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Effect of internal recycle on the nitrogen removal efficiency of an

anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2/O) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)

Article in Process Biochemistry · July 2004

DOI: 10.1016/S0032-9592(03)00300-5

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 Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624

Effect of internal recycle on the nitrogen removal efficiency of an

anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2 /O) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)
J.A. Baeza∗ , D. Gabriel, J. Lafuente
Departament d’Enginyeria Quı́mica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, E-08193 Bellaterra, Spain

Received 25 September 2002; received in revised form 17 June 2003; accepted 7 July 2003

Abstract

Internal recycle ratio is an important parameter in anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A2 /O) wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operation. An increase
in this ratio decreases nitrate and nitrite concentration in the effluent and hence improves the nitrogen removal efficiency, even though the
economical cost increases simultaneously. Determining the most favourable recycle ratio taking into account both considerations is an
important item in A2 /O WWTP operational optimisation. In this work, the effect of recycle ratio on nitrogen removal when using different
influent nitrogen loads was tested in a pilot A2 /O WWTP. Experimental results obtained show how increasing the internal recycle ratio from
0 to 5 produced a 12% increase in nitrogen removal. This increase was achieved by improving N–NOx removal by 9% with an increase in
N–NH4 + removal of 3%.
© 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Nitrogen removal; Nitrification; Denitrification; Internal recycle; A2 /O process

1. Introduction The single sludge configuration anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic

Optimising nitrogen removal in existing wastewater treat-
ment plants (WWTP) is important in order to meet increas-
ing environmental regulations. The European Union Direc-
tive 91/271 raised the need to adapt most existing WWTP to
new, stricter discharge limits. The directive’s requirements
must be obeyed by every EU centre with an equivalent pop-
ulation of at least 2000 discharging into continental waters
and, in general, by all centres with an equivalent population
of 10 000 or over. European regulations have also established
a calendar and specific purification levels as a function of
the sensitivity of the receiving environment. Thus, organic
matter and excess nutrients (particularly nitrogen and phos-
phorus) in wastewater must be removed prior to discharg-
ing into especially sensitive media. These new requirements
can be reached in various ways that involve changes in the
operating procedures (optimising current processes or de-
veloping new treatments), alterations of existing treatment
works (extensions, purchases of new equipment) or the use
of control systems to optimize processes.
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +34-935-812695; fax: +34-935-812013.
E-mail address: juanantonio.baeza@uab.es (J.A. Baeza).
(A2 /O) for nitrogen and phosphorus removal is widely im-
plemented, although no major optimization of operational
parameters has been incorporated. Therefore, process opti-
mization is an important objective. Improving removal ef-
ficiency with minimum cost is an environmental objective
that must be carried out. In this paper, the results of nitrogen
removal obtained using an A2 /O pilot-scale WWTP with
different influent loads and different internal recycle ratios
are presented. A pilot plant was used in order to evaluate
different operational conditions maintaining a well-defined
influent composition.
2. Materials and methods
2.1. Pilot plant
The process studied was a biological wastewater treat-
ment based on an A2 /O multistage configuration [1] with
nitrification–denitrification and enhanced phosphorus re-
moval (Fig. 1a). The treatment involves three distinct zones:
anaerobic, anoxic and oxic. In the oxic zone, nitrification
is performed and the nitrate thus produced is recycled,
with the mixed liquor, to the anoxic zone (internal recycle),

0032-9592/$ – see front matter © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/S0032-9592(03)00300-5
1616 J.A. Baeza et al. / Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624

Internal recycle (100-300 % Influent)

Effluent

Influent
ANAEROBIC ANOXIC OXIC SETTLER

External recycle (30-50% Influent)

(a)

Internal recycle (0 / 200 / 500 % Influent)

Effluent
Influent
ANAEROBIC ANOXIC OXIC OXIC SETTLER
Reactor 0
Reactor 1 Reactor 2 Reactor 3

External recycle (35% Influent)

