Contrasting the benefits of primary clarification versus prefermentation in activated sludge biological nutrient removal systems

    Authors

    T. M. McCue; A. A. Randall;F. G. Eremektar

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Environ. Eng.-ASCE

    Keywords

    wastewater management; biological treatment; phosphorus; nitrification; denitrification; oxygen demand; COD; GROWTH; Engineering, Environmental; Engineering, Civil; Environmental Sciences

    Abstract

    The potential benefits prefermentation can provide to biological nutrient removal are measured and compared to the costs of excess oxygen consumption and sludge production incurred by an activated sludge system that utilizes prefermentation, instead of primary clarification. Prefermentation was found to produce superior performance in regards to enhanced biological phosphorus removal. A lower soluble orthophosphorus effluent value [3.2 mg/L for the prefermented activated sludge (PAS) train versus 4.6 mg/L for the control train with primary clarification (PCAS)] and a higher percent phosphorus (% P) content of the biomass (9.0% for the PAS train versus 7.8% for the PCAS train) were both found to be statistically significant (P values of 4.26 x 10(-5) and 0.0082, respectively). In addition statistically significant improvements in denitrification rates and reduced observed yields were observed due to prefermentation. However statistically significant increases in solids inventory and in particular oxygen uptake rates offset these improvements. Waste activated sludge production was slightly higher in the PAS train but was not found to be statistically significant.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Environmental Engineering-Asce

    Volume

    132

    Issue/Number

    9

    Publication Date

    1-1-2006

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1061

    Last Page

    1067

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000239886400013

    ISSN

    0733-9372

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