Sidestream bio-P and mainstream anammox in a BNR process with upstream carbon capture

Abstract

The integration of biological phosphorus removal (bio-P) and shortcut nitrogen removal (SNR) processes is challenging because of the conflicting demands on influent carbon: SNR allows for upstream carbon diversion but this reduction of influent carbon (especially volatile fatty acids (VFA) prevents or limits bio-P The objective of this study was to achieve SNR, either via partial nitritation/anammox (PNA) or partial denitrification/anammox (PdNA), simultaneously with biological phosphorus removal in a process with upstream carbon capture. This study took place in a pilot scale A/B process with a sidestream bio-P reactor and tertiary anammox polishing. Despite low influent rbCOD concentrations from the A-stage effluent, bio-P occurred in the B-stage thanks to the addition of A-stage WAS fermentate to the sidestream reactor. Nitrite accumulation occurred in the B-stage via partial denitrification and partial nitritation (NOB out-selection), depending on operational conditions, and was removed along with ammonia by the tertiary anammox MBBR, with the ability to achieve effluent TIN less than 2 mg/L.