Effect of Different Sludge Retention Time (SRT) Operations on the Nutrient Removal Characteristics of a SNEDPR System

Abstract

This study focuses on the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal characteristics in a simultaneous nitrification endogenous denitrification and phosphorus removal (SNEDPR) system operating at different sludge retention time (SRT). Four extended anaerobic/low aerobic (dissolved oxygen:0.5-1.0 mg·L-1)-operated sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) fed with municipal sewage were studied at different SRT of 5, 10, 15, and 25 d. The experimental results show that a shorter SRT at an SRT ≥ 10 d enhances the competitive advantage of PAOs in the system and an efficient phosphorus removal performance of the SNEDPR system was achieved at a SRT of 10 d and 15 d. Especially at an SRT of 10 d; the average PPAOs, An was 68.4%, the PRA and PUA reached 31.9 and 34.3 mg·L-1, respectively. The nitrification performance of the system was not affected by SRT changes. The most efficient nitrogen removal performance was achieved at a SRT of 15 d, with a high average TN removal and SNED efficiencies reaching 89.6% and 71.8%, respectively. At a SRT ≥ 10 d, the COD removal performance of the SNEDPR system was also not affected by SRT changes. The COD removal efficiencies were higher than 78%. However, when the SRT was shortened to 5 d, the C, N, and P performances of the system worsened due to the loss of biomass; the SNED and PO43--P removal efficiencies were as low as 5.7% and 0.5%, respectively. In addition, at an SRT=15 d, the sludge-settling performance of the system was the best. The SV and SVI were 20% and 64 mL·g-1, respectively, and the sludge concentration increased with the extension of the SRT. Under long SRT (25 d) operation, the system showed a good resistance to shock loads, but the sedimentation performance of the sludge deteriorated.