Study on the performance of 3D printed layered filler in moving bed biofilm reactor

• Published in: International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran) 2023-05, Vol.20 (5), p.4797-4810
• Main Authors: Wan, A. J., Zheng, Z. C., Wu, Y. P., Zhao, B.
• 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/s13762-022-04173-0

A new 3D printed layered filler with special layered internal structure was developed. Compared with the common polyhedral sphere filler, the nitrogen removal performance of layered filler in the treatment of simulated rural domestic sewage in moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) was studied. Numerical simulation was used to study hydrodynamic characteristics in the filler and reactor, and the results indicated that the spatial structure of the layered filler could block the diffusion of dissolved oxygen (DO), formed a hypoxic zone inside, and promoted the simultaneous nitrification–denitrification (SND). The COD, NH 4 + -N removal efficiency and volatile dry weight of the biofilm were measured at the reactor startup stage, which proved that layered filler was more satisfactory in biofilm growth performance, and the highest COD, NH 4 + -N removal efficiencies exceeded 90%. After biofilm matured, the nitrogen removal performance of the reactor was investigated under different DO concentrations. The removal efficiencies of NH 4 + -N and TN of the layered filler were above 75% when DO = 2 mg/L, which was significantly better than the control filler. The results showed that the layered filler could achieve SND inside the filler and better nitrogen removal in MBBR.