Abstract
Four parallel $A^2/O$ systems maintaining an MLSS of 3,000 mg/L were operated to investigate the effects of varying an HRT of anoxic reactors and packing Bio contact media (BCM, fixed beds) in aerobic reactors on organic matter removal and nitrification/denitrification efficiencies. All systems were operated under conditions that the external recycle ratio was kept 0.5 Q while the internal recycle ratio was changed 1.0 Q to 1.5 Q with that $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed was increased to 40 mg/L by adding $NH_4Cl$. In terms of TSS and TCODcr removal efficiency, both systems with BCM and a system without BCM, respectively, had a similar level of the removal efficiency under varied HRTs of anoxic reactors (0.6 hr, 1.3 hr, 2 hr, 2 hr; control, without BC M) showing that varying an HRT of anoxic reactors did not affect the removal efficiency. While SCODcr removal efficiency of systems with BCM was improved approximately 4~5% at the same HRT of anoxic reactor, the removal efficiency of system with BCM was slightly decreased by reducing an HRT of anoxic reactor. The nitrification efficiency for both systems with BCM and a system without BCM was above 94% showing that packing BCM in aerobic reactors and varying an HRT of anoxic reactors did not affect the efficiency significantly despite of increasing $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed. The denitrification efficiency increased from 81.4% to 85.4% at system with BCM while the efficiency decreased when a shorter HRT of anoxic reactors was kept. The excellent effluent quality for $NO_3-N$ concentration was observed although the $NO_3-N$ concentration increased in anoxic reactors that $NH_4-N$ concentration of feed sufficiently converted into nitrate through nitrification. As a result, packing 20% BCM to an aerobic reactor with HRT of 1.3 hr of anoxic reactor in $A^2/O$ system can achieve a similar level of nitrogen removal efficiency in $A^2/O$ system which the aerobic reactor had no BCM and HRT of 2 hr for anoxic reactor is maintained.