The activity of denitrifying P-accumulating bacteria (DPB) has been verified to exist in most WWTPs with biological nutrient removal (BNR). The modified UCT process has a high content of DPB. A new BNR process with a two-sludge system named A2N was especially developed to exploit denitrifying dephosphatation. With the identical inflow and effluent standards, an existing full-scale UCT-type WWTP and a designed A2N process were evaluated by simulation. The used model is based on the Delft metabolical model for bio-P removal and ASM2d model for COD and N removal. Both processes accommodate denitrifying dephosphatation, but the A2N process has a more stable performance in N removal. Although excess sludge is increased by 6%, the A2N process leads to savings of 35, 85 and 30% in aeration energy, mixed liquor internal recirculation and land occupation respectively, as compared to the UCT process. Low temperature has a negative effect on growth of poly-P bacteria, which becomes to especially appear in the A2N process.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Anaerobiosis
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Bioreactors
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Models, Biological
  • Nitrates / metabolism
  • Nitrogen / metabolism*
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Phosphorus / metabolism*
  • Sewage / chemistry
  • Sewage / microbiology*
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Nitrates
  • Sewage
  • Phosphorus
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen