Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal Performance and Characteristics of a Sequencing Batch Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor

Abstract

Laboratory scale experiments were conducted to study the performance and characteristics of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) removal of a sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor (SBMBBR) with simple anaerobic/aerobic operating mode. Experimental results indicated that, under the operating condition of influent N concentration of 114 mg/L and P concentration of 12 mg/L, N and P removal efficiency reached 95% and 94% respectively under the conditions of influent COD/N (C/N) ratio of 2.8 to 4.0. Track studies of N, P and other operating parameters demonstrated that N removal was accomplished by anoxic denitrification during the filling and mixing stage and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) process in aerobic stage, while removal of P was realized through conventional phosphorus removal and denitrifying phosphorus removal processes.