Denitrification of high nitrate and ammonia waters using fixed-biofilms reactors on natural supports

me pollution of ground water with nitrate is becoming a serious problem in Northern France. Biological dissimilative denitrification may be used to treat highly contaminated aquifers. Microbial denitrification was studied in laboratory continuously-fed fixed-film reactors using limestone or pouzzolan as supports for three months. Denitrification efficiencies were determined throughout the experimental period and reached 90-99% nitrate removal when the exogenous donor addition (glucose) was adequate. There was also a significant relationship between denitrification rates and the phosphorus supply.