ABSTRACT
In the denitrification process nitrate is reduced to nitrogen gas. This reduction develops associated to an electron gain. In the denitrification process heterotrophic bacteria use organic carbon as an electron donor. Since organic carbon is not avaliable in treated waste water (secundary treatment) therefore an external source is required. The objective of the present investigation is to evaluate the denitrification potencial of a column filled with anaerobic sludge without the use of an external carbon source. The column was filled at the top with anaerobic sludge while nitrified influent was fed in upflow stramby. During 30 weeks of operation the removal efficiency of the denitrification column remained about 72%. The anaerobic sludge behaved as a suitable external carbon source for the process. The highest efficiency of nitrate removal occured when the column was operated with the highest volatile suspended solids (VSS) concentration, thus the nitrate removal efficiency is a function of the VSS concentration and hence of the sludge mass in the column.
Key words:
denitrification; anaerobic sludge; carbon source