Nitrogen and phosphorus removal in a combined activated sludge - RBC process

A hybrid biological nutrient removal process has been developed successfully at Taiwan National Central University in recent years. The process combines activated sludge with fully and partially submerged rotating biological contactors in anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic reactors to improve nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter removal of municipal wastewater. The characteristics of the process have been investigated deeply in a series studies and are reported here. Moreover, the activity of sludge, the mechanisms of nitrate inhibition in phosphorus removal, the relationship between polyhydroxylalkanoates (PHA) accumulation/utilization and phosphorus release/uptake and the biomass distribution of various bacteria in this process are also described.