Authors

Peter G. Stroot

Document Type

Patent

Publication Date

January 2014

Patent Number

8628666

Abstract

Treatment systems are described which uncouple the solids retention time (SRT) of the recycling bacteria from the wasting bacteria. Elevated recycling bacteria SRTs increase concentrations of nitrifying bacteria in the aeration basin and Anammox bacteria in the anoxic basin, improving nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation. Fluorescence in situ hybridizations were used to identify and determine the abundance of nitrifying bacteria and Anammox bacteria (recycling bacteria) in freshly settled sludge of biological nutrient removal (BNR) secondary clarifiers. An uneven distribution was observed for recycling bacteria in two BNR systems. Settling patterns suggest microcolony formation processes are sensitive to the internal recycle rate, which allow for rapid recycling bacteria microcolony growth by increasing circulation of flocs through the aeration and anoxic basins. Uncoupling the SRT enhances aeration and/or anoxic basin utilization and reduces the overall hydraulic residence time.

Application Number

13/958,168

Assignees

University of South Florida

Filing Date

08/02/2013

Primary/U.S. Class

210/605

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