Real-time monitoring control of sequencing batch anammox process

Rapid recognition and timely management of the emergent situation in wastewater treatment are crucial to maintaining the stable operation of anammox process. In this study, the feasibility of pH, conductivity (Cond) and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) profiles for monitoring and controlling anammox process for synthetic wastewater treatment was evaluated, and the practicability of the method was further verified by using real wastewater. The results showed that the characteristic values of these parameter profiles exhibited high accuracy and reproducibility in indicating the endpoint of the anammox reaction. Moreover, the positive correlations between TN removal and Delta pH, Delta Cond and Delta ORP were found. Nevertheless, only the slope of the Cond curve was found to be significantly linearly correlated with the specific anammox activity, which was further validated by the Haldane inhibition kinetic model, suggesting that the Cond curve can be used as an immediate feedback signal on whether anammox activity was inhibited. Overall, this study presents a fast, convenient and accurate strategy based on online real-time monitoring of instrument parameters, which was conducive to tracking the nitrogen removal process dynamics and performing the necessary operations in a timely manner, and to improving the stability of anammox process in wastewater treatment.