• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.429-437
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• 2007

This study aims to develop a sulfur-using denitrification process which is possible a renovation to advanced treatment plant submerging a simple module in activated sludge aeration tank. At first, the impact factor of sulfur-using denitrification was appreciated by the batch test. Secondly, reflecting a dissolved oxygen effect of sulfur-using denitrification that was confirmed by the batch test, in a continuous nitrification/sulfur-using denitrification, high-rate nitrogen removal reaction was induced at optimum condition controlling DO concentration according to phases. Also, inside and outside of sulfur-using denitrification module was covered with microfilter and the module was considered as an alternative of clarifier. Result of batch test for sulfur-using denitrification, $NO_2{^-}N$ was lower for consumption of alkalinity and sulfur than that of $NO_3{^-}-N$. These results revealed the accordance of theoretical prediction. In continuous nitrification/sulfur-using denitrification experiment, actual wastewater was used as a influent, and influent nitrogen loading rates were increased 0.04, 0.07, 0.11, $0.14kg\;N/m^3-day$ by changing hydraulic retention times. At this time, nitrogen loading rates of packed sulfur were increased 0.23, 0.46, 0.69, $0.93kg\;N/m^3-day$. As a result, nitrification efficiency was about 100% and denitrification efficiency was 93, 81, 79, 72%. Accordingly, nitrogen removal was a high-rate. Also the module of sulfur-using denitrification covered with microfilter did not make a fouling phenomena according to increased flux. And the module was achieved effluent suspended solids of below 10 mg/L without a clarifier. In conclusion, it is possible a renovation to advanced treatment plant submerging a simple module packed sulfur in activated sludge aeration tank of traditional facilities. And the plant used the module packed sulfur is expected as a effective facilities of high-rate and the smallest.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1155-1160
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• 2012

Sulfur-utilizing autotrophic denitrification relies on an inorganic carbon source to reduce the nitrate by producing sulfuric acid as an end product and can be used for the treatment of wastewaters containing high levels of nitrates. In this study, sulfur-denitrifying bacteria were used in anoxic batch tests with sulfur as the electron donor and nitrate as the electron acceptor. Various medium components were tested under different conditions. Sulfur denitrification can drop the medium pH by producing acid, thus stopping the process half way. To control this mechanism, a 2:1 ratio of sulfur to oyster shell powder was used. Oyster shell powder addition to a sulfur-denitrifying reactor completely removed the nitrate. Using 50, 100, and 200 g of sulfur particles, reaction rate constants of 5.33, 6.29, and $7.96mg^{1/2}/l^{1/2}{\cdot}h$ were obtained, respectively; and using 200 g of sulfur particles showed the highest nitrate removal rates. For different sulfur particle sizes ranging from small (0.85-2.0 mm), medium (2.0-4.0 mm), and large (4.0-4.75 mm), reaction rate constants of 31.56, 10.88, and $6.23mg^{1/2}/l^{1/2}{\cdot}h$ were calculated. The fastest nitrate removal rate was observed for the smallest particle size. Addition of chemical oxygen demand (COD), methanol as the external carbon source, with the autotrophic denitrification in sufficiently alkaline conditions, created a balance between heterotrophic denitrification (which raises the pH) and sulfur-utilizing autotrophic denitrification, which lowers the pH.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.720-727
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• 2005

This study was performed to advance nitrogen removal efficiency by employing an single biofilter packed with granular sulfur, which consists of nitrification occurring at upper part and denitrification at lower part of the reactor. Continuos nitrification/denitrification was carried out with different alkalinity sources, which were $NaHCO_3$ and $CaCO_3$(limestone). In the downflow nitrification/denitrification biofilter packed with granular sulfur, first, terms for nitrogen removal was decided. As results, nitrification and denitrification rate with NaHCO3 at 0.85 kg $NH_4^+-N/m^3{\cdot}d$ were accomplished $0.80kg\;N/m_3{\cdot}d$, $0.43kg\;N/m^3{\cdot}d$, respectively. In the sulfur/limestone packed downflow nitrification/denitrification biofilter, sulfur and limestone were mixed packed, preliminary test showed sulfur/limestone mixing ratio was 3:1 and that was ideal. In the result, nitrification and denitrification rate at $0.7kg\;NH_4^+-N/m^3{\cdot}d$ were accomplished$0.65kg\;N/m^3{\cdot}d$, $0.34kg\;N/m^3{\cdot}d$, respectively. In general, employing granular sulfur can be implemented for only denitrification, but this system can accomplish nitrification as well as denitrification in a single reactor even though low carbon concentration was present in influent limiting to nutrient removal process. This biofilter system of limestone and granular sulfur packed together can successfully apply for nutrient removal effectively.

• 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.07a
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• pp.296-296
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• 2011

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.32 no.5 s.92
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• pp.469-477
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• 2006

When denitrification was connected with a single stream process by using biofilter and sulfur-limestone, it was found that such connection enabled highly efficient nitrification without special unit operation of microorganisms or injection of external carbon sources which is being shown in general biological treatment processes. It was observed that in the trickling filter bed, decomposition of organic substances and highly efficient nitrification by both the forced pressure feed trickling and the air fan were simultaneously done. In the denitrification tank where sulfur-limestone was mixed at a certain ratio, limestone was used by autotrophic microorganisms as a source of supply for alkalinity, and nitrate $NO_{3}^{-}$-N was denitrified into nitrogen gas. And in the sulfur-limestone autotrophic denitrification, $NO_{3}^{-}-N\;or\;NO_{2}^{-}-N$ was denitrified as a sulfur compound in reduction state was oxidized into a final output of $SO_{4}^{-2}$. The mean concentration of the discharge water was 8.6 mg/l for T-N and 0.8 mg/l for T-P, respectively, and their mean treatment efficiency was 79.2% and 80.8%, respectively. Implementing highly efficient denitrification without injection of an external organic carbon source or internal return, it is concluded that the proposed process is suitable for a sewerage in a small village with the merits of low power consumption and easy maintenance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.271-280
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• 2000

