Nitrogen removal using anammox process in different biomass carriers

Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) has been discovered recently as a novel process in which ammonium is converted to N-2 gas under anoxic conditions with nitrite as the electron acceptor. This report focuses on the feasibility of nitrogen removal from a synthetic inorganic wastewater with the anammox: process in different biomass carriers and reactor configurations. It was shown that non-woven biomass carrier in a packed reactor was a suitable biomass retention materials for the anammox process. In the 100th days of continuous operation, nitrogen removal rates for non-woven, PVA gel beads and charcoal brick (made from beer lees) biomass carriers were 0.78, 0.25 and 0.18kg-T-N m(reactor)(-3) day(-1), respectively. After 250 days of operation, above 70% nitrogen removal efficiency was achieved for the reactor using non-woven biomass carrier and the maximum nitrogen removal rate of was 1.7kg-T-N m(-3) reactor day(-1) was achieved. In addition, PVA gel beads carrier in a fluidized bed reactor showed the potential performances.