Removal kinetics of ammonia by peat biofilter seeded with night soil sludge

Abstract

Removal characteristics of ammonia by a peat biofilter seeded with night soil sludge on a laboratory scale were investigated. By gradually increasing ammonia load from 0.13 to 3.48 g-N·kg-dry peat −1·d −1 and pH control of the peat bed, the removal ratio of ammonia was observed at an average of 95% in a 110-d experiment, and the maximum removal capacity of ammonia reached 3.24 g-N·kg-dry peat −1·d −1. This value was about 10 times higher than that in previous reports. As determined by kinetic analysis, maximum removal rate of ammonia, V m was 11.4 g-N·kg-dry peat −1·d −1 and saturation constant, K s, was 226 ppm.