Effects of Alkalinity on the Nitrification Capability of Nonwoven Fabric Filter Bioreactor

To investigate the effects of alkalinity on the nitrification capability of the nonwoven fabric filter bioreactor(NFBR), an experiment was performed for 641 days at a hydraulic retention time of approximately 11 hours by changing the influent concentration of from 54 mg/L to 1,400 mg/L and alkalinity from 43 mg/L to 10,480 mg/L. The MLSS concentration reduced from an initial value of 2,650 mg/L down to 830 mg/L, then increased up to 8,340 mg/L. Though the volumetric loading rate varied in a range of kg , the F/M ratio showed a narrow range of kg MLSS-day. The average nitrification efficiency at each experimental stage resulted in the range of , and the maximum nitrification rate was 2.970 kg or 0.489 g N/g MLVSS-day. The nitrifiers' fraction of the MLVSS increased up to 100% from an initial value of 7.1% and the biofilm formed on the nonwoven fabric filter showed a very low nitrifiers' fraction of mere 2.2%. The growth yield of the MLSS and the alkalinity consumption rate were computed to be 0.117 g VSS/g N removed and 7.08 g alkalinity/g produced, respectively. Results of the research suggest that NFBR could be an adequate process for nitrification of wastewaters with high ammonia concentrations.