(b)

Fig. 1. (a) A2 /O process for nutrient removal. (b) Implementation of the process in the pilot plant.

where denitrification takes place. The return sludge from the a WWTP and was formulated using compounds with differ-
settler is recycled to the anaerobic zone (external recycle), ent rates of biodegradability. The exact composition of the
where the influent and sludge are mixed under anaerobic wastewater is shown in Table 1. Ammonium chloride was
conditions. The alternate anaerobic/oxic conditions improve used at three different concentrations depending on the ex-
the efficiency of phosphorus removal by favouring growth periment. Wastewater characterization results are shown in
of phosphorus-accumulating microorganisms. Table 2.
Fig. 1b schematically depicts the nutrient removal process
in the pilot-scale facility, which consists of a 9 l anaerobic 2.3. Monitoring
selector (reactor 0), a 28 l anoxic reactor (reactor 1), two 28 l
oxic reactors (reactors 2 and 3) and a 60 l settler. In-line and off-line variables of the process were moni-
The hardware architecture [2,3] comprises a process tored in all experiments. In-line variables included flow-rates
computer (PC) and a programmable logic controller (PLC). (influent, internal recycle and external recycle), pH, redox
Every reactor of the treatment plant has in-line sensors (dis- potential, temperature, dissolved oxygen and actuation on
solved oxygen (DO), pH, ORP, temperature) connected to the aeration valves of the reactors. Off-line analyses for
probe controllers. All these controllers and the mechanical
elements of the pilot plant are connected to the PC and the
Table 1
PLC. The software for the PC, developed in C language,
Feed composition
includes graphic monitoring, data backup, PLC supervision
and control of key process parameters (DO, flow-rates, Component Concentration (mg/l)
stirring rates). This computer allows the WWTP to be con- Casein peptone 99
trolled via a set of predetermined setpoints. The DO control Ammonium chloride (NH4 Cl) 57/79/114
is based on a digital PID algorithm programmed in the Urea (CO(NH2 )2 ) 4.74
Starch ((C6 H10 O5 )n ) 103
computer, which modifies the airflow through the manipu-
Sucrose (C12 H22 O11 ) 78
lation of the pneumatic control valves of every reactor (via d(+)-Glucose (C6 H12 O6 ) 78
4–20 mA loop). Magnesium chloride (MgCl2 ·7H2 O) 78
Sodium chloride (NaCl) 69
2.2. Influent wastewater Potassium dihydrogenphosphate (KH2 PO4 ) 65
Calcium chloride (CaCl2 ·2H2 O) 34
Iron sulphate (FeSO4 ·7H2 O) 1.7
In order to obtain the required inflow (420 l per day of Zinc sulphate (ZnSO4 ·7H2 O) 1.7
wastewater of known composition), synthetic water was pre- Manganese sulphate (MnSO4 ·H2 O) 1.1
pared from two feed concentrates that were diluted with tap Yeast extract 0.86
water. The composition of the synthetic water was similar Copper sulphate (CuSO4 ·5H2 O) 0.86
Boric acid (H3 BO3 ) 0.086
to that typically obtained after primary settler treatment in
 J.A. Baeza et al. / Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624 1617

Table 2 Table 4
Influent characterisation Experimental sets
Component Concentration (mg/l) Experiment FIR /FI (N–NH4 + )I (mg/l)
N–NH4 + 15.5/21.5/31.0 Set 1
N–Norg 10.8 I 5 15.5
N–NO3 − 1.4 II 2
COD 470 III 0
P–PO4 3− 15
Set 2
IV 5 21.5
V 2
VI 0
N–NH4 + , N–NO2 − and N–NO3 − , were determined by us-
Set 3
ing a continuous flow analyser (CFA) and a flow injec- VII 5 31.0
tion analyser (FIA) [2,4,5]. Total suspended solids (TSS), VIII 2
volatile suspended solids (VSS), Diluted Sludge Volume IX 0
Index (DSVI), COD, P–PO4 3− , N–Norg (organic nitrogen)
were determined using the protocols established in the ap-
plicable standard methods [6]. 2.5. Experimental design

