Recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater in a combined process UASB and photobioreactor

Abstract

The biological treatment of wastewater can be done by several processes, most of which promote the degradation of organic matter with the consequent formation of biomass (sludge).Nitrogen and phosphorus are partly incorporated into biomass and the remainder must undergo further treatment for removal. Nitrogen is converted to nitrogen gas in the combined process of nitrification followed by denitrification, and released back into the atmosphere. The remaining phosphorus is removed by physico-chemical process with the generation of sludge.The research proposal is to treat wastewater with high concentration of organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus using anaerobic process followed by photobioreactor in which nitrogen and phosphorus will be assimilated by algae and incorporated into biomass.This biomass has potential for agricultural use and separation is an important step in the process.This research will evaluate the influence of algae culture conditions in the natural environment, with variation of the hydraulic detention times and the growth stage of the algae in the separation efficiency by gravitational sedimentation.Tannin and cationic starch polymers will be used. (AU)