Abstract
This research presents results from laboratory and pilot-scale experiments to remove high-nitrate in pickling wastewater using the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) as a biological method. During the experimental periods, the influent concentrations of NOx-N and $Ca^{+2}$ were analyzed to be 350-1,600 and 700-800 mg/L, respectively. In order to provide carbon source for denitrification, methanol has been added in proportion to the influent nitrate loading. The mean concentrations of MLSS and MLVSS, the fraction of volatile solids in sludge and the sludge volume index were measured to be 27 g/L, 5 g/L, 18.5% and 7.5, respectively. The solid retention time was kept in the range of 18 to 22 days, specific denitrification rate ($U_{dn}$) was $0.301g{NO_3}^--N/gVSS/day$. The oxidized nitrogen concentration of effluent ranged 2-34 mg/L with an average of 5.2 mg/L, the overall reduction in total nitrogen was more than 99.2%. In order to treat the pickling wastewater including the high concentration of nitrate and $Ca^{+2}$, the continuous flow process is not suitable because the specific gravity of the sludge is considerably increased by $Ca^{+2}$, thus the SBR process is shown to be very effective to treat the pickling wastewater.