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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.259-265
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• 2008

Generally speaking, there are two widely used methods of Nitrogen removal from waste water: 1) nitrification using autotrophic microorganisms, and 2) denitrification using heterotrophic microorganisms. The C/N ratio is an important factor of the denitrification process. In this case, if methanol is added to increase the lacking organic matter, a high economic cost is incurred and methanol is left in the processed water. In an effort to fix these issues, autotrophic denitrification through the use of Hydrogen, Iron and Sulfur is being studied, and among those Sulfur is cheaper and carries out denitrification effectively, and therefore is being studied the most. In this study, after cultivating T. denitrificans, the presence of T. denitrificans was determined and the effectiveness of denitirification via T. denitrificans was studied. In order to find out about the inhibition of T. denitrificans from the loading of organic matter, this shows that the greater the loading of organic matter, the more the denitrification ability of T. denitrificans is hindered. In order to research the hindrance of T. denitrificans resulting from the loading of $NO_3{^-}-N$, these results show that concentrations less than 100mg/L per 100mL of gel volume do not hinder T. denitrificans. In order to research the optimization of denitrification resulting from T. denitrificans, three 500mL samples of Sulfur granules were prepared: 1) one with only T. denitrificans attached (Mode I), 2) one with both T. denitrificans and active sludge attached (Mode II), and 3) one with only active sludge attached (Mode III). The results showed that autotrophic denitrification using S from Mode I was the most active.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1995-2005
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• 2000

The use of heterotrophic denitrification as an alternative method for supplying alkalinity during sulfur-utilizing autotrophic denitrification was evaluated by examining the effects of external carbon source (both type and concentration) and HRT on denitrification efficiency. Concentrations of $NO_3{^-}-N$ and $COD_{Cr}$ of nitrified landfill leachate used for experiment were 700-900mg/L and 900-2500mg/L. respectively, All experiment was conducted with sulfur packed bed reactors (SPBRs) which were operated at $35^{\circ}C$. The fraction of $NO_3{^-}-N$ removed by heterotrophic denitrification ($HDNR_{fraction}$) to balance the alkalinity consumption by autotrophic denitrification varied with the type of external carbon source. When methanol and sodium acetate was added at theoretical HDNRfraction value. 100% denitrification was achieved without alkalinity addition. However, glucose and molasses require $HDNR_{fraction}$ value greater than theoretical value for complete denitrification. The EBCT and volumetric loading rate at which 100% denitrification efficiency could be achieved were 6.76 h and $2.84kg-NO_3{^-}-N/m^3{\cdot}d$, respectively, based on the fact that 100% denitrification occurred within the bottom 11.5 cm layer of the SPBR. The maximum nitrogen removal rate occurred with 89% removal efficiency at loading rate of $5.05kg-NO_3{^-}-N/m^3{\cdot}d$. However, at short EBCT, clogging of SPBR was observed with excess growth of heterotrophic denitrifiers. This problem may be eliminated by back washing or by separating of heterotrophic denitrification from sulfur-utilizing denitrification.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.231-236
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• 2011

Biological nitrogen removal, using a continuous flow packed-bed reactor (CPBR) in a consecutive nitrification and denitrification process, was evaluated. An apparent decline in the nitrification efficiency coincided with the steady increase in $NH_4{^+}$-N load. Sustained nitrification efficiency was found to be higher at longer empty bed contact times (EBCTs). The relationship between the rate of alkalinity consumption and $NH_4{^+}$-N utilization ratio followed zero-order reaction kinetics. The heterotrophic denitrification rate at a carbon-tonitrogen (C/N) ratio of >4 was found to be >74%. This rate was higher by a factor of 8.5 or 8.9 for $NO_3{^-}$-N/volatile solids (VS)/day or $NO_3{^-}-N/m^3$ ceramic media/day, respectively, relative to the rates measured at a C/N ratio of 1.1. Autotrophic denitrification efficiencies were 80-90%. It corresponds to an average denitrification rate of 0.96 kg $NO_3{^-}-N/m^3$ ceramic media/day and a relevant average denitrification rate of 0.28 g $NO_3{^-}$-N/g VS/day, were also obtained. Results presented here also constitute the usability of an innovative porous sulfur ceramic media. This enhanced the dissolution rate of elemental sulfur via a higher contact surface area.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.283-293
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• 2005

Characteristics of sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification in a semi-continuous type reactor and the kinetic parameters were studied. Enriched autotrophic denitrifying culture was used for the reactor operation. Biomass growth on sulfur particles and in the liquid medium was monitored using the DAPI staining method. From the result of ion concentration changes and the biomass growth, maximum specific growth rate, ${\mu}_{max}$, and the half velocity constant, $K_M$, were estimated as $0.61\;d^{-1}$ and 3.66 mg/L, respectively. Growth yield coefficient, Y values for electron acceptor and donor were found as 0.49 gVSS/g N and 0.16 gVSS/g S. The biomass showed specific denitrification rate, ranging 0.86-1.13 gN/g VSS-d. A half-order equation was found to best simulate the denitrification process in the packed bed reactor operated in the semi-continuous mode.