A FULL-SCALE TEST OF A BIOLOGICAL NUTRIENTS REMOVAL SYSTEM USING THE SEQUENCING BATCH REACTOR ACTIVATED-SLUDGE PROCESS

A full-scale. pilot plant using SBR process was experimented with an a ctual wastewater emanating from a recreational center. The main purpos e of this investigation was to evaluate applicability in the field and process removal efficiencies in terms of BOD, SS, TN and TP and its c orresponding kinetic parameters. It was found that removal efficiencie s were comparable with results of other studies reported in the litera ture. BOD removal was observed to be 95% on average while SS removal t o be 89% on average, Removal rate of nitrogen was 70% in terms of tota l nitrogen and that of phosphorus was 77% in terms of total phosphorus . Effluent concentrations were 73mg/L POD, 10.4mg/L SS, 136mg/L TN and 0.9mg/L TP. Effluent quality was maintained consistently stable by co ntrolling decantation quantity and operating cycles. Denitrification/n itrification were accomplished during anaerobic/aerobic processes and the conversion rates were 4.5mg/kgMLSS/hr and 1.5mg/kgMLSS/hr, respect ively. The sludge yield coefficient was 0.32 whereas sludge phosphorus luxury uptake was as high as 5.6wt% at the end of aerobic cycle. Micr oscopic examination revealed that microcytes that were observed predom inantly in sludge were Vorticella, Epistilis Aspidisca (protozoa) and Philodina (rotatoria). This experiment may prove that SBR process is o ne of the most promising technologies that can be employed to treat or ganic matter as well as nutrients in wastewaters that are generated fr om such sources as recreational facilities because of fluctuations of wastewaters in terns of quality and quantity. Copyright (C) 1996 IAWQ.