Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification by using ejector type microbubble generator in a single reactor

Article information

Environmental Engineering Research. 2020;25(2):251-257
Publication date (electronic) : 2019 April 15
doi : https://doi.org/10.4491/eer.2018.427
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Incheon National University, Incheon 22012, Republic of Korea
Corresponding author: Email: jinhan@inu.ac.kr, Tel: +82-32-835-8745, Fax: +82-32-835-4344
Received 2018 December 6; Accepted 2019 April 10.

Abstract

This study was performed to verify the possibility of nitrification and denitrification in a single reactor. In batch type experiment, optimal point of experimental conditions could be found by performing the experiments. When supply location of microbubbles was located at half of width of the aeration tank and operating pressure of 0.5 bar, it was possible for zones in the aeration tank to be separated into anoxic and aerobic by controlling air suction rate according to operating pressure of the generator. To be specific, the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in zone 1 and 2 of the aeration tank could be maintained as less than 0.5 mg/L. Also, in the case of concentration of oxygen in zone 3 and 4, the concentration of DO was increased up to 1.7 mg/L due to effects of microbubbles. In continuous flow type experiment based on the results of batch type experiments, the removal efficiency of nitrogen based on T-N was observed as 39.83% at operating pressure of 0.5 bar and 46.51% at operating pressure of 1 bar so it was able to know that sufficient air suction rate should be required for nitrification. Also, denitrification process could be achieved in a single reactor by using ejector type microbubble generator and organic matter and suspended solid could be removed. Therefore, it was possible to verify that zones could be separated into anoxic and aerobic and nitrification and denitrification process could be performed in a single reactor.

1. Introduction

In biological treatment processes, nitrification and denitrification processes are required to remove nitrogen gas. For example, A2O and Bardenpho processes separate reactors into an anoxic, anaerobic and aerobic to remove the gas as nitrogen through using nitrification and denitrification. Also, sequencing batch reactor and intermittent aeration are using the change of dissolved oxygen concentration according to time variation [1]. These methods, however, are required of large site area to construct process. In addition, 50~75% of consumed energy in a wastewater treatment process is used to supply air to the aeration tank and 40~60% of power cost is also used to maintain blower [2, 3]. Therefore, development of processes which are compact and energy-efficient to induce nitrification and denitrification is needed.

Mostly, conventional nitrification and denitrification processes are utilizing a Sharon-Anammox process, which is used to remove NH3-N and NO2-N, and SymBioTM using SND (simultaneous nitrification and denitrification) reaction, which is a process that simultaneously induced nitrification and denitrification by keeping the low dissolved oxygen concentration of 0.2 mg/L [4, 5]. To induce nitrification and denitrification, many studies demonstrated that HRT (hydraulic retention time), SRT (sludge retention time), concentration of dissolved oxygen, floc size, ratio of C/N, pH were crucial factors [6, 7]. Especially, to maintain optimal dissolved oxygen concentration is the most important. Also, many studies about inducing nitrification in low dissolved oxygen concentration have been performed. Bellucci et al. [8] achieved nitrification in low dissolved oxygen concentration of 0.5±0.3 mg/L and Pochana and Keller [9] showed optimal concentration of dissolved oxygen, which was about 0.5 mg/L to induce nitrification and denitrification simultaneously.

These days, many researchers have focused on microbubbles of high level of oxygen transfer efficiency than conventional bubbles [1012]. The size of microbubbles is smaller than the conventional bubbles so the microbubbles have slow rising velocity, long residence time, and large specific interfacial area. The former research demonstrated that microbubbles with the diameter of 10 μm have rising velocity of 50 μm/s, in another word, 3 mm per min [13]. To use advantages of microbubbles, many studies were performed to apply the method to the wastewater treatment. Lim [14] demonstrated that it was possible for the aeration tank to be maintained as separated zones, which are an anoxic and aerobic, without partition wall by applying pressurized type of microbubble generator to the aeration tank. However, Lim [14] also mentioned that there was a problem that is “sludge rising” in the aeration tank due to high density and small size of microbubbles. Therefore, Lim [14] showed that the optimal size of bubbles was required to mix MLSS (mixed liquor suspended solids) and maintain concentration of dissolved oxygen. Meanwhile, ejector type microbubble generator has many advantages such as simple design of equipment, a cost-effective method because there is no need of compressor to supply air. Also, size of generated bubbles from it is variable [15, 16] so it may be useful to apply air to the aeration tank.

Therefore, to mitigate the disadvantages of the conventional nitrogen removal and the problem of pressurized type microbubble generator as aerator, this study was performed to review the possibility of removing nitrogen in a single reactor by verifying the separation of zones such as an anoxic and aerobic according to supply location of microbubbles and operating pressure of ejector type microbubble generator, when ejector type microbubble generator was applied to the aeration tank.

