Aerobic Granules for the Effective Oxidation of Ammonium Nitrogen

In this study, aerobic granules were applied to a lab-scale aerobic granule sludge airlift reactor (AGSAR) and the ammonium nitrogen oxidation performance was evaluated at different ammonium nitrogen loading rate (NLR). At least 99% of the initial ammonium nitrogen was oxidized at an NLR of 0.27 and 0.53 kg NH4+-N/m3·day, for both aerobic granules (control), and nitrifying aerobic granules (NAGs). The ammonium nitrogen oxidation deteriorated, when the NLR was increased to 1.07 kg NH4+-N/m3·day. The NAGs were characterized by complete nitrification, while partial nitrification was observed in the control.