Anoxic phosphate uptake in the DEPHANOX process

The innovative nutrient removal process scheme DEPHANOX proved to be very e fficient because it maximises the utilisation of organic substrate for phos phorus and nitrogen removal. The process solves the competition for organic substrates among Poly-P organisms and denitrifiers as well as the problem of overgrowing of slow nitrifiers by faster organotrophs, typical of activa ted sludge. In experiments, DEPHANOX showed better P removal efficiency tha n a JHB configuration, working with a very low influent COD/TKN ratio. This paper reports the results of a simulation study that has been carried out to better understand the behaviour of the two configurations with a wide va riety of influent wastewater characteristics and under dynamic conditions. The results of the simulation confirmed the high P removal capacity of the DEPHANOX configuration with low influent COD/TKN ratios. (C) 1999 IAWQ Publ ished by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.