Evaluation of increased denitrification in an anoxic activated sludge using Zeolite

Zeolite added activated sludge unit (ZU) under anoxic conditions improved nitrate removal efficiency by 48% (i.e., equivalent to approximately 10 mg/l) greater than that of a conventional activated sludge unit (CU) regardless of varying C/N ratio ranging from 0 to 4.8. For a C/N ratio of 4, no significant differences of denitrification rate were found between two units showing a range of 6.7 to 6.9 mg NO₃^--N/g VSS (volatile suspended solids) hr. However, a C/N ratio decrease to 1.6 was ascribed to considerable differences in denitrification rate showing 4.15 mg NO₃^--N/g VSS·hr for the ZU, which was 39% greater than that of the CU presenting at 2.98 mg NO₃^--N/g VSS·hr. It was decided that the presence of greater concentration of MLVSS (mixed Liquor suspended solids) in the ZU can be efficiently used for enhanced denitrification as a potential carbon source due to autolysis, although a lower concentration of COD (i.e., less than 1.6 of C/N ratio) is introduced.