Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal from sewage in a structured bed biofilm reactor subjected to intermittent aeration and effluent recirculation at four different operating conditions were tested, varying the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and aeration and non-aeration periods

This study aimed at evaluating the organic matter and nitrogen removal from sewage in a structured bed reactor subjected to intermittent aeration. The reactor had a total volume of 11.6 L and bed porosity of 52%. Thirteen polyurethane foam cylinders of 3 cm diameter and 60 cm height were fixed vertically inside the reactor using PVC rods. The reactor was continuously fed with sewage collected from a sanitary sewer passing near the laboratory where the system was assembled. The reactor was provided with internal recirculation system with a recirculation ratio at 3, a value adopted after conducting hydrodynamic tests. Four different operating conditions were tested, varying the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and aeration and non-aeration periods. Nitrogen and organic matter removal efficiencies, nitrifying and denitrifying activities, and the most probable number (MPN) of nitrifying and denitrifying communities were evaluated for each operational condition. The reactor presented a Total-N removal efficiency of 80%, at HRT of 12 hours and 10 hours and aerated and non-aerated periods of 2 hours and 1 hour, respectively. With decreasing the HRT to 8 hours, the Total-N removal efficiency decreased to 70% for the same aeration and non-aeration periods. After increasing the aerated period to 3 hours and keeping the non-aerated periods of 1 hour and HRT of 8 hours, the system attained the Total-N removal efficiency of 79%. COD removal efficiencies were about 90% in all operational condition. Nitrifying and denitrifying activities were similar to those found in the literature for systems presenting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, and carbon removal. No variation in nitrogen forms (NO3--N, NO2--N and NH4+-N) was observed during a cycle of intermittent aeration. The solids concentration in effluent was relatively low compared to the concentration of suspended-growth biomass reactors, with a maximum value of VSS of 108 mgVSS.L-1.