Operating parameters for high nitrite accumulation during nitrification in a rotating biological nitrifying contactor. |
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Authors: | Christian Antileo Marlene Roeckel J?rg Lindemann Udo Wiesmann |
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Affiliation: | Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Casilla 54-D, Temuco, Chile. cantileo@ufro.cl |
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Abstract: | Incomplete nitrification was studied in a completely and partially submerged rotating biological contactor (RBC). In a partially submerged RBC without additional aeration, 50 to 90% nitrite accumulation (alpha) was achieved at rotation speeds (omega) of 2 to 18 min(-1). In a completely submerged RBC operating during 80 days, a higher alpha of 96% was achieved at omega = 2 min(-1). Incomplete nitrification in a completely submerged RBC at oxygen concentrations of 1.5 to 6.8 mg O2/L indicated that the mass transfer of oxygen is rate-limiting. Modeling of the completely submerged RBC predicts that the oxygen profile will not penetrate the biofilm more than 30 microm, thereby strongly limiting the nitrite-oxidizer growth and causing high nitrite accumulation. Molecular analysis (i.e., fluorescence in situ hybridization) indicated that the nitrite-oxidizers are superficially located (<200 microm) and that the ammonia-oxidizers comprise up to approximately 800 microm of the biofilm. |
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