ROLE OF NITROGEN CYCLE IN

WASTE WATER TREATMENT

Nitrification
and
Denitrification

Prepared by:
BIBEK PARDHE BHATTARAI
Nitrogen
Environmental
And
Public Health
Concerns
 Forms of Nitrogen in Wastewater
N
Ammonia – NH3
Nitrite – NO2-
Nitrate – NO3-
Organic NITROGEN

TKN-TOTAL KJELDAHL NITROGEN(I.e organic nitrogen + ammonia)

TIN-TOTAL INORGANIC NITROGEN(I.e ammonia+ nitite+nitrate)

NITROGEN CYCLE
 WASTEWATER “TREATMENT”
N Of
Nitrogen

“Raw” Sewage
Organic Nitrogen & Ammonia
No Nitrite or Nitrate
 WASTEWATER “TREATMENT”
N Of
Nitrogen

Primary treatment
Some Organic Nitrogen Removed

No Ammonia Removed
 WASTEWATER “TREATMENT”
N Of
Nitrogen

Primary Effluent
(Secondary Influent)

Organic Nitrogen (Less)

Ammonia
 WASTEWATER “TREATMENT”
N Of
Nitrogen

Secondary “Treatment”
(Biological)
N Some Nitrogen Will be Removed By the
Biomass
(assimilation)

To Meet an Ammonia Limit

or a Total Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN) Limit
the Process Must be Capable of
Nitrification
Biological Oxidation
of Ammonia to Nitrite then to Nitrate
NH3 NO2 NO3
 Nitrification

*Heterotrophic Bacteria Break Down Organics

Generate NH3, CO2, and H2O

*Autotrophic Bacteria Utilize Inorganic Compounds

 Nitrification

Nitrification of Ammonia Occurs in

Two Steps
*Autotrophic Bacteria Utilize Inorganic Compounds
(and CO2 as a Carbon Source)
NH3-N NO2-N
Ammonia N Nitrite N

Nitrosomonas
NO2-N NO3-N
Nitrite N Nitrate N
Nitrobacter
Effect of Temperature on Nitrification

Lower Temperatures Cause

Slower
Nitrification
Minimum of 59 Degrees F. (15 oC)
for 90 % Nitrification

Below 50 Degrees F. (10 oC)

Expect Maximum of 50 % Nitrification
 DENITRIFICATION

NO3 NO2 N2
Why Denitrify ???
Groundwater Discharge Permits Limit
Total Inorganic Nitrogen

(5 mg/L NO3-N + NO2-N + NH3-N)

Biological Phosphorus Removal

Depends on Removal of Nitrate
 DENITRIFICATION
Added Benefits
•Minimizes Rising Sludge
•Helps Recover Oxygen
•May Help Control Filamentous Bacteria

•Recovers Alkalinity
THANQ