Deammonification for Cost-Effective

Sidestream Treatment
MWEA Process Seminar
November 8, 2017

Lucy Pugh, P.E., BCEE

Vice President
Wastewater Technical Practice Leader
Overview

1. What is deammonification? - the fundamentals

2. Why deammonification?

3. Sidestream deammonification
– DEMON suspended growth
– AnitaMox attached growth
– ANAMMOX granular sludge

4. Mainstream deammonification
Fundamentals of Deammonification
 Fundamentals of Nitrification - Denitrification

Autotrophic Nitrification Heterotrophic Denitrification

Aerobic Environment 1 mol Nitrate Anoxic Environment
(NO3- ) 40% Carbon

25% O2

1 mol Nitrite 1 mol Nitrite

(NO2- ) (NO2- ) 60% Carbon

75% O2
100% Alkalinity

1 mol Ammonia ½ mol Nitrogen Gas

(NH3/ NH4 +) (N2 )
Oxygen demand 4.57 g / g NH 4-N oxidized
+

Carbon demand 4.77 g COD / g NO-3-N reduced

 Fundamentals of Nitritation - Denitritation

Autotrophic Nitritation 1 mol Nitrate Heterotrophic Denitrification

Aerobic Environment (NO3- ) Anoxic Environment
40% Carbon

• 25% reduction in oxygen

• 40 % reduction in carbon demand
25% O2 • 40% reduction in biomass production

1 mol Nitrite 1 mol Nitrite

(NO2- ) (NO2- ) 60% Carbon

75% O2
100% Alkalinity

1 mol Ammonia ½ mol Nitrogen Gas

(NH3/ NH4 +) (N2 )
Oxygen demand 3.42 g / g NH+4-N oxidized
Carbon demand 2.86 g COD / g NO-3-N reduced
 Fundamentals of Deammonification

Partial Nitritation ANAMMOX Deammonification

Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation Autotrophic
Aerobic Environment 1 mol Nitrate Nitrite Reduction
(NO3- )
40% Carbon Strous et. al. 1999)
(New Planctomycete,

• > 60% reduction in oxygen

NH4+ + 1.32 NO2- + 0.066 HCO3- + 0.13 H+
• Eliminate demand for supplemental carbon
25% O2 • 50%0.26of NO
- + 1.02N + 0.066 CH O N
the3alkalinity 2demand 2 0.5 0.15 + 2.03 H2O

0.57 mol NO2-

Partial Nitritation 40% O2

50% Alkalinity

1 mol Ammonia 0.44 mol N2+ 0.11 NO3-

(NH3/ NH4 +)
Oxygen demand 1.9 g / g NH+4-N oxidized
Why Deammonification?
- A Strategy for Energy Neutrality
Overall Benefit of Deammonification Processes

– Eliminates need for carbon - available for energy recovery

– Significant reduction in energy demand possible
– Reduction in alkalinity demand
Typical Energy Demand Ranges
7

6
kW-hr / kg N removed

0
Nitrification / Nitritation / Deammonification
Denitrification Denitritation (a.k.a. ANAMMOX)
Distribution of Energy Usage for a
Typical BNR WWTP

Lighting & Misc. 2%

UV Disinfection 4% Pumping & Screening 7%
Chlorination 0% Aerated Grit Removal 1%
Centrifuge 8%
Belt Filter Press 1% Primary Clarifiers 1%
Anaerobic Digestion
9%
Gravity Belt
Thickener 1%
Dissolved
Air Flotation 7%
Aeration
Gravity Thickening
48%
Activated-sludge
0%
Aeration 55.6%
Filtration 2%
Filter Feed Pumping 4%
Chemical Addition 2%
Secondary Clarifiers 1%
RAS Pumping 2%

400 MLD (105 mgd) Nitrifying Activated Sludge Facility

The Road to Sustainable and Efficient
Nitrogen Management
1. A-Stage – maximize carbon capture
2. Biosolids – maximize energy recovery
3. B-Stage – minimize carbon and energy demand for nutrient management

1 3

3
Sidestream Deammonification Technologies
 Centrate / Filtrate Characteristics
Refuse

River
Secondary
Screening Primary clarifier Biological treatment
clarifier

Reduce
Thickener
Digester Effluent TN by
Sand,
grease ≈ 20%
Sidestream
Treatment Gas holder CHP