2. Experimental Methods

2.1 Experimental Apparatus

This study used the pilot-scale aeration tank, which has effective volume 2.4 m3 (W 3.0 m × H 1.0 m × D 0.8 m). Also, there are schematic diagram of ejector type nozzle and process used in the study in Fig. 1. Ejector type microbubble generator consists of pump, nozzle and flow meter. Especially, when water is circulated in generator, air is automatically suctioned into nozzle due to pressure drop. Air suction rate in the nozzle is affected by the water circulation rate according to operating pressure. Also, the size range of generated bubbles from ejector type microbubble generator was from 86 μm to 2.98 mm in this experiment.

Fig. 1

Schematic diagram of ejector type nozzle (a), and location of the ejector type microbubble generator (b).

2.2. Experiment and Analysis

2.2.1. Batch type experiments

Batch type experiments were performed to review the separation of anoxic and aerobic zone in a single reactor according to location of microbubble generator and operating pressure. First, to check effects of supply location on the formation of zones, when the ejector type microbubble generator was located at quarters, half and three-quarters of width of the aeration tank as shown in Fig. 1(b), the batch type experiments were performed. Also, in the batch type experiments, the operating pressure of the generator was considered as the operating conditions of the generator at the same time. Here, operating pressure means the pressure by water in the generator, when the water is circulated in the generator to induce suction of air in the nozzle. The concentration of dissolved oxygen was measured at operating pressure of 0.5, 0.75 and 1 bar. Before starting batch type experiments, MLSS, which was 3,000 mg/L concentration, was fully mixed by using conventional air diffuser and concentration of dissolved oxygen was reduced to about 0.5 mg/L. Finally, to compare the performance of the conventional air diffuser and the ejector type microbubble generator, the conventional air diffuser was used for experiments and the quantity of supplied air to the conventional air diffuser was the same as the quantity of air suction rate of the ejector type microbubble generator. DO sensor was located at 0.5 m below of surface water and temperature of water was 17±0.5°C.

2.2.2. Continuous flow type experiments

Continuous flow type experiments were performed to check the removal of nitrogen and organic matter based on the batch type results. Continuous flow type experiments were operated in conditions that concentration of MLSS was 3,000 mg/L, HRT was 8 h, rate of internal recirculation and return sludge were, respectively 1Q and 0.8Q of influent based on 8 h of HRT, temperature of water was 17±0.5°C. Supply location of microbubbles was located at half of width of the aeration tank based on results of batch type experiments and concentration of dissolved oxygen, pH, ORP were measured at operating pressure of 0.5 and 1 bar. Also, DO, pH, ORP sensors were located at the same position in the batch type experiments as shown in Fig. 2. In addition, to analyze removal of organic matter, characteristics of nitrification and denitrification, measurement and sampling were carried in influent, effluent, the aeration tank. SS and BOD were analyzed by the method of water pollution standard method in South Korea. Also, CODCr, NH4+-N, NO3-N, T-N were analyzed by using Hach vial with DR2700.

Fig. 2

The location of DO, pH, ORP sensors and the ejector type microbubble generator.

Measurement and Analysis Items

3. Results and Discussion

3.1 Batch Type Experiments

The results of measurement of concentration of dissolved oxygen and supply location of bubbles were shown in Fig. 3(a). As shown in Fig. 3(a), when supply location of microbubbles was located at half of the aeration tank and operating pressure was 0.5 bar, concentration of dissolved oxygen was measured from 0.3 to 1.7 mg/L. Also, in zone 1 and 2, concentration of dissolved oxygen was measured less than 0.5 mg/L. In addition, in zone 3 and 4, concentration of dissolved oxygen was gradually increased and measured more than 1.0 mg/L after a half hour of starting the experiment so an anoxic and anaerobic conditions based on the concentration of dissolved oxygen could be achieved. When supply location of microbubbles was sited at quarter, there was limitation of separating zones. Also, at three-quarters of supply location of microbubbles, concentration of dissolved oxygen was about 1.5 mg/L in zone 4. Besides, concentration of dissolved oxygen was increased up to about 0.91 mg/L in zone 1, as time went by, was decreased. Meanwhile, when ejector type microbubble generator was operated at 0.75 and 1.0 bar of operating pressure, concentration of dissolved oxygen was consistently increased in all zones due to the increase of air suction rate so it was impossible to verify that zones were separated at 0.75 and 1.0 bar of operating pressure in the batch type experiment. In the performance comparison tests, as shown in Fig. 3(b), concentration of dissolved oxygen was measured less than 0.5 mg/L in all sections, when the conventional air diffuser was used to supply air to the aeration tank and it seemed to be caused by the difference of bubble dissolution rate between the conventional bubbles and microbubbles [12]. Therefore, in the batch type experiments, the experimental conditions to verify separation of zones could be found, when the location of microbubble generator was located at the half of width of the aeration tank and at the operating pressure of 0.5 bar.

