ANOXIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF WASTEWATER ORGANIC MATTER IN SEWERS - PROCESS KINETICS, MODEL CONCEPT AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT POTENTIAL

The paper presents the results of studies on anoxic processes, namely denitrification, in the bulk water phase of wastewater as it occurs in sewers. Experiments were conducted on 12 differents wastewater samples, using batch reactors. Denitrification rates, under conditions of excess substrate and electron acceptor, were evaluated. Knowledge on the rates established and the residence time of wastewater in sewer systems from the location of nitrate addition to the wastewater treatment plant, can be used to estimate the amount of nitrate required to ensure the anoxic conditions prevail in sewer networks, thus eliminating hydrogen sulfide formation and odor formation while at the same time preventing high amounts of residual nitrate/nitrite causing problems at the receiving WWTPs.