Nine different experiments, divided into three sets, were

2.4. Experimental conditions carried out. The conditions shown in Tables 2 and 3 were
maintained during all experiments. The influent ammonium
The sludge used was obtained from an urban WWTP nitrogen concentration and the internal recycle ratio were the
performing nitrogen removal. In order to allow microbial two variables modified throughout the experiments. Each set
communities in the wastewater to adapt to the configuration consisted of three different experiments where ammonium
used, the plant pilot was kept under steady conditions over a concentration was maintained constant and the internal re-
period of five mean cell residence time (MCRT). The feeding cycle flow-rate was modified. These conditions are detailed
and environmental conditions of the pilot plant were main- in Table 4.
tained throughout the adaptation and experimental periods. These experiments were designed to evaluate nitrogen re-
MCRT was controlled by monitoring VSS and TSS lev- moval with different nitrogen loads and using different in-
els in the reactors, and in the outlet and the external recycle ternal recycle flow-rates (flow from reactor 3 to reactor 1).
flows. The VSS concentration remained at similar lev- Three different influent ammonium nitrogen concen-
els (ca. 4000 ± 300 mg/l) throughout the experiments and trations were tested, named low (15.5 mg/l), medium
MCRT was 15 days. The pH during the experiments was (21.5 mg/l) and high (31.0 mg/l). The other influent compo-
around 7.0–7.5. Dissolved oxygen in the oxic reactors was nents were maintained equal to those shown in Table 1.
maintained at 3 mg/l by means of the aeration control sys- With regard to the internal recycle flow (FIR ), three dif-
tem. All experiments were conducted at room temperature ferent ratios with respect to the inlet flow (FI ) were tested
(19–21 ◦ C). for each ammonium concentration: FIR /FI = 0, 2 and 5. The
The operational conditions used during the experimental first one eliminates the internal recycle and represents the
period are summarised in Table 3. minimal nitrate removal efficiency. A ratio of 2 is a value
usually found in WWTP operating with an A2 /O configura-
tion, and it is usually considered an adequate compromise
Table 3 between removal efficiency and economical cost. Finally,
Operational conditions used in every experiment a ratio of 5 is around the highest values recommended for
Parameter Value this kind of processes [1] and involves the highest nitrate
removal efficiency, even if at a higher economical cost. A
FI Influent flow 420 l per day
FER External recycle flow 145 l per day
higher recycle ratio is not recommended because it implies
FER /FI External recycle/influent ratio 0.35 a high flow of recycle containing the same oxygen than the
FIR Internal recycle flow 0/840/2100 l per day aerobic reactor. This excess of oxygen will be used for or-
FIR /FI Internal recycle/influent ratio 0/2/5 ganic matter oxidation, thus the denitrification capacity of
θH Hydraulic residence time 8.7 h the system is decreased.
MCRT Mean cellular residence time 15 days
T Temperature 19–21 ◦ C
In order to obtain conditions close to steady state opera-
pH 7–7.5 tion for the concentrations tested, the plant operated during
DO reactor 0 Dissolved oxygen in reactor 0 0 mg/l (anaerobic) 24 h (three hydraulic residence times) maintaining the same
DO reactor 1 Dissolved oxygen in reactor 1 0 mg/l (anoxic) influent before each sampling event. It was shown in an ear-
DO reactor 2 Dissolved oxygen in reactor 2 3 mg/l (oxic) lier publication [7] that this time was sufficient to stabilise
DO reactor 3 Dissolved oxygen in reactor 3 3 mg/l (oxic)
the system after a change in the influent conditions.
1618
3. Results and discussion
For each experiment, TSS, VSS, COD, Ntotal , N–NH4 + ,
N–NO3 − and N–NO2 − were measured at each sampling
point (influent, reactors 0, 1, 2 and 3, external recycle and
