Camargo Valero, MA, Mara, DD and Newton, RJ (2010) Nitrogen removal in maturation waste stabilisation ponds via biological uptake and sedimentation of dead biomass. Water Science and Technology, 61 (4). 1027 - 1034. ISSN 0273-1223
Abstract
In this work a set of experiments was undertaken in a pilot-scale WSP system to determine the importance of organic nitrogen sedimentation on ammonium and total nitrogen removals in maturation ponds and its seasonal variation under British weather conditions, from September 2004 to May 2007. The nitrogen content in collected sediment samples varied from 4.17% to 6.78% (dry weight) and calculated nitrogen sedimentation rates ranged from 273 to 2868 g N/ha d. High ammonium removals were observed together with high concentrations of chlorophyll-a in the pond effluent. Moreover, chlorophyll-a had a very good correlation with the corresponding increment of VSS (algal biomass) and suspended organic nitrogen (biological nitrogen uptake) in the maturation pond effluents. Therefore, when ammonium removal reached its maximum, total nitrogen removal was very poor as most of the ammonia taken up by algae was washed out in the pond effluent in the form of suspended solids. After sedimentation of the dead algal biomass, it was clear that algal-cell nitrogen was recycled from the sludge layer into the pond water column. Recycled nitrogen can either be taken up by algae or washed out in the pond effluent. Biological (mainly algal) uptake of inorganic nitrogen species and further sedimentation of dead biomass (together with its subsequent mineralization) is one of the major mechanisms controlling in-pond nitrogen recycling in maturation WSP, particularly when environmental and operational conditions are favourable for algal growth.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © IWA Publishing, 2010. The definitive peer-reviewed and edited version of this article is published in Water Science and Technology, 61, 4, 1027-1034, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.952 and is available at www.iwapublishing.com. |
Keywords: | Algal nitrogen uptake; biodegration, environmental; biomass; eukaryota; Great Britain; industrial waste; maturation pond; nitrogen; nitrogen removal; quaternary ammonium compounds; seasons; sedimentation; sewage; time factors; waste disposal, fluid; water pollutants, chemical; water purification |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Civil Engineering (Leeds) > Inst for Pathogen Control Engineering (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 01 Apr 2014 11:30 |
Last Modified: | 23 Jun 2023 21:32 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.952 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | IWA Publishing |
Identification Number: | 10.2166/wst.2010.952 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:42802 |