Sludge disposal /
beneficial reuse
Dewatering

• 1% plant influent flow

• Rich in nitrogen and phosphorus
• 15 to 25% plant influent TN load
• Ammonia: 500 to 3,000 mg-N/L
• Phosphorus: 200 to 800 mg-P/L
• Temperature: 30 to 38C
• Insufficient alkalinity for complete nitrification 13
• Insufficient carbon for denitrification
Challenges of Sidestream Deammonification

– Low growth rate

• approximate 10 day doubling time at 30C
• <10 day has been reported (Park et. al - 5.3 - 8.9 days)
• SRT (>30 days)

– Sensitive to:
• Nitrite
− Toxic- irreversible loss of activity based on
concentration and exposure time
− NH4+ : NO2- ratio 1 : 1.32
• DO - reversible inhibition
• Free ammonia (<10 -15 mg/l)
• Temperature >30C preferred
• pH (neutral range)
Sidestream Nitritation – NOB Repression

– Control
• Elevated NH3-N concentrations
• Elevated temperature (30-35 deg C)
• Low SRT (1-2 days)
• Low DO (~0.5 mg/L)

– NOB Repression Mechanisms

• Free NH3 –N inhibition of NOB > AOB
• Nitrous acid inhibition of NOB > AOB
• AOB max growth rate > NOB max growth rate at high temperatures
• AOB DO affinity > NOB DO affinity (perhaps only at high temperatures)
Deammonification Technologies
– DEMON® Suspended Growth SBR
• World Water Works
• 54 facilities in operation
• York River, VA; Alexandria, VA; Blue Plains, DC
– Cleargreen® Suspended Growth SBR DEMON®, Cleargreen, Terra-N
• Infilco Degremont
• 3 pilots / 3 plants in design

– TerraMox® Hybrid Suspended and Attached

• Clariant/SÜD Chemie - seepex
• 4 operational facilities (Germany)
– ANITA™Mox Attached Growth MBBR ANITATM MOx MBBR
• Veolia Water / Krüger
• 10 facilities in operation
• James River, VA; South Durham, NC

– ANAMMOX® Granular Sludge

• Paques (Ovivo markets technology in NA)
• 26 facilities in operation; many in design/construction

ANAMMOX® Granular Process

Deammonification Technologies
– DEMON® Suspended Growth SBR
• World Water Works
• 54 facilities in operation
• York River, VA; Alexandria, VA; Blue Plains, DC
– Cleargreen® Suspended Growth SBR DEMON®, Cleargreen, Terra-N
• Infilco Degremont
• 3 pilots / 3 plants in design

– TerraMox® Hybrid Suspended and Attached

• Clariant/SÜD Chemie - seepex
• 4 operational facilities (Germany)
– ANITA™Mox Attached Growth MBBR ANITATM MOx MBBR
• Veolia Water / Krüger
• 10 facilities in operation
• James River, VA; South Durham, NC

– ANAMMOX® Granular Sludge

• Paques (Ovivo markets technology in NA)
• 26 facilities in operation; many in design/construction

ANAMMOX® Granular Process

Demon® Operational Philosophy

Each DEMON cycle involves 3 time-controlled phases:

1. Fill / React – cyclical aeration and mixing

2. Settling phase

3. Decant / Discharge phase

Demon® Operational Philosophy

Reaction Settling Decant

Each DEMON process cycle involves
3 time-controlled phases:
1. Reaction – cyclical aeration
and mixing
2. Settling
3. Decant / Discharge
Overview of Several DEMON® Plants

• Typical volumetric design criterion = 0.7 kg N / m3 / day

• Typical removal ~90% NH3-N and ~85% TN
• Effluent NO3-N ~10% of NH3-N removed; less if bCOD available

Facility Load Tank Vol. (m3) Design Loading Rate

(kg N / d) (kg N / m3 / d)
Apeldoorn 1,900 2,900 0.66
Thun 400 600 0.67
Glarnerland 250 360 0.69
Strass 600 500 1.20
SRT Control – cyclone retains DEMON® granules and wastes NOBs
Greatest Anammox activity
in the cyclone underflow

MLSS Overflow Underflow

Robust System – reliable operations and faster startup

• Initially the startup period for DEMON was slow

• Strass started up over a 2 year period
• Startup of Glarnerland, Switzerland occurred within 50 days using
Strass seed and a cyclone
Strass Full Scale DEMON® – Energy Savings

– 84% TN Removal at design loading rate of 0.7 kg N / m3 / day

– 1.0 - 1.3 kW-hr / kg N removed

 DEMON® Sequencing Batch Reactor – Energy Demand
– Strass undertook many energy efficiency activities
– With the introduction of DEMON® it became a net energy producer

%
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Future
Net Energy
Producer

81% 84% 95% 108% 105% 109% 124% 175%?

