Control for Modified University of Cape Town Process Using Oxidation-Reduction Potential in the Second Anoxic Zone

The aim of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of applying the technology of oxidation-reduction potential （ORP） control on the municipal wastewater treatment system for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Meanwhile the relation between the optimal ORP （ ORPopt ） and influent C/N ratio was evaluated, in which the influent chemical oxygen demand （ COD ） concentration was stabilized at （290 ± 10 ） mg/L, the influent total phosphorus （TP） concentration was stabilized at （7.0 ± 0.5 ） mg/L. The results indicated that： （1） the ORP in the second anoxic zone had effect on nitrogen and phosphorus removal capability, and the average percentages of phosphorus uptake in ANO2 zone （ ηa ） increased with increasing ORP, i. e. , increasing from 12. 0% at - 143 mV to 22.0%,30.0%,37.0%, and45.0% at -123, -111, -105 and -95 mV, respectively; （2） the ORPopt as function of influent C/N ratio could be calculated by the equation： y ffi 252. 73e〈 -x/3.39） _ 131.01 ; the maximum percentage of phosphorus uptake in ANO2 as function of the ORPopt could be calculated by the equation： y ffi -0.49e（x/15.58） ＋ 1. 51. The ORPopt was the important process control parameter that must be optimized for operation of enhanced biological phosphorus removal （ EBPR ） system. Moreover, ORP sensor is very simple, and the industrial applications of this strategy is practical.