15.3.

Nitrogen Removal Sidestream Process Design

Sidestream treatment processes for nitrogen removal have evolved rapidly over the past ten years in North America. Whereas
nitrification/denitrification and nitritation/denitritation systems were dominant through the early 2000s, deammonification
(partial nitritation/anammox) systems have gained traction and represent effectively all of the new designs in North America.
The reader is directed to the previous edition of this manual for information on sidestream nitrification/denitrification and
nitritation/denitritation systems.

Deammonification is the main process used in three basic configurations:

Granular sludge sequencing batch reactor

Granular sludge continuous flow reactor

Moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) with continuous flow

The designer has significant flexibility in deploying new reactors or retrofitting tankage to support these processes. It is
assumed that the reader has reviewed the upstream treatment requirements for the dewatering stream and is providing a
dewatering reject stream that is compatible with the sidestream treatment process.

15.3.1. Available Reactor Configurations

One of the primary advantages of deammonification-based sidestream treatment systems is the simplicity of the reactors
used to deploy them. This section discusses design considerations for sidestream reactors using both, granular and moving
bed configurations. The specifics of the reactor configuration will be proprietary for most of the designs, however non-
proprietary options may also be deployed, such as SBR and conventional reactor/clarifier configurations. The focus of
proprietary designs is primarily on the granule retention method and the instrumentation/control philosophy used. Because of
the rapid and ongoing evolution of these technologies, an intellectual property specialist should be consulted if a non-
proprietary design is being considered.

15.3.1.1. Granular Sludge Reactors

Granular sludge reactors for sidestream treatment are similar to those provided for conventional activated sludge at elevated
temperatures and high total dissolved oxygen liquid streams. The same considerations for the design of sequencing batch
reactor systems and continuous flow reactor/clarifier combinations are applicable to sidestream designs. However, the
designer has opportunities to simplify the design of the sidestream reactor, while incorporating the necessary design
elements that will allow for successful operations.

Key components of the granular reactors include:

Biological reactor

Granule retention system

Mixing system

Fine bubble aeration system

Decanting/Effluent withdrawal (SBR only)

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 Instrumentation and controls

The provision of an internal recycle loop between the reactor effluent and the equalization zone will minimize the potential for
nuisance struvite precipitation in both zones, while also providing an opportunity for removal of nitrate produced during
deammonification and preventing hydrogen sulfide formation. However, internal recycles should be limited to levels that will
not reduce effluent ammonia concentration to less than 50 to 100 mgN/L, as NOB suppression is reported to be affected at
lower levels.

The presence of elevated soluble or particulate biodegradable chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the reactor influent has been
shown to negatively affect granular reactor operations within a few days. Whereas the pretreatment provided upstream as
described in the previous section will serve to minimize this, consideration should be given to providing a zone for
biodegradable COD removal, whether in the reactor itself, or if possible in the upstream equalization tank.

A key consideration is the impact of maintaining a consistent level of carbon dioxide within the reactor. Deeper reactors with
higher oxygen transfer efficiencies are preferred. Reactors with depths of 20 feet or greater will allow for greater retention of
carbon dioxide and a more stable operating pH level, allowing for better utilization of the reject water stream's alkalinity
content, thereby also reducing or eliminating the need for a supplemental alkalinity source. Reactor depths of greater than
approximately 7.6 m (25 ft) are difficult to justify due to the economics of tankage construction and the design/operational
challenges with aeration systems operating at pressures in excess of 90 to 96 kPa (13–14 psi) (excessive process air
temperatures, lack of high efficiency blowers, accelerated diffuser aging). The use of relatively low operating DO
concentrations, on the order of 0.2 to 0.5 mg/L minimizes carbon dioxide stripping from these reactors, as well as energy use
when coupled with fine bubble aeration.

The retention of the biomass granules is a primary goal of the granular reactor design. This can be achieved via conventional
sedimentation including lamella clarifiers, however the general design trend is to augment retention through the provision of
an external retention mechanism, such as hydrocyclones or ultrafine (200–500 micron) screens. Whereas the first generation
of granular sludge reactors exhibited operational instabilities, the inclusion of equipment to enhance granule retention has
significantly increased the reliability of granular deammonification technology.

When selecting granule retention equipment, the designer must be cognizant of the upstream liquid and solids treatment
train, so as to prevent clogging of granule retention screens and hydrocyclones. Screening to 2 to 3 mm should be provided if
upstream processes don't provide screening to this level. Prevention of nuisance struvite formation on the reactor internals
should be incorporated in the design.

The reduced energy consumption and higher retention efficiencies of granule retention screens has resulted in increased
interest in this approach to granule retention, particularly where hydraulic loadings will be significant. At this time, there are no
active facilities in the United States using screens, however granule retention screens are in use in European facilities and
design for similar facilities in the United States is ongoing as of this update.

Design loadings on the order of 1 kgN-d/m3 can be sustained in reactors with an external granule retention system. It is
anticipated that higher loadings will be achievable as granule retention efficiency is enhanced; the designer should provide
the flexibility to readily increase the loadings to granular reactor systems to the level of approximately 1.5 kgN-d/m3. Where
only conventional sedimentation is used for granule retention, loadings on the order of 0.5 to 0.8 kgN-d/m3 are advisable.

