CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Nitrogen and phosphorus are two elements that accelerate the eutrophication of water. Th e discharge of effl uents with high concentrations of N that causes excessive oxygen demand in water bodies, has a toxic eff ect on fi sh and other organisms, and causes eutrophication It is considered that biological nutrient removal is the most economical and sustainable technique to meet stringent discharge requirements. Th e aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of achieving a system of biological nutrient removal based on two phases of reaction: anaerobic and aerobic without the requirement of an anoxic stage and focused on achieving the denitrifi cation process in the aerobic stage. For this, a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with sodium acetate as carbon and energy source, ammonium sulphate as N source and phosphate salts as a source of P, were used. Th ree operating conditions were tested, determined by the cycle duration, anaerobic/aerobic ratio, pH and dissolved oxygen concentration in the aerobic phase.