Denitrification

As total nitrogen removal becomes more prevalent on wastewater treatment permits, plants need to incorporate denitrification into their wastewater treatment process. Denitrification, the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas, requires a specific set of operating conditions, an available carbon source, nitrate and denitrifying bacteria. It can be a tricky process to establish and maintain.

Nitrogen generally comes into the municipal wastewater stream from human waste and food waste.  Industrial streams, as well as landfills, can also contain high concentrations of nitrogen.  If untreated, nitrate that enters the environment can stimulate eutrophication and algae blooms.  This can diminish light penetration, lower or deplete oxygen in the receiving stream and may lead to toxicity if certain algae species bloom.

Conventional biological nitrogen removal generally requires two processes: nitrification and denitrification.  Nitrification is the conversion of ammonia to nitrate.  Denitrification is the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas.  Biological nitrogen removal can be performed in a variety of treatment configurations, all require an aerobic zone for converting ammonia to nitrate and an anoxic zone for converting nitrate to nitrogen gas.

MB 5900 contains fasting-acting and robust denitrifying bacteria that remove nitrate from wastewater in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment processes. It increases start-up speed, improves denitrification stability, shortens recovery time after upsets, and reduces the risk of non-compliance.