Page 7 - Simplified Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals_BNR

Biological Nutrient Reduction (BNR)

Activated Sludge utilizes multicellular animals such as amoebas, flagellates, free swimming

ciliates, stalked ciliates and rotifers to clean the wastewater of carbon-based pollution.

Carbon based activated sludge is comprised of Heterotrophic organisms that get their food

source from carbon based organic material. We are heterotrophs!

Treatment processes incorporating BNR can include extended aeration and larger

sectionalized tanks to provide ideal time and conditions for nitrogen removing bacteria to

thrive.

Bacteria that feed on forms of nitrogen are known as Autotrophic organisms. Autotrophic

organisms get their food source from inorganic material like nitrogen.

This Module will explain how Autotrophs and other specialized organisms remove Nitrogen

and Phosphorus from wastewater.