ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Carbon Removal by Activated Sludge under Fully
Aerobic Conditions at Different COD/N Ratio
A. Dobrzyńska, I. Wojnowska-Baryła*, K. Bernat
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Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Fischeries, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn,
ul. Prawocheńskiego 1, 10-957 Olsztyn, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2004;13(1):33-40
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The aim of the experiment was to analyze the particular processes (biomass synthesis, oxidation, denitrification
and accumulation) during carbon removal from wastewater. The experiment was carried out
in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) in two series with different organic carbon compounds to nitrogen
compounds ratio (COD/N). Organic carbon loading of activated sludge was 0.07 g COD/g·d.
Organic carbon removal efficiency was higher at COD/N ratio 13 (98%), at COD/N ratio 3 (85%).
Depending on COD/N ratio in waste, the processes of biomass synthesis, denitrification and intracellular
accumulation changed. At low COD/N ratio biomass synthesis decreased; however, there was an increase
in carbon used for denitrification and accumulation. It was observed that under fully aerobic conditions the
activated sludge was able to store reserved materials expressed as poly(-â-hydroxybutyrate) PHB. When
the lack of carbon source in waste was observed, the activated sludge used endogenous carbon resources
as poly(-â-hydroxybutyrate) as electrons donor. Depending on activated sludge nitrogen loading, different
times of endogenous denitrification were observed. In the first series the denitrification with endogenous
carbon source was from the 8th hour in the second series during only 2 initial hours of the experiment. Biomass
cellular respiration was on the level of 16% in both series.