Influence of Carbon Source on Biological Nitrogen Removal by Immobilised Bacteria

Wilawan  Khanitchaidecha; Tatsuo  Sumino; Futaba  Kazama

doi:10.4236/jwarp.2010.26059

Wilawan Khanitchaidecha, Tatsuo Sumino, Futaba Kazama

Abstract: Acetate, ethanol, and hydrolysed rice were used as external carbon sources in an ammonium removal process employing immobilised bacteria. The influence of the carbon source on the occurrence of free cells and total nitrogen removal efficiency was examined at C/N ratios of 1.5 (low), 2.5 (medium), and 3.5 (high). At the low C/N ratio, no free cells were found in the reactors and the use of acetate as the carbon source resulted in the highest total nitrogen removal efficiency, followed by ethanol and hydrolysed rice. The occurrence of free cells in reactors fed with acetate and ethanol led to a negligible increase in the total nitrogen removal efficiency with increasing C/N ratio. The results suggest that acetate is the most appropriate carbon source for nitrogen removal and that the number of free cells should be minimized to achieve the highest efficiency during long-term operation.

Keywords: Nitrogen Removal, Nitrification and Denitrification, Carbon Sources

Cite this paper: nullW. Khanitchaidecha, T. Sumino and F. Kazama, "Influence of Carbon Source on Biological Nitrogen Removal by Immobilised Bacteria," Journal of Water Resource and Protection, Vol. 2 No. 6, 2010, pp. 527-531. doi: 10.4236/jwarp.2010.26059.

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