effluent), as well as the influent, internal recycle and ex-
ternal recycle flow-rates. The collected data were used to
evaluate nitrification rates and nitrogen removal efficiency.
COD removal efficiencies in all experiments exceeded 95%,
therefore these experimental results are not considered in
the discussion.
3.1. Nitrogen concentration in the effluent
The importance of the internal recycle flow-rate for ni-
trate removal was observed by studying the behaviour of
nitrate concentration in the effluent (Fig. 2). Nitrate concen-
tration was slightly lower than the concentration found in
reactor 3 because of partial post-denitrification in the set-
tler due to the internal reserves of COD available for some
microorganisms. As expected, Fig. 2 shows that the nitrate
concentration in the effluent decreases when the internal re-
cycle ratio increases. An increase of the recycle ratio from
0 to 2 had a greater effect than an increase from 2 to 5. In
set 1, the increase in nitrate removal was very low possibly
due to the low ammonium load, which limited nitrification.
The results obtained indicate that by using a recycle ratio
of 2, good denitrification could be obtained. However, ele-
vated ratios (for example, 5) are necessary in order to obtain
a very low nitrate concentration in the effluent.
A high internal recycle is beneficial for nitrate removal,
but it can be economically non-profitable in case of an in-
fluent with low ammonium load. The economic cost of in-
ternal recycle is directly related to its flow. For example, an
increase of internal recycle ratio from 1 to 5 implies approx-
4
Effluent N-NO3 (mg / litre)
3
-
0
0 1
J.A. Baeza et al. / Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624
imately an energy consumption five times higher. Part of this
energy is recovered due to the increase of nitrate nitrogen
load to the anoxic reactor. Nitrate can be used as electron
acceptor instead of oxygen (1 mg of N–NO3 − is equivalent
to 2.86 mg of oxygen) by the denitrifying microorganisms in
anoxic conditions. Hence, an increase in nitrate load to the
anoxic reactor implies a higher COD removal in this reactor
and, consequently, lower oxygen requirements in the aerobic
reactors. However, this energy recovery does not compen-
sate the energy consumed for internal recycling. Thus, inter-
nal recycle ratios as high as FIR /FI = 5 should be avoided
from an economical point of view, and only should be used
when necessary.
The nitrogen ammonium concentration in all the sampling
points of the pilot plant for each experiment is represented
in Fig. 3. There was no dilution effect in the experiments
without internal recycle (III, VI and IX) since the concen-
tration of ammonium in the influent, reactor 0 (anaerobic)
and reactor 1 (anoxic) remained constant when internal re-
cycle flow-rate was set to 0. Nitrification did not take place
in these reactors, but hydrolysis of peptone occurred, pro-
ducing ammonium from the organic nitrogen. Then a slight
increase in the ammonium concentration was observed. In
the remainder of the experiments, this tendency was not ob-
served because there was internal recycle, which implies a
dilution effect, and hence there was an homogenisation ef-
fect of the ammonium concentration among reactors 1–3.
The decrease of ammonium from reactor 1 to reactor 3 re-
flects ammonium removal due to nitrification, growth and
cellular maintenance. As explained below, a higher decrease
observed in the ammonium concentration in the experiments
without recycle does not imply a higher nitrogen removal
rate because of the different flows occurring at each recycle
ratio. It is interesting to highlight settler behaviour in Fig. 3.
In all experiments a slight diminution of ammonium nitro-
Set 1
Set 2
Set 3
2 3 4 5
Internal recycle ratio, FIR / FI
Fig. 2. Effluent N–NO3 − vs. internal recycle ratio.
 J.A. Baeza et al. / Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624 1619

