SIMULTANEOUS AMMONIUM AND p-HYDROXYBENZALDEHYDE OXIDATION IN A SEQUENCING BATCH REACTOR

S.K. Téllez-Pérez,; C.D. Silva; A.C. Texier

S.K. Téllez-Pérez,
C.D. Silva
A.C. Texier

Keywords: ammonium, biological oxidation, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, nitrification, sequencing batch reactor

Abstract

The simultaneous ammonium and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (pOHBD) oxidation capacity of a nitrifying sludge was investigated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). At all initial pOHBD concentrations tested (25-400 mg C/L), both ammonium (100 mg NH+₄ - N/L) and pOHBD were consumed with efficiencies of 99:2 ± 1:5 % and 100 ± 1 %, respectively. At pOHBD concentrations lower than 100 mg C/L, the main product of ammonium oxidation was nitrate with a yield (Y_NO3 ) of 0:97 ± 0:03 g NO₃ -N/g NH+₄ -N consumed. At 200 and 400 mg pOHBD-C/L, Y_NO3 decreased to 0:78 ± 0:05 and nitrite was detected (Y_NO2 = 0:04 ± 0:01 g NO₂ -N/g NH+₄ -N consumed). p-Hydroxybenzoate (pOHBT) was detected as product of pOHBD oxidation. pOHBT accumulation was significant in the first operation cycles at 25 mg pOHBD-C/L. Afterward, pOHBT was completely removed and no aromatic intermediates were detected. At low C/N ratio values (0.25-4), a dissimilatory nitrifying respiratory process was maintained (Y_BM = 0:03 ± 0:01 g biomass-N/g NH+₄ -N consumed). These results show that nitrifying SBR can be successfully used for the simultaneous removal of ammonium and p-hydroxybenzaldehyde in a unique reactor. This information might be useful for treating industrial wastewaters contaminated with nitrogen and recalcitrant phenolic compounds.

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