Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification by using ejector type microbubble generator in a single reactor

This study was performed to verify the possibility of nitrification and denitrification in a single reactor. In batch type experiment, optimal point of experimental conditions could be found by performing the experiments. When supply location of microbubbles was located at half of width of the aeration tank and operating pressure of 0.5 bar, it was possible for zones in the aeration tank to be separated into anoxic and aerobic by controlling air suction rate according to operating pressure of the generator. To be specific, the concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) in zone 1 and 2 of the aeration tank could be maintained as less than 0.5 mg/L. Also, in the case of concentration of oxygen in zone 3 and 4, the concentration of DO was increased up to 1.7 mg/L due to effects of microbubbles. In continuous flow type experiment based on the results of batch type experiments, the removal efficiency of nitrogen based on T-N was observed as 39.83% at operating pressure of 0.5 bar and 46.51% at operating pressure of 1 bar so it was able to know that sufficient air suction rate should be required for nitrification. Also, denitrification process could be achieved in a single reactor by using ejector type microbubble generator and organic matter and suspended solid could be removed. Therefore, it was possible to verify that zones could be separated into anoxic and aerobic and nitrification and denitrification process could be performed in a single reactor.