Metabolic capacity of heterotrophic bacteria of activated sludge systems in aerobic and anoxic environments

ABSTRACT For projects of activated sludge systems in countries with high temperatures such as Brazil, the introduction of one or more anoxic reactors is suggested, since nitrification becomes an almost inevitable factor. Denitrification is a process able to reduce aeration costs by up to 20%, recover the alkalinity lost with nitrification and still remove organic matter and nitrogen. This study aimed to evaluate the metabolic capacity of heterotrophic bacteria of these systems in aerobic and anoxic environment via nitrate and nitrite. Two configurations were compared for the tests: Bardenpho and University of Cape Town (UCT). The results showed significant viability of denitrification via nitrate, as the average rates obtained from oxygen consumption and oxygen equivalents were similar for both systems, indicating that beyond the removal of nitrogen, organic matter is removed with the same efficiency as an aerobic reactor enabling cost reduction with aeration due to the possibility of limiting it only to the nitrification process. However, denitrification by the use of nitrite showed a reduction in the ability of removal of organic matter by 60%, which may lead to a doubtful advantage in the option of a simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process, even if it presents minor oxygen demand. However, it may present exceptions, such as when there is also the claim of phosphorus removal via nitrite by phosphorus-accumulating organisms that may overcome the weakness of this rate.