Deammonification
Co-Digestion

Mainstream
Nitritation /
Deammonification
Denitritation
Operational Cost Savings
• $8.5M / year (methanol, alkalinity,
Sidestream
sludge processing) Treatment
• 9 year payback 20,200
lbs /day
• Risk mitigation for effluent TN NH3-N

Mainstream
Treatment
105,000
lbs/day
TKN
Deammonification Technologies
– DEMON® Suspended Growth SBR
• World Water Works
• 54 facilities in operation
• York River, VA; Alexandria, VA; Blue Plains, DC
– Cleargreen® Suspended Growth SBR DEMON®, Cleargreen, Terra-N
• Infilco Degremont
• 3 pilots / 3 plants in design

– TerraMox® Hybrid Suspended and Attached

• Clariant/SÜD Chemie - seepex
• 4 operational facilities (Germany)
– ANITA™Mox Attached Growth MBBR ANITATM MOx MBBR
• Veolia Water / Krüger
• 10 facilities in operation
• James River, VA; South Durham, NC

– ANAMMOX® Granular Sludge

• Paques (Ovivo markets technology in NA)
• 26 facilities in operation; many in design/construction

ANAMMOX® Granular Process

ANITA™Mox – MBBR process
• Simultaneous aerobic and anaerobic conditions in
biofilm layers
− NH3-N, alkalinity and DO in the bulk liquid MBBR
− AOBs in the outer aerobic layer
− ANAMMOX in the inner anaerobic layer

Liquid NH4+
N2
Nitritation
O2
AOB NO2-

Anammox
Aerobic
Simultanous aerobic and
Biofilm Anoxic anoxic layers in biofilm
Media
ANITA™Mox – MBBR process
• ANAMMOX organisms in biofilm are protected from high
concentrations in the bulk liquid
• Less vulnerable to inhibitory compounds
− DO: 2 mg/L vs. 0.2 mg/L suspended
− NO2-N: 50 mg/L vs. 5 mg/L suspended

Liquid NH4+
N2
Nitritation
O2
AOB NO2-

Anammox
Aerobic
Simultanous aerobic and
Biofilm Anoxic anoxic layers in biofilm
Media
ANITA™Mox – Different Media

K5 BiofilmChip M
800 m2/m3 1200 m2/m3

MBBR = Media + Screen +Aeration

 Mitigate risk of losing Anammox biomass
ANITATM Mox MBBR Deammonification
• Soljunda WWTP, Malmo, Sweden
− Pilot  “BioFarm”
− Tested carrier media, mixing, aeration
• Patented aeration control to prevent NO3-
N production <10% without supplemental
mixing
• Continuous aeration 0.6 – 1.6 mg/L DO
• Demonstrated energy demand of
1.45 – 1.75 kWh / kg
NH3-N removed
(Christesson et al., 2011)
ANITATM Mox Performance – Soljunda BioFarm
– ~90% NH3-N removal; ~85% TN removal
– Patented DO control strategy reduces NO3 production
<11%
– 1.4 – 1.7 kWh/kgN-NH4 removed
– Removal rates of up to 1.2 kg TN / m3 / day
– Loading rates up to 1.4 kg N / m3 / day

BiofilmChip™
Best Performer

(Christesson et al., 2011)

James River TP – Newport News, VA
– Centrate characteristics
• Flow = 0.075 MGD
• NH3-N = 890 mg/L
• Temperature = 30 °C

– Retrofit of existing tank

– Seeded from Malmö BioFarm

– James River also has 16 MGD Hybas™

(IFAS) treatment

– Serves as BioFarm
James River TP – Newport News, VA

33
James River TP – Newport News, VA
Process startup period – 4 months to reach full NH4-N load

4 Month Start-up Phase

James River TP – Newport News, VA
30-day performance test – 90% NH3-N and 83% TN removal

90%

83%
ANITA™ Mox – Ease of Operation
– Simple, robust, reliable
– Preferred for conditions with high inert TSS
Process Attribute Promotes Ease of
Operation
Continuous flow √
304 SS air grids (reduced maintenance) √
No decanting √
No sludge wasting (MBBR) √
No SRT control √
No pre-settling √
No equipment to recycle Anammox (MBBR) √
Resistant to nitrite in influent √
U.S.-based process support and MBBR expertise √
LA County Sanitation District, CA – Pilot Stress Testing
Summary of robustness and perturbation testing

