Nutrient Removal of a Sequencing Batc Batch Reactor (SBR) Treating Wastewater with Potential for Water Reclamation

This research supports a new faculty member at the Penn State-Capital Campus who along with a graduate student will be studying optimization of nutrient removal from both agricultural and municipal wastewaters using sequencing batch reactor (SBR) technology. The SBR wastewater treatment system is a sequential suspended growth (activated sludge) process in which all major
wastewater treatment steps occur in the same tank in sequential order. The unit processes of the SBR operate in time rather than in space – all operations are performed in a single tank using a timed control sequence, which reduces the space requirements of the treatment facility. In addition, the SBR has real time control, which allows for optimization of the treatment process.

The objective of this research is to determine the optimal operating conditions of the SBR to obtain the highest nitrogen removal efficiency. Phase 1 will evaluate the SBR nitrogen removal
efficiency when treating low concentration wastewater (municipal wastewater) and high concentration wastewater (agricultural wastewater). The optimal operating conditions will be tested by adjusting aeration intensity, aeration duration, and anoxic duration. Phase 2 will examine the nitrogen removal in the SBR system under influent shock. The study will
provide information for the adjustment of SBR operation cycles, and test the feasibility of SBR handling nitrogen removal under influent shock. The overall vision for this research is to optimize a cost- and space-effective wastewater treatment system to remove nitrogen from wastewater, and if possible, to provide high effluent quality for water reclamation.