NITROGEN REMOVAL IN LEACHATE USING CARROUSEL ACTIVATED SLUDGE TREATMENT PROCESS

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the application of Carrousel Activated Sludge Treatment Process (CASTP) for ammonium nitrogen removal. High concentrations of ammonium nitrogen were found in landfill leachate. When leachate is treated in a local wastewater treatment plant, it has the potential to disturb the operations in the wastewater treatment plant. Because of the advantages of Carrousel Activated Sludge Treatment Process, several pilot studies and kinetic reactions of ammonium nitrogen removal in the CASTP were studied. High circulation and low dissolved oxygen in the CASTP enhances nitrification and denitrification processes. The results indicated that approximately 50–85% ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen were removed by using a conventional CASTP process. Two key parameters in the CASTP were further studied. The system detention time (SDT) appeared more important than the sludge retention time (SRT) in the CASTP. According to the experimental data, 24 h of the system detention time and 25 days of the sludge retention time achieved 85% or more ammonium nitrogen removal.

Keywords:

• Nitrogen removal
• Nitrification
• Denitrification
• Leachate
• Carrousel activated sludge

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Financial support for this project was provided by the Engineering Development Grant Program at Christian Brothers University. The interest and assistance from Dr. S. Malasri and the Committee are gratefully appreciated.