98 Chapter 3 AFROAIC BIOLOGICAL PURIPCATION AND TERTIARY TREATMENTS 3.1.1.2 Removing nitrogen biologically WW from refineries, and generally from petrochemical plants as well, has a N content lower than 100 mg:I7! and so does not warrant stripping. Instead, a biological purification process that is frequently used for MWW can lower (N.NH,) nitrogen levels to 10 or 5 mg-I"! depending on regulations in different countries. itrification and This purification process is completely carried out in two main stag: denitrification. 1. Nitrification Ammonification of organic N into ammonia N must be performed before nitrification of NH,, which in turn occurs in two stages: * Oxidation of NH, into NO) (Nitrosomonas bacteria). * Oxidation of NO) into NO; (Nitrobacter bacteria) These bacteria are aurotrophic, i.e. they grow by oxidation of inorganic compounds. Nitrosomonas bacteria reproduce much more slowly than Nitrobacter, so the first reaction is determining. The overall reaction is acidifying and therefore consumes the alkalinity of the water which must be offset: 2NaOH + NHj + 20,—> NO3+3H,O + 2Na* The theoretical O, demand is 4.2 mg-mg™ of nitrogen. The equivalent acidity produced is around 0.11 meq:I"! per mg of nitrified N.NH,. Advanced sludge age is necessary and the volume of the activated sludge aeration tank should define a low load or an extended aeration, with plug flow feed. This type of feed entails simultaneous inlet of raw water and recycled sludge at the basin inlet. The N loading that can be considered ranges from 50 to 240 g-day! per kg of volatile solids, since relatively tight pH and temperature conditions must be maintained within a relatively long acclimatization time. 2. Denitrification Denitrification occurs due to the action of facultative anaerobic heterotrophic microorganisms that get their nourishment from an organic substrate and use the oxygen from nitrates. The presence of dissolved oxygen inhibits their growth. The reaction that accordingly develops in anoxia in a tank or a filter is: 1NOF+ 12H* +N, + 6H,0 In MWW, denitrification consumes from 4 to 6 mg of BOD; per mg of N.NO3 removed. In refinery WW, the naturally existing BOD; may not be sufficient and so the organic substrate must be supplemented by an outside source (ethanol, methanol, molasses, etc.) Phenol input is not advisable since a¢ certain concentrations phenols have an inhibiting effect on the nitrifying bacteria themselves. An activated sludge nitrification-denitrification sequence includes an anoxia tank, possibly with an added organic substrate input and an extended aeration tank with an added neutralizing agent. On start-up, acclimatization may requite many weeks depending on the quality of secondary settling, which accordingly requires particular care,