15.3.1.2. Moving Bed Biofilm Reactors

MBBRs have gained popularity due to their resilience to shifts in dewatering reject water characteristics and a perception of
increased deammonification process robustness. Sedimentation is not provided in MBBRs, the anammox biomass grows on
the suspended carrier media.

Key components of MBBRs for deammonification are:

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 Influent and effluent media retention

Carrier media

Coarse bubble aeration system

Mixers

Instrumentation and controls

Screening to prevent blinding of screens and media may be needed for the MBBR. Screen apertures of no larger than 4 mm
are required, with considerations regarding preventing struvite formation on the screens as noted in the pretreatment section.

Design loadings for MBBRs are typically higher than those used for granular reactors. Loadings of 1.0 to 1.5 kgN-d/m3 can be
readily applied with higher rates possible; resulting in a 30% to 50% reduction in reactor volumetric requirements versus
granular reactors. Operational trends with MBBR reactors have shown them to be very resilient with respect to maintaining
anammox activity, with the limiting performance parameter being the ammonium oxidizing biomass. Where soluble
biodegradable organics excursion may occur (such as in facilities that a history of digesters going sour or dewatering from
sources with poorly digested sludge or thermally processed sludge) an organics oxidation zone upstream of the
deammonification MBBR is required. Coupled with an internal recycle from the MBBR effluent to the reactor influent to recycle
nitrate and nitrite, minimal additional aeration may be required.

Operational controls to minimize NOB activity need to be provided. In reject liquor streams that have marginal alkalinity to
ammonia ratios (below ∼3.5) provision of supplemental alkalinity can be used to increase the operating pH setpoint to allow
AOB a growth advantage while selective pressures (increased hydraulic loading, lower DO, etc.) are applied.

15.3.2. Aeration System Design

The combination of elevated operating temperatures and TDS levels, coupled with the need to turn off aeration as part of the
control logic or in order to prevent formation of excess nitrite requires the deployment of unique design elements in the
aeration system design of sidestream treatment systems.

High temperature operations and the potential for precipitate fouling result in rapid aging of fine bubble aeration systems;
provision of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or silicone fine bubble diffusers designed for high temperature operation is
required. Regardless of the material used and care in design and installation, due to the operating conditions, over the life of
the diffuser system, some diffusers will fail prematurely and result in process liquid entering the diffuser grid. Failure of
positive displacement blowers due to high pressure startups has been experienced to date. Provisions must be made for "soft
starts" that will allow process liquid to be expelled from the diffuser grid and prevent damage to the blowers and grid. This
may include allowing for a slow increase in the blower speed and use of check/blowoff valves within the diffuser grid to help
expel process water.

15.3.3. Mechanical Mixing/Shearing System Design

In conventional systems, mechanical mixing systems are used to maintain biomass and/or carriers in suspension when
aeration systems are turned off. However, in granular deammonification systems, evidence to date shows shear providing a
mechanism for selection of ammonia oxidizing over NOB. Thus, whereas one may be tempted to provide mixers sized at
approximately 0.1 W/m3, mixing energies of 0.2 W/m3 may be required to achieve adequate shear and minimize NOB activity
in granular systems. Provisions of multiple mixers that can alter the applied shear in the bioreactor are recommended.

15.3.4. Effluent Management

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15.3.4. Effluent Management
Significant nitrogen may still be present in discharge stream, potentially on the order of 100 mgN/L or more. The designer
must recognize this recycle loading and identify opportunities to direct sidestream reactor effluent where it can maximize
benefits to the main facility. For example, an aerated return activated sludge (RAS) channel can provide for residual ammonia
oxidation and potentially oxidized nitrogen species reduction.

Effluent may also provide for specialty biomass that can be beneficial to the process. Particularly in systems where
pretreatment is being provided, that includes solids removal from the centrate, the effluent from the sidestream reactor should
be directed to the biological process. Redirection of the sidestream reactor effluent to an upstream solids settling process
should be considered only if process calculations/modeling show that additional solids loading would be deleterious to the
mainstream biological process.

Where hydraulic limitations do not govern process design, the inclusion of a recycle loop from the effluent to the reactor
influent should be considered. The recycle loop will bring nitrate (a normal byproduct of the deammonification reaction) to the
head of the sidestream reactor, allowing for its removal via conventional denitrification, while also reducing the concentration
of ammonia and potentially the pH of the influent, thereby also reducing struvite precipitation potential with the reactor. Where
conditions allow, the recycle stream can be directed into the equalization tank or even the screening facility, allowing for an
increased margin of safety from struvite precipitation in these facilities.

15.3.5. Water Resource Recovery Facility Operations

Capabilities
Operation of deammonification systems has strong parallels with conventional nitrification/denitrification, but also provides
for some significant departures in operating philosophy, including the parameters that need to be monitored and the
operators responses. As part of the design of a sidestream treatment system, it is recommended that a structured training
program be provided for the facility's process engineering staff and the operators that will have daily responsibility for the
facility.

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