Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the nitrification characteristics of biological aerated filter (BAF) packed with ceramic media, especially focusing on nitrite build-up during nitrification. When increasing the nitrogen load above 1.63 kgNH4 + -N/m 3 ·d, ammonium removal efficiency decreased to less than 60% and the nitrite ratio (NO2 - -N/NOx-N) of higher than 75% was achieved due to the inhibitory free ammonia (FA, NH3-N) concentration and oxygen limitation. FA inhibition, however, is not recommended strategy to promote nitrite build-up since FA concentration in the reactor is coupled with decreased ammonium removal efficiency. Nitrite ratio in the effluent was also affected by aeration rate and influent ammonium concentration. Ammonium oxidation was enhanced at a higher aeration rate regardless of influent ammonium concentration but, the nitrite ratio was dependent on both aeration rate and influent ammonium concentration. While a higher nitrite ratio was obtained when BAFs were fed with 50 mgNH 4 + -N/L of influent, the nitrite ratio significantly decreased for a greater influent concentration of 200-300 mgNH4 + -N/L. Taken together, aeration rate, influent ammonium concentration and FA concentrations kept in the BAF were found to be critical variables for nitrite accumulation in the BAF system.
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