Circulating fluidized bed biological reactor for nutrients removal

Abstract

A new biological nitrogen removal process, which is named herein “The circulating fluidized bed bioreactor (CFBBR)”, was developed for simultaneous removal of nitrogen and organic matter. This process was composed of an anaerobic bed (Riser), aerobic bed (Downer) and connecting device. Influent and nitrified liquid from the aerobic bed enters the anaerobic bed from the bottom of the anaerobic bed, completing the removal of nitrogen and organic matter. The system performance under the conditions of different inflow loadings and nitrified liquid recirculation rates ranging from 200% to 600% was examined. From a technical and economic point of view, the optimum nitrified liquid recirculation rate was 400%. With a shortest total retention time of 2.5 h (0.8 h in the anaerobic bed and 1.5 h in the aerobic bed) and a nitrified liquid recirculation rate of 400% based on the influent flow rate, the average removal efficiencies of total nitrogen (TN) and soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) were found to be 88% and 95%, respectively. The average effluent concentrations of TN and SCOD were 3.5 mg/L and 16 mg/L, respectively. The volatile suspended solid (VSS) concentration, nitrification rate and denitrification rate in the system were less than 1.0 g/L, 0.026–0.1 g NH₄⁺-N/g VSSd, and 0.016–0.074 g NO_x^--N/g VSSd, respectively.

Keywords

circulating fluidized bed / nitrification / denitrification / nitrified liquid recirculation rate