Effects of mechanical stress on Anammox granules in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR)

B. Arrojo, A. Mosquera-Corral, J. L. Campos, R. Méndez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

106 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effect of shear stress on Anammox process was studied in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The reactor was operated during 218 days under different stirring speeds (60-250 rpm) in order to expose the system to different shear conditions and to study the stability of the Anammox granules referred to their biological activity and size. The nitrogen loading rate (NLR) fed to the SBR was kept around 0.3 g N (L day)-1. The nitrite (limiting substrate) removal percentage was 98% during most of the operational period. The specific Anammox activity of the biomass was practically constant and around 0.4 g N (g VSS day)-1 and the average feret diameter of the formed granules was 0.64 mm. Obtained results indicated that stirring speeds up to 180 rpm have no negative effect on the performance of the Anammox process, whereas Anammox activity decreased to 40% when a rotating speed of 250 rpm was tested and the average diameter decreased in 45%, the concentration of solids in the effluent increased to 0.2 g TSS L-1 and nitrite was accumulated in the reactor up to 60 mg N L-1.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)453-463
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Biotechnology
Volume123
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Jun 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Anammox
  • Granular biomass
  • Sequencing batch reactor (SBR)
  • Shear stress
  • Stirring speed

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