35
Exp I

30
Set 1 Exp II
Exp III
Exp IV
25 Set 2 Exp V
N-NH4 (mg / litre)

Exp VI
Exp VII
20 Set 3 Exp VIII
Exp IX
+

15

10

0
Influent Reactor0 Reactor1 Reactor2 Reactor3 Ext. Rec. Effluent

Sampling point

Fig. 3. Ammonium nitrogen concentration in each sampling point in the different experiments.

gen concentration in the external recycle took place with
respect to the influent concentration to the settler (coming
from reactor 3). In addition, a slight increase in the exit of
the settler with respect to its influent was observed. These
variations took place because the settler did not work as a
pure separator, but biochemical and physical–chemical pro-
cesses also occurred.
3.2. Nitrification rates
Global nitrification rates based on ammonium consumed
were calculated using the measurements performed. Eq. (1)
was used for the calculation of the nitrification rate.
([N − NH4 + ]reactor 1 − [N − NH4 + ]reactor 3 ) · (FI + FIR + FER )
RN =
3
i=2 Vreactor i · VSSreactor i
ditions in which the reaction rate was near the maximum,
since it did not depend on the ammonium concentration
(see Fig. 3). This type of behaviour appears for ammonium
concentrations quite superior to 1 mg/l, the ammonium
semi-saturation constant in a kinetic model of Monod type
according to bibliographical values [8].
In Fig. 5, the nitrification rate versus the internal recycle
ratio is represented for each one of the experimental sets. A
higher nitrification rate around 0.05 g N–NH4 + /g VSS day
was observed in the case of internal recycle ratios of 2 and 5
and ammonium influent concentrations of 21.5 and 31.0 mg
N–NH4 + /l. This was the highest nitrification rate found in
(1)

where RN is the specific nitrification rate, expressed in g
of N–NH4 + consumed/g VSS day. This calculation was
made assuming that all the ammonium that disappeared
was consumed in nitrification. It should be noticed that
the real values of nitrification rates were lower than this
value because ammonium nitrogen consumed for the cel-
lular maintenance of the microorganisms was quantified as
nitrification capacity.
The observed specific nitrification rates in every experi-
ment are represented in Figs. 4 and 5.
The nitrification rate versus the influent ammonium
concentration for different internal recycle ratios is repre-
sented in Fig. 4. It can be observed that the nitrification
rate increased when influent ammonium concentration was
increased in each internal recycle ratio compared. This in-
crease was higher when the influent concentration increased
from 15.5 to 21.5 mg/l. The increase in concentration from
21.5 to 31.0 mg/l involved a lower nitrification rate increase,
indicating that the system was being operated under con-
the pilot plant during the present study. In set 1, with an inlet
concentration of 15.5 mg/l, the observed nitrification rate
was lower probably because aerobic reactors operated with
ammonium concentrations below saturation levels. In the
experiments of sets 2 and 3 without the dilution effect of the
internal recycle (experiments VI and IX), lower nitrification
rates were also observed. Hence, internal recycle improved
observed ammonium removal rate.
3.3. Total nitrogen removal
The main objective of these experiments was to evaluate
the effect of internal recycle on the percentage of nitrogen
removed. This value was calculated using Eq. (2).
Ninfluent − Neffluent
Nremoved (%) = × 100 (2)
Ninfluent
Ninfluent is the integrated sum of all the nitrogen forms in
the influent (ammonium, organic nitrogen and nitrate) for
1620 J.A. Baeza et al. / Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624

0.07
Nitrification rate (g N-NH4 / g VSS d)

0.06

0.05
+

0.04

0.03

0.02
FIR / FI = 0
FIR / FI = 2
0.01
FIR / FI = 5

0.00
14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32

+
Influent N-NH4 (mg / litre)

Fig. 4. Specific nitrification rate in the oxic reactors vs. influent N–NH4 + .