Fig. 3

Concentration of dissolved oxygen by using ejector type microbubble generator (a), (b), (c) and conventional air diffuser (d).

3.2 Continuous Flow Type Experiments

3.2.1 Concentration of dissolved oxygen, pH and ORP

Based on the results of the batch type experiments, supply location of microbubbles was sited at the half of width of the aeration tank and concentration of dissolved oxygen was measured at operating pressure of 0.5 bar. However, to induce sufficient nitrification, the experiment at operating pressure of 1 bar was added. Also, results of test were shown in Fig. 4. At 0.5 and 1.0 bar of operating pressure, each of the average of air suction rate was 50 and 70 L/min. Concentration of dissolved oxygen in zone 3, which is directly affected by microbubbles generated at half of width of the aeration tank, was the highest from 0.88 to 2.40 mg/L. Also, when ejector type of microbubble generator was operated at 1 bar, concentration of dissolved oxygen was the highest as 2.40 mg/L so the results of concentration distribution were the same results as shown in the former study [14]. In addition, each of concentration of dissolved oxygen in zone 1, 2 and 4 was 0.28~0.37, 0.44~0.57 and 0.28~0.52 mg/L so it was able to verify that the increase of operating pressure, which means the increase of air suction rate, did not sufficiently have effect on concentration of dissolved oxygen in zone 1, 2 and 4 than zone 3. During the experiments, pH of influent was from 7.27 to 7.86. Also, at 1.0 bar of operating pressure, each of pH of zone 1, 2, 3 and 4 was 6.00~7.56, 6.50~7.58, 6.53~7.58 and 6.28~7.60. In zone 3, pH was decreased; it seemed to be influenced by nitrification of fully mixing of MLSS and concentration of dissolved oxygen. In zone 1, although result of measuring ORP indicated −19~−434 mV, which is conditions of an anaerobic (−150~−350 mV) and anoxic (50~−150 mV), pH was also decreased because it was hard to fully mix MLSS and concentration of dissolved oxygen. Therefore, agitator was installed to fully mix MLSS at the slowest speed to not affect concentration of dissolved oxygen in zone 1.

Fig. 4

Concentration of dissolved oxygen (a), and ORP (b) according to operation pressure of microbubble generator.

3.2.2 Removal of organic matter and suspended solid

Fig. 5 shows removal characteristics of BOD, CODCr, SS (suspended solid) in a single reactor. The range of BOD and CODCr were 151~399 and 259~627 mg/L in influent, each of the average of each BOD at 0.5 and 1 bar of operating pressure was 42.80 and 54.96 mg/L in effluent. Also, each of removal efficiency of BOD at the same conditions was 78.53 and 76.55%. Meanwhile, each of the average of CODCr at 0.5 and 1 bar of operating pressure was 70.75 and 62.62 mg/L in effluent. In addition, each of removal efficiency of CODCr at the above mentioned conditions was 81.15 and 82.14%. Commonly, in a conventional activated sludge process, concentration of dissolved oxygen in the aeration tank was maintained to from 2.0 to 4.0 mg/L [17]. In this test, however, it was possible that BOD and CODCr were stably removed while concentration of dissolved oxygen in the aeration tank was maintained in various conditions that concentration of dissolved oxygen was from 0.28 to 2.40 mg/L. Therefore, the quantity of supplied air to the aeration tank might have rarely effect on removal of organic matter, which was mentioned in Kim’s study [18]. Fig. 5(c) shows that the average of SS is from 93 to 300 mg/L in influent and each of the average of effluent was 25 and 23.75 mg/L according to operating conditions. Also, each of removal efficiency of SS was calculated to 79.74 and 78.94% in the same conditions. It seemed to be adversely influenced by the variable size of bubbles generated from ejector type microbubble generator [19], especially micro-size bubbles which have low speed of rising, long residence time than conventional bubbles and the effect of attachment to floc [15].

