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Feasibility study of organic matter and Ammonium removal using loofa sponge as a supporting medium in an aerated submerged fixed-film reactor (ASFFR) Ramin
Nabizadeh*# Kazem
Naddafi Alireza
Mesdaghinia Amir
Hosien Nafez *Corresponding author Financial support: This research was supported by Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Health Services grant No 132/11852 Dated 19-3-2006. Keywords: aerated submerged fixed-film reactor, biofilm, Fixed-Film, loofa, organic matter removal, sponge. Present address: #Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St. Tehran, Iran. Tel: 98 21 88954914, Fax: 98 21 66462267.
Biofilm systems are efficient in the removal of organic matter and ammonium from wastewaters. In this study, loofa sponge, a natural product, was used as a supporting medium in an aerated submerged fixed-film reactor to evaluate its performance in removing organic matter and nitrogen from wastewater. Four pilot runs were performed with chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations of 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg l-1 to provide an organic loading rate of 0.6, 1.2, 1.8, and 2.4 kg m-3d-1 respectively. In these pilot runs, the influent ammonium nitrogen concentrations were justified to 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg l-1 as N to provide an influent nitrogen loading of 30, 60, 90 and 120 g m-3.d-1 respectively. Although soluble COD removal efficiency greater than 80 percent was achieved up to a loading rate of 2.4 kg m-3d-1, loofa deformation and clogging after 72 days of application might be considered a serious shortcoming during use in full-scale applications. Nitrogen removal efficiency decreased from 85.6% at an organic loading rate of 0.6 kg m-3d-1 to 56.1% at an organic loading rate of 2.4 kg m-3d-1. |