a period of 1 day. Neffluent is the integrated sum of all the when the internal recycle ratio was increased from 0 to 2,
nitrogen forms in the effluent (ammonium, nitrate and nitrite) and 5.5% from 2 to 5. Hence, the total improvement was
for a period of 1 day. The contribution of organic nitrogen 12.3% when the recycle ratio was increased from 0 to 5.
in the effluent was not considered, because it was very low The main reason for these results is that the increase of the
compared to the other components. internal recycle ratio increases the nitrate load supplied to
Table 5 shows the contributions of the different nitrogen the denitrifying reactor, which is translated in an increased
forms to the plant influent and effluent over each 24 h period. total nitrogen removal.
The percentage of nitrogen as ammonium, nitrate and nitrite Individually, each set shows that removal percentages
in the effluent with respect the total nitrogen introduced in were lower when the influent load to the plant increased.
the influent is also calculated. These results indicate that the applied load in sets 2 and 3
The percentage of total nitrogen removed is represented were higher than the nitrogen removal capacity of the pilot
in Fig. 6a. Increase of the internal recycle for any ammo- plant. In these sets, nitrification rates were maximal because
nium concentration in the influent resulted in an increase of they were not limited by substrate and, although the mass
the percentage of total nitrogen removed. The average im- of nitrogen removed was slightly higher, the percentage was
provement obtained in the three experimental sets was 6.8% lower.

0.07
Nitrification rate (g N-NH4 / g VSS d)

0.06

0.05
+

0.04

0.03

0.02
Set 1
Set 2
0.01
Set 3

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5

Internal recycle ratio, FIR / FI

Fig. 5. Specific nitrification rate in the oxic reactors vs. internal recycle ratio.
 J.A. Baeza et al. / Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624
Table 5
Characterization of the influent and the effluent, proportion of nitrogen removed and distribution of unremoved nitrogen species
Experiment N–NH4 + N–Norg N–NO3 − Ntotal N–NH4 + N–NO3 − N–NO2 − Ntotal N removed Removed N–NH4 + N–NO3 − N–NO2 −
influent influent influent influent effluent effluent effluent effluent (g per day) (%) effluent effluent effluent
(g per day) (g per day) (g per day) (g per day) (g per day) (g per day) (g per day) (g per day) (%) (%) (%)
I 6.510 4.520 0.600 11.630 0.970 0.286 0.000 1.256 10.374 89.2 8.3 2.5 0.0
II 6.510 4.520 0.600 11.630 1.084 0.357 0.118 1.558 10.072 86.6 9.3 3.1 1.0
III 6.510 4.520 0.600 11.630 1.310 1.138 0.256 2.705 8.925 76.7 11.3 9.8 2.2
IV 9.030 4.520 0.600 14.150 2.533 0.151 0.097 2.780 11.370 80.4 17.9 1.1 0.7
V 9.030 4.520 0.600 14.150 2.654 0.924 0.252 3.830 10.320 72.9 18.8 6.5 1.8
VI 9.030 4.520 0.600 14.150 2.743 1.592 0.307 4.641 9.509 67.2 19.4 11.2 2.2
VII 13.020 4.520 0.600 18.140 4.729 0.294 0.172 5.195 12.945 71.4 26.1 1.6 0.9
VIII 13.020 4.520 0.600 18.140 5.300 0.769 0.298 6.367 11.773 64.9 29.2 4.2 1.6
IX 13.020 4.520 0.600 18.140 5.489 1.420 0.336 7.245 10.895 60.1 30.3 7.8 1.9

1621
1622 J.A. Baeza et al. / Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624

95
Set 1 Set 2 Set 3
90

85

80
N removed (%)

75

70

65

60

55

0
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX

(a) Experiment

45
Set 1 Set 2 Set 3
40
-
N-NO2
35
-
N-NO3
30
N effluent (%)

+
N-NH4
25

20

15

10

0
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX

(b) Experiment

Fig. 6. (a) Proportion of nitrogen removed in each experiment. (b) Proportion of nitrogen remaining in the effluent and contribution of each nitrogen form.

