Biological nutrient removal by internal circulation upflow sludge blanket reactor after landfill leachate pretreatment

• Published in: Journal of environmental sciences (China) 2013-10, Vol.25 (10), p.2130-2137
• Main Authors: Abood, Alkhafaji R., Bao, Jianguo, Abudi, Zaidun N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic (A2/O) bioreactor; Biological; biological nutrient removal; Bioreactors; Blanketing; combined treatment; Crack opening displacement; landfill leachate; Landfills; Nutrients; Oxygen demand; Reactors; Sludge; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water Purification - methods; 上流式; 内循环; 厌氧膨胀颗粒污泥床; 填埋场渗滤液; 序批式反应器; 污泥床反应器; 生物脱氮除磷; 预处理过程
• ISSN: 1001-0742; 1878-7320
• DOI: 10.1016/S1001-0742(12)60274-5

The removal of biological nutrient from mature landfill leachate with a high nitrogen load by an internal circulation upflow sludge blanket （ICUSB） reactor was studied. The reactor is a set of anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic （A^2/O） bioreactors, developed on the basis of an expended granular sludge blanket （EGSB）, granular sequencing batch reactor （GSBR） and intermittent cycle extended aeration system （ICEAS）. Leachate was subjected to stripping by agitation process and poly ferric sulfate coagulation as a pretreatment process, in order to reduce both ammonia toxicity to microorganisms and the organic contents. The reactor was operated under three different operating systems, consisting of recycling sludge with air （A^2/O）, recycling sludge without air （low oxygen） and a combination of both （A^2/O and low oxygen）. The lowest effluent nutrient levels were realised by the combined system of A^2/O and low oxygen, which resulted in effluent of chemical oxygen demand （COD）, NH3-N and biological oxygen demand （BOD5） concentrations of 98.20, 13.50 and 22.50 mg/L. The optimal operating conditions for the efficient removal of biological nutrient using the ICUSB reactor were examined to evaluate the influence of the parameters on its performance. The results showed that average removal efflciencies of COD and NH3- N of 96.49% and 99.39%, respectively were achieved under the condition of a hydraulic retention time of 12 hr, including 4 hr of pumping air into the reactor, with dissolved oxygen at an rate of 4 mg/L and an upflow velocity 2 m/hr. These combined processes were successfully employed and effectively decreased pollutant loading.