Fig. 5

Concentration of BOD (a), CODCr (b), and SS (c) according to operating pressure

3.2.3 Removal of nitrogen

Fig. 6 shows removal characteristic of NH3-N, NO3-N, T-N in influent and effluent. In influent, concentration of NH3-N was stably shown from 25 to 36 mg/L. In effluent, however, each of concentration of NH3-N was 22.49 and 5.43 mg/L according to operating pressure and each of the average of removal efficiency of NH3-N was 28.24 and 80.49% at the above mentioned conditions. In chapter of 3.2.1, the quantity of air supplied to the aeration tank did not have effect on removal of organic matter, but had significantly impact on removal of NH3-N due to need of oxygen for nitrification. This is because increased quantity of air supplied to the aeration tank by augmenting operating pressure facilitates nitrification. Therefore, it shows that operating condition should be maintained to 1 bar, which is possible to keep concentration of dissolved oxygen from 1.4 to 2.4 mg/L by controlling air suction rate, for nitrification. Especially, Zhang et al. [20] demonstrated that each of removal efficiency of NH3-N and T-N was 55.4 and 55.1% in experiments that maintained 8 h of HRT by using synthetic wastewater. Meanwhile, in analysis of NO3-N, concentration of NO3-N in influent was from 0.3 to 0.9 mg/L and each of the average of level of NO3-N in effluent was 0.41 mg/L at 0.5 bar of operating pressure and 17.48 mg/L at 1 bar of operation pressure. Difference of NO3-N between 0.5 and 1.0 bar of operating pressure was caused by air suction rate as the same reason mentioned in the case of NH3-N. In analysis of T-N, concentration of T-N in influent was from 33 to 55 mg/L and each of the average of removal efficiency of T-N was 39.83% at 0.5 bar of operating pressure and 46.51% at 1.0 bar of operating pressure. Although removal efficiency of T-N at 1.0 bar of operating pressure was improved by 15% compared to the removal efficiency at 0.5 bar of operating pressure, removal efficiency of T-N seemed to be impeded by limitation of denitrification in zone 1 and 2, which was caused by internal recirculation from zone 4 which was an aerobic zone that had existing microbubbles, in spite of low level of dissolved oxygen.

Fig. 6

Concentration of NH3-N (a), NO3-N (b), and T-N (c) according to operation pressure of microbubble generator.

4. Conclusions

In the experimental results, the following conclusions are obtained when ejector type microbubble generator is applied to the aeration tank to remove nitrogen in a single reactor.

In the batch type experiment, when supply location of microbubbles is located at half of width of the aeration tank, it is possible to separate zones into anoxic and aerobic at 0.5 bar of operating pressure for the generator. Especially, in zone 1 and 2, concentration of dissolved oxygen was less than 0.5 mg/L in the test. And, in zone 3 and 4, level of dissolved oxygen was increased up to 1.7 mg/L in the test. Also, in the continuous type experiment, when ejector type microbubble generator is operated at 0.5 and 1.0 bar of operating pressure, segregation of zones is ideally formed.

BOD, CODCr and SS is stably removed in the continuous type experiment. And, each of the average of removal efficiency of BOD, CODCr and SS is shown to about 80%. In addition, Air supplied to the aeration tank according to change of operating pressure does not have impact on removal of organic matter.

By analyzing NH3-N, NO3-N and T-N, it is able to verify optimal operating pressure of ejector type microbubble generator in this experiment. When ejector type microbubble generator is operated at 1.0 bar of operating pressure, although denitrification process seems to be impeded due to existing microbubbles in internal recirculation, nitrification process is facilitated by increased air suction rate due to the increase of operating pressure. Also, removal efficiency of T-N is about 46%, which is improved by 15% compared to the removal efficiency at 0.5 bar of operating pressure. Therefore, through changing supply location of microbubbles and operating pressure, it is possible to verify that zones can be separated into anoxic and aerobic. Also, nitrification and denitrification process can be performed in a single reactor.

Acknowledgement

This work (Grants No. C0530519) was supported by Business for Cooperative R&D between Industry, Academy, and Research Institute funded Korea Ministry of SMEs and Startups in 2017.

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Article information Continued

Fig. 1

Schematic diagram of ejector type nozzle (a), and location of the ejector type microbubble generator (b).

Fig. 2

The location of DO, pH, ORP sensors and the ejector type microbubble generator.

Fig. 3

Concentration of dissolved oxygen by using ejector type microbubble generator (a), (b), (c) and conventional air diffuser (d).

Fig. 4

Concentration of dissolved oxygen (a), and ORP (b) according to operation pressure of microbubble generator.

Fig. 5

Concentration of BOD (a), CODCr (b), and SS (c) according to operating pressure

Fig. 6

Concentration of NH3-N (a), NO3-N (b), and T-N (c) according to operation pressure of microbubble generator.

Table 1

Measurement and Analysis Items

Items Site Zone 1 Location

Zone 2 Zone 3 Zone 4
Measurement items1) Aeration tank DO, pH, ORP DO, pH DO, pH DO, pH, ORP
Analysis items2) Influent SS, BOD, CODCr, NH4+-N, NO3-N, T-N
Effluent SS, BOD, CODCr, NH4+-N, NO3-N, T-N
1)

DO meter: Pro ODO®, YSI, USA (measurement range 0~50 mg/L)/ORP meter: WSO–100, DIK, Korea (measurement range −1,500~15.00 mV)/pH meter: 4,010-1 MultiLab IDS, YSI, USA (measurement range – 0.000 ~ 14.000)

2)

SS, BOD: 2017 Water pollution standard method, Ministry of Environment in South Korea/CODCr, NH4+-N, NO3-N, T-N: Hach vial with DR2700