KINETICS OF A FLUIDIZED-BED REACTOR FOR GROUND-WATER DENITRIFICATION

A fluidized-bed reactor, with sand as the carrier and ethanol as the c arbon and electron source, was investigated for the biological denitri fication of ground water. The paper concentrates on the reactor's kine tics, with special emphasis on nitrite as the intermediate product. In trinsic zero-order kinetic parameters for both nitrate and nitrite wer e determined by batch and continuous experiments. Values for the maxim um specific nitrate and nitrite removal rates of 11 g and 6 g NO3- (g volatile suspended solids)(-1) day(-1), respectively, were obtained. T hese values were used to interpret nitrate and nitrite concentration p rofiles in an experimental fluidized-bed reactor operating at differen t conditions of hydraulic loading and retention time.