Abstract
The first full-scale down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor applied to post-treatment of effluent from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the treatment of municipal sewage was evaluated, with emphasis on nitrification. The full-scale DHS reactor was successfully operated at a hydraulic retention time of 1.5h for over 1800days in India. The DHS reactor produced effluent with 6mgL−1 ammonium nitrogen, corresponding to 79% removal efficiency. The total nitrogen removal by the DHS reactor was 65%. The high process performance of the DHS reactor was supported by its distinctive characteristics of (1) high dissolved oxygen of 5.4mgL−1 in the DHS effluent without forced ventilation, (2) dense retained sludge in the range of 23–46gVSSLsponge−1, and (3) adequate sludge activity of 52mgNgVSS−1 day−1 for nitrification. The full-scale experiment has proven that the DHS reactor has practical applicability to developing countries.
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