Modified Ludzack–Ettinger system role in efficient nitrogen removal from swine manure under high total suspended solids concentration

• Published in: International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran) 2019-12, Vol.16 (12), p.7715-7726
• Main Authors: Hollas, C. E., Chini, A., Antes, F. G., do Prado, N. V., Bortoli, M., Kunz, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Science and Engineering; Original Paper; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1735-1472; 1735-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s13762-019-02326-2

The current scenario requires treatment systems with high efficiency, easy operation and low cost. The solid–liquid separation process as a pre-treatment of swine manure is an efficient strategy improving the wastewater management and treatment. In this sense, the aim of this study was to establish for the first time a condition in which swine manure treatment could be successfully performed using a simple solid-liquid separation, combined with nitrification and denitrification process in a modified Ludzack–Ettinger system. The solids separation was done with a brush-roller screen (2 mm mesh) followed by a settling unit. The nitrogen removal unit was composed of a modified Ludzack–Ettinger process, operated in three phases, according to different sedimentation times in the solid–liquid separation process. The modified Ludzack–Ettinger system showed good performance for treatment of swine wastewater with total suspend solids concentration higher than 14 g L −1 , reaching removal efficiency of 88.3% for nitrogen and 86.3% for total organic carbon removal. The results obtained in this study confirm that it is possible to operate the modified Ludzack–Ettinger system at high total solids concentration using a simple solid–liquid separation process keeping a high nitrogen removal efficiency.