Resumen de Effects of operational conditions on the performance of a partial nitritation SBR treating high nitrogen loads
The biological treatment of industrial wastewater containing high nitrogen concentrations (>1000 mg N L-1) and low biodegradable organic matter (bCOD) such as landfill leachate is nowadays challenging. Conventional nitrification-denitrification of such wastewater implies high operational costs associated with aeration requirements and external bCOD supply. Partial nitritation (PN) combined with anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) has become a more sustainable alternative treatment of this kind of industrial wastewaters.The research presented in this thesis involves changes on operational parameters such as aeration phases length and operational temperature decrease in a PN sequencing batch reactor (PN-SBR) treating mature landfill leachate to reduce energy requirements. The PN-SBR startup and operation was assessed at fully aerobic conditions at 25 and 35oC as well as the implementation of anoxic feedings to promote heterotrophic denitrification via NO2-at 35oC.Successful demonstration of the PN process robustness was achieved despite changing operational temperature or the inclusion of anoxic feedings
