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Influence of Strong Diurnal Variations in Sewage Quality on the Performance of Biological Denitrification in Small Community Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)

Author

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  • Massimo Raboni

    (Department of Science and High Technology, Insubria University, Via G.B. Vico 46, Varese I-21100, Italy)

  • Vincenzo Torretta

    (Department of Science and High Technology, Insubria University, Via G.B. Vico 46, Varese I-21100, Italy)

  • Giordano Urbini

    (Department of Science and High Technology, Insubria University, Via G.B. Vico 46, Varese I-21100, Italy)

Abstract

The great diurnal variation in the quality of wastewater of small communities is an obstacle to the efficient removal of high nitrogen with traditional activated sludge processes provided by pre-denitrification. To verify this problem, the authors developed a pilot plant, in which the domestic wastewater of community of 15,000 inhabitants was treated. The results demonstrate that average and peak nitrogen removal efficiencies of over 60% and 70%, respectively, are difficult to obtain because of the strong variations in the BOD 5 /NO 3 -N ratios and the unexpected abnormal accumulation of dissolved oxygen during denitrification when the BOD 5 load is low. These phenomena cause inhibitory effects and BOD 5 deficiency in the denitrification process. The results demonstrate the need for a more complex approach to designing and managing small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) provided with denitrification than those usually adopted for medium- and large-size plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimo Raboni & Vincenzo Torretta & Giordano Urbini, 2013. "Influence of Strong Diurnal Variations in Sewage Quality on the Performance of Biological Denitrification in Small Community Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(9), pages 1-11, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:5:y:2013:i:9:p:3679-3689:d:28345
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vincenzo Torretta & Giordano Urbini & Massimo Raboni & Sabrina Copelli & Paolo Viotti & Antonella Luciano & Giuseppe Mancini, 2013. "Effect of Powdered Activated Carbon to Reduce Fouling in Membrane Bioreactors: A Sustainable Solution. Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-9, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Andrea Guerrini & Giulia Romano & Alessandro Indipendenza, 2017. "Energy Efficiency Drivers in Wastewater Treatment Plants: A Double Bootstrap DEA Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(7), pages 1-13, June.
    2. Vincenzo Torretta & Marco Ragazzi & Ettore Trulli & Giovanni De Feo & Giordano Urbini & Massimo Raboni & Elena Cristina Rada, 2014. "Assessment of Biological Kinetics in a Conventional Municipal WWTP by Means of the Oxygen Uptake Rate Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-15, April.
    3. Massimo Raboni & Vincenzo Torretta & Paolo Viotti & Giordano Urbini, 2013. "Pilot Experimentation with Complete Mixing Anoxic Reactors to Improve Sewage Denitrification in Treatment Plants in Small Communities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. Anna Turek & Kinga Wieczorek & Wojciech M. Wolf, 2019. "Digestion Procedure and Determination of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge—An Analytical Problem," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-10, March.
    5. Juan Francisco Morales Arteaga & Mojca Zupanc & Matevž Dular & Domen Lestan & Anela Kaurin, 2023. "Removal of Toxic Metals from Sewage Sludge by Acid Hydrolysis Coupled with EDTA Washing in a Closed-Loop Process," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-13, January.
    6. Massimo Raboni & Renato Gavasci & Giordano Urbini, 2014. "UASB followed by Sub-Surface Horizontal Flow Phytodepuration for the Treatment of the Sewage Generated by a Small Rural Community," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(10), pages 1-15, October.
    7. Giordano Urbini & Renato Gavasci & Paolo Viotti, 2015. "Oxygen Control and Improved Denitrification Efficiency by Means of a Post-Anoxic Reactor," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-12, January.
    8. Cristiana Morosini & Milena Marsoni & Vincenzo Torretta & Fabio Conti & Marco Ragazzi & Elena Cristina Rada & Gabriela Cioca, 2017. "Factors Affecting Spatial and Temporal Concentration Variability of Pharmaceuticals: Comparison between Two WWTPs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-15, August.
    9. Fabio Conti & Elena Cristina Rada & Paolo Viotti & Massimo Raboni, 2021. "Removal and Survival of Fecal Indicators in a Constructed Wetland after UASB Pre-Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-16, August.
    10. D. Marmanis & C. Emmanouil & J. G. Fantidis & A. Thysiadou & K. Marmani, 2022. "Description of a Fe/Al Electrocoagulation Method Powered by a Photovoltaic System, for the (Pre-)Treatment of Municipal Wastewater of a Small Community in Northern Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Christopher C. Azubuike & Fay Couceiro & Samuel C. Robson & Maya Z. Piccinni & Joy E. M. Watts & John B. Williams & Anastasia J. Callaghan & Thomas P. Howard, 2022. "Developing Biosensors for SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater-Based Epidemiology: A Systematic Review of Trends, Limitations and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-23, December.

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