Comparative Study Of Anammox Start-up And Operation In Different Reactors

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) technology is a novel biological nitrogen removal technology. Compared with the traditional biological nitrogen removal technology, it is a very economical biological nitrogen removal technology with high nitrogen removal rate, no external organic carbon source and without aeration. However, the cultivation of Anammox bacteria requires a very long period, which limits its practical applications.In this study, a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) using new nowoven-chip carrier, another MBBR using K3carrier and an upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor were employed in Anammox process using Anammox sludge as inoculum. Start-up duration time and strategy, nitrogen removal efficiency and adaptability to shock load in the start-up of Anammox were evaluated and compared among these reactors. The main results were as follows:(1) The MBBR using new nowoven-chip carrier was started up successfully in15days; the MBBR using K3carrier was started up successfully in30days; and thenUASB reactor was started up successfully in40days.(2) The biofilm in the MBBR using new nowoven-chip carrier was attached successfully in25days, while the biofilm in the MBBR using K3carrier was attached successfully in40days.(3) High nitrogen removals were achieved in three reactors for a long period. The nitrogen load reached0.8kg/m3-d in both MBBRs. The nitrogen load reached1kg/m3·d in the UASB reactor during a longer experimental period.(4) The adaptability to shock load of MBBR using new nowoven-chip carrier was best among thress systems; and the UASB reactor showed the weakest adaptability to shock load.