Nitrogen removal in intermittently aerated biofilm airlift reactor

Denitrification was integrated in a nitrifying biofilm airlift suspension reactor by intermittent aeration. A total nitrogen-removal efficiency of 75% was reached at an aerobic ammonia load of 5 kg(N) . m(-3) . d(-1). Acetate was added to the reactor during the anoxic periods. The system was operated at sufficiently long anoxic hydraulic retention times to allow suspended growth of denitrifying heterotrophs. However, the heterotrophic biomass did not grow in suspension but grew as protuberances and layers on the nitrifying biofilms. Nitrification and denitrification occurred via nitrite as an intermediate, possibly because denitrifiers outcompeted the nitrite oxidizers. Because of the establishment of the "nitrite route," a low average COD/N ratio of 2.6 kg(COD).kg(N)(-1) was obtained. When denitrifying operation with acetate addition was started, initially almost all nitrogen removed was emitted as nitrous oxide. Subsequently, the nitrous oxide emission strongly decreased to almost zero in a period of 30 days, while the nitrogen-removal efficiency was maintained.