pH as a real-time control parameter in swine wastewater treatment process

Laboratory scale research was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of usin g pH as a real-time control parameter in swine wastewater treatment. This r eal-time control technology was implemented in a two-stage sequencing batch reactor process for the removal of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. A med ium known as Ringlace was provided in the A/O (Anoxic/Oxic) reactor for the immobilization of bacteria. Track analyses were done to identify control p oints on the pH curve. A control strategy was then devised based on the res ults of the track study. Consistent patterns in pH, oxidation-reduction pot ential (ORP), and dissolved oxygen (DO) were produced throughout the resear ch. With real-time control, high treatment efficiency was constantly achiev ed. BOD5, COD, total organic carbon (TOC), NH4-N, PO4-3, total suspended so lids (TSS), and total volatile suspended solids (TVSS) removals of over 90% were obtained. The final NOx-N concentration was also maintained at approx imately 4 mg/L. Test results in this study suggest that pH can be an effect ive real-time control parameter in a biological nutrient removal process.