Percentages of unremoved nitrogen forms (the last three
columns in Table 5) are represented in Fig. 6b to provide
complementary information to Fig. 6a. The different contri-
bution of ammonium, nitrite and nitrate to the increase of
removal efficiency are noticeable. As expected, each set in-
dicates that the decrease of nitrogen in the effluent is mainly
due to nitrate and nitrite decrease. Using data in Table 5, it
can be calculated that an average increase in removal effi-
ciency of 12.3% occurred when recycle ratio was increased
from 0 to 5, due to a 9.4% average decrease of nitrogen
as nitrate and nitrite in the effluent and to a 2.9% average
decrease of ammonium nitrogen in the effluent. The same
tendency in the three sets was observed when increasing
the internal recycle ratio: nitrate and nitrite removal were
favoured but there was a slight improvement in ammonium
removal at the same time. As previously detected in the ni-
trification rate study, internal recycle increased the observed
ammonium removal rate.
Finally, the specific nitrogen removal versus influent
ammonium concentration and internal recycle ratio is repre-
sented in Fig. 7. These values were obtained using influent
and effluent compositions and considering VSS values. For
each experimental set (same influent composition) a con-
tinuous increase in nitrogen removal was observed when
increasing the recycle ratio, but it was not observed to be
an optimal value for this operational parameter. From a ni-
trogen removal point of view, the highest recycle rate may
be suggested, although economical considerations should
be taken into account to limit this value.
These facts suggest the usage of different internal recycle
ratios depending on the actual conditions in the WWTP.
Internal recycle improves the homogeneous distribution of
microbial communities in the reactors, increases the effi-
ciency of COD removal by denitrifying bacteria and can be
important for avoiding possible inhibition due to high am-
monium concentration in the reactors. As tested in these ex-
 J.A. Baeza et al. / Process Biochemistry 39 (2004) 1615–1624
Fig. 7. Specific nitrogen removal rate vs. influent ammonium concentration and internal recycle ratio.
periments, a recycle ratio around 2 usually provides a proper
compromise between removal efficiency and costs, there-
fore this value can be recommended in most situations. The
highest recycle ratio should be recommended when a high
load of nitrogen is applied to the plant, and when usage of
the previous conditions is not possible to meet regulations.
A control system can implement the above different op-
erational conditions in real-time when measurements of am-
monium, nitrate and nitrite are available on-line. An exam-
ple of application of such a control system can be found in
previous reports [9,10].
4. Conclusions
This work shows the importance of the internal recycle ra-
tio in anaerobic/anoxic/oxic WWTP operation. A pilot A2 /O
WWTP was employed to test how the recycle ratio affects ni-
trogen removal when using different influent nitrogen com-
positions. Experimental results show that on increasing the
internal recycle ratio FIR /FI from 0 to 5, an average increase
of 12.3% in removal efficiency was obtained. This improve-
ment was due to a 9.4% average decrease of nitrogen as ni-
trate and nitrite in the effluent and a 2.9% average decrease
of ammonium nitrogen in the effluent.
In order to obtain high removal efficiencies, high recycle
ratios should be maintained, although this implies a higher
economical cost. A general recommendation would be to
maintain a mean recycle ratio of 2 under normal conditions.
This ratio should be decreased, but not totally eliminated, in
the case of lower load conditions (for example using a ratio
1623
of 1). Finally, when higher loads of nitrogen are detected a
higher ratio should be used in order to meet regulations.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Spanish CICYT (projects
BIO94-0679-C02 and AMB97–0889–c03–01). The Depart-
ment of Chemical Engineering of UAB is the Biochemical
Engineering Unit of the ‘Centre de Referència en Biotec-
nologia (CeRBa) de la Generalitat de Catalunya’. J.A. Baeza
received a pre-doctoral fellowship from the C.I.R.I.T. (Gen-
eralitat de Catalunya).
References
[1] EPA Manual of Nitrogen Control. EPA/625/R-93/010. Washington,
USA: US Environmental Protection Agency; 1993.
[2] Baeza JA, Gabriel D, Lafuente J. An expert supervisory system for
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