SHARON ANNAMOX integrated process for advanced treatment of ammonium rich wastewaters in order to reach the limits imposed by GD 352/2005 –NTPA 001

Abstract

Biological treatment technology of high ammonia wastewater resulting from sludge dewatering. Scope: Waste water from fermented sludge dewatering of WWTPs equipped with biogas plants are directed back to the treatment plant, thus increasing effluent load in terms of organic and ammonium content. In the waste-stream coming from sludge dewatering, ammonium concentrations are hundreds or thousands of mg /L, thus increasing the treatment effort of WWTPs required to treat in compliance with the standards stipulated for discharged into natural receivers of the treated effluent. Therefore, an initial nitrification of this waste stream is required. Overview: The technology developed for the removal of NH4 + ions from water from sludge dewatering was developed in several stages involving: Experiments in a lab scale biological treatment installation accommodating two-stage-aerobic- anaerobic treatment: -partial nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation. Continuous flow system equipped with settlers and recirculation system for each step. Experiments for biological anaerobic ammonium oxidation in sequential system; The technology for ammonium rich wastewater treatment involves a twostage aerobic- anaerobic process performed in a hybrid aerobic bioreactor (fluidized bed) (step Sharon) in series with the anaerobic bioreactor (step Anammox).