Page 5 - Simplified Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals_Advanced Nitrification P2

Advanced Nitrification

Nitrification Process Control (In-Process Mixed Liquor Monitoring)

It is important to note the Nitrification is a process of oxidation.

Cellular oxidation requires oxygen as an energy source to perform work (in this case

converting ammonia to nitrites, nitrites to nitrates and finally to nitrogen gas).

View mixed liquor as a competitive biological world. In a comingled single stage

treatment scheme, both Heterotrophs and Autotrophs are competing for available

oxygen. The Nitrifiers are producing Nitric Acid while processing ammonia and nitrite.

Therefore, pH and DO control are crucial to nitrifier health.

Note - Remember from Intermediate Nitrification Part 1 - A surge in organic loading (BOD)

will impact the Food (or numerator – top number) of the F:M ratio fraction. Higher BOD will

increase the F:M, shutting down Nitrification. For sustained high influent BOD buffering,

Step Feed provides an effective way to reduce the impact of high organic loading. See the

Step Feed Bookshelf Module for more details.