Test Perturbation Recovery

Scenario
No. Period Time

1 Process power outage 24 hr < 8 hr

2 System underfeed 24 hr < 8 hr

3 System overfeed (2X) 24 hr 16 hr

4 Under aeration (No Air) 24 hr 32 hr

5 Over aeration (+23%) 24 hr < 8 hr

 Updates on Ongoing Technology Development
MBBR IFAS
3X the loading rate of MBBR but requires a clarifier

Nitritation
AOB
NH4
+
NO2
- Flocs
Liquid NH4+ (1-3 g/L)
Liquid
N2 N2
Nitritation O2 = 0.5-1.5 O2 < 0.5
AOB NO2- mg/L mg/L

Anammox
Anammox
Aerobic
Biofilm Biofilm
Media Anoxic Anoxic
Media

AOB in biofilm = NO2- limitation AOB in flocs = less NO2- limitation

x
 IFAS ANITA™Mox – Bench-scale

MBBR IFAS
3

N-removal (gN/m2.d)
10
N-removal (gN/m2.d)

8
2 6
4
1
2

0 0
0 2 4 6 8 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
N-NO2 (mg/L) N-NO2 (mg/L)

 Higher N-removal rates with higher NO2 level

 Higher NO2 level in IFAS
Deammonification Technologies
– DEMON® Suspended Growth SBR
• World Water Works
• 54 facilities in operation
• York River, VA; Alexandria, VA; Blue Plains, DC
DEMON®, Cleargreen, Terra-N
– Cleargreen® Suspended Growth SBR
• Infilco Degremont
• 3 pilots / 3 plants in design

– TerraMox® Hybrid Suspended and Attached

• Clariant/SÜD Chemie - seepex
• 4 operational facilities (Germany)
– ANITA™Mox Attached Growth MBBR ANITATM MOx MBBR
• Veolia Water / Krüger
• 10 facilities in operation
• James River, VA; South Durham, NC

– ANAMMOX® Granular Sludge

• Paques (Ovivo markets technology in NA)
• 26 facilities in operation; many in design/construction

ANAMMOX® Granular Process

Principle One Step ANAMMOX®
Principle One Step ANAMMOX®

O2

NO2-
NH4 +

N2

NO3-
NH4+
NH4+

2 NH3 + 1.7 O2  1.14 NO2- + 0.86 NH3  0.88 N2 + 0.24 NO3-

Benefits of AOB-ANAMMOX granules?

• Robust - less sensitive to NO2-N inhibition and scaling

• Compact reactors
• Responds well to peak flows and loads
• Better separation from influent TSS
• Rapid settling velocities 5 – 10 m/h
Single-Stage ANAMMOX® Process

• Second generation design: Single Stage

− Both nitritation and Anammox reactions
− Air lift design initially used for aeration
− Gas/liquid/solids separation modules
• Controlled by:
− Continuous aeration
− DO adjusted to control NOB growth
− NO2 -N
− Hydrodynamic conditions select for
granulated sludge; lighter flocculated solids
not retained
• Granular biomass beneficial ~1mm Dia. Granules
− Operate solids at 10 to 15 g/L
− Diffusion resistance reduces sensitivity to
inhibition e.g. NO2 > 30 mg/L

~1mm Dia. Granules

Upflow Granulation Process: ANAMMOX®
ammonia load (kg/m³.d)
• Rendac Performance 1.8
ammonia removed (kg/m³.d)
‒ Biofuels Plant (The Netherlands) 1.6
‒ Design load: 5,700 kg-N/d 1.4
‒ Startup 1 month with seeding 1.2
• Removal rates 1.4 – 1.6 kg N/m3/d 1
‒ 85% TN removal 0.8
0.6
• ANAMMOX® systems in China
0.4
successfully treating loads up
0.2
to 11,000 kg-N/d at design 0
loading of 2 kg-N/m3/d 27-Mar 16-Apr 6-May 26-May 15-Jun
• Energy consumption reported
to be 1.0 to 1.5 kW-hr/kg-N-
removed
 Comparative Summary of Deammonification Processes
• Pros: energy efficient; widely used; very small footprint
• Cons: operator attention, NO2-N tolerance
Suspended Attached Granular
SBR MBBR Single-Stage
(DEMON®) (ANITATM