A novel control strategy for enhancing biological N-removal in a granular sequencing batch reactor : a model-based study
Isanta Monclús, Eduardo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Figueroa, Mónica (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Enxeñaría Química)
Mosquera-Corral, Anuska (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Enxeñaría Química)
Campos, Luis (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Departamento de Enxeñaría Química)
Carrera, Julian (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)
Pérez Cañestro, Julio (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental)

Date:	2013
Abstract:	Biological nitrogen removal in aerobic granular sequencing batch reactors is sensitively affected by process conditions (e. g. dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, nitrogen loading rate (NLR), influent C/N ratio, among others). The variation of one of these process conditions affects the others, because often they are tightly linked. These interrelationships are a drawback for the experimental assessment of the target domain of process conditions required to enhance N-removal. Here, we have developed a model to determine the guidelines to design an automatic control strategy with the final aim of enhancing biological N-removal in a granular sequencing batch reactor. The model was first calibrated with experimental data from a granular sequencing batch reactor treating swine wastewater. Specific simulations were designed to elucidate the effect of DO concentration (0. 5-8 mg O₂ L⁻¹), granule size (0. 5-3. 5 mm), influent C/N ratio (4-10 g O₂g⁻¹ N) and NLR (0. 41-0. 82 g N L⁻¹ d⁻¹) on the nitrification- enitrification efficiency. Simulation results showed that, in general, high N-removal efficiencies (from 70% to 85%) could be obtained only setting the appropriate DO concentration. That appropriate DO concentration could be easily found based on effluent ammonium concentration. Those results were used to propose a control strategy to enhance N-removal efficiencies. The control strategy was based on a closed DO loop with variable DO set-point. The DO set-point was established at a constant value for the whole cycle (i. e. once per cycle), based on the on-line measurement of ammonium concentration at the end of the previous cycle.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CTQ2008-06792-C02-02/PPQ Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CTQ2011-24745/PPQ
Rights:	Tots els drets reservats.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió acceptada per publicar
Subject:	Aerobic granular sludge ; Dissolved oxygen concentration ; Mathematical modeling ; Nitrification-denitrification ; On-line ammonium concentration ; Particle size
Published in:	Chemical engineering journal, Vol. 232 (Oct. 2013) , p. 468-477, ISSN 1873-3212

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2013.07.118

Post-print 40 p, 1.2 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Engineering > GENOCOV
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles