Abstract
This study was conducted to determine the applicable loading rate and to evaluate the possibility of using limestones as an alkalinity source for the removal of ${NO_3}^{-}-N$ remaining after denitrification/nitrification process with the down-flow sulfur packed bed reactor(SPBR). The pretreated sewage was fed to SPBR. Three SPBRs were filled with elemental sulfur particles and limestones and the volumetric ratios of sulfur to limestone were 0%, 12.5% and 25% for R-0%, R-12.5% and R-25%, respectively. The applicable loading rate was evaluated increasing flow rate with influent ${NO_3}^{-}-N$ concentration of 20 mg/L. For R-0% with external alkalinity supply, denitrification efficiency was greater than 96% up to loading rate of $354.8g\;{NO_3}^{-}-N/m^3{\cdot}day$, and corresponding EBCT was 1.4hr. For R-12.5% and R-25%, where alkalinity was supplied by the limestone filled in the reactor, denitrification efficiency was greater than 94% up to loading rate of $283.8g\;{NO_3}^{-}-N/m^3{\cdot}day$, and corresponding EBCT was 1.7hr. The slightly better performance of R-12.5 compared to R-25 suggests that the volumetric sulfur to limestone ratio of 12.5% was enough for the supply of alkalinity required for sulfur-utilizing denitrification. DO was appeared not showing inhibitory effect on sulfur-utilizing denitrification. The clogging of SPBR caused by the produced gas can effectively be eliminated by regular introduction of treated water in up-flow mode.
