Biological nitrate removal using sugar-industry wastes

Tatsuki Ueda, Yoshiyuki Shinogi, Masaru Yamaoka

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Biological denitrification experiment was conducted using sugar-industry wastes, namely final molasses as a carbon source and bagasse charcoal pellets as supporting media for denitrifying bacteria. We employed an upflow fixed-bed reactor filled with the pellets and biofilm attached onto them. This was fed with potassium-nitrate and dilute-molasses solutions. Total nitrogen removals of more than 85% were achieved at influent carbon-nitrogen (C/N) ratios between 2 and 4, and hydraulic residence times of more than 0.8 h. This demonstrated that final molasses could be used as an alternative carbon source. On the other hand, final molasses also contained some organic/ammonium nitrogen and refractory organic matter including colors, both of which were difficult to remove with the reactor. Accordingly, at higher C/N ratios, these substances caused major increases in effluent total-nitrogen and organic-carbon concentrations. Therefore, an optimum C/N ratio was found to be around 2.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)139-144
Number of pages6
JournalPaddy and Water Environment
Volume4
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2006
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Water Science and Technology

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