STUDY ON NITRIFIED LIQUOR RECYCLING PROCESS OPERATIONS USING POLYURETHANE FOAM SPONGE CUBES AS A BIOMASS SUPPORT MEDIUM

An experimental study was carried out to find a way of using sponge cubes as a biomass support medium to reaction tanks for nitrified liquor recycling process. Type-A, in which biomass fixed cubes are contacted with both anoxic and oxic stages and Type-B, where biomass fixed cubes are contacted with either anoxic or oxic stages, were selected as experimental cases. The results showed that the amount of CO2-C generated which was related to sludge production for Type-B exceeded the amount for Type-A by between 12 to 21%. The nitrification and denitrification rate coefficients at 20 degrees C in Type-A were 1.5 and 1.6 times respectively higher than the coefficients for suspended growth. The rate coefficients in Type-B were 1.5 and 2.0 times respectively higher than the coefficients for Type-A.