An aerobic granular sludge process for treating low carbon/ nitrogen ratio sewage

Abstract

This study investigated the characteristic of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process to treat the sewage having low carbon/nitrogen ratio (Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5):Total nitrogen (T-N), 4.5:1) in sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The removal efficiency of BOD5, suspended solid (SS), T-N and phosphorus (PO43--P) were 92.6%, 64.3% and 90.1%. Concentration and size of AGS were changed in proportion to the organic matters and nitrogen concentration of the influent (Concentration and size of AGS: 1,700-3,000 mg/L, 0.5-1.0 mm). Mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) also changed with the concentration of AGS (MLSS: 2,000-3,500 mg/L). When the settling time was shortened from 15 min to 10 min, size and shape of AGS were maintained (Size of AGS: 1.0-1.5 mm). In addition, the concentration of AGS and MLSS increased (Concentration of AGS: 3,500 mg/L, MLSS: 4,000 mg/L). Concentration, size and shape of AGS were affected the settling time of the reactor more than the concentration of organic matter and nitrogen in the influent. In the results of removal efficiency and changes in AGS, we confirmed that the SBR process using AGS can be used to treat the sewage having low carbon/nitrogen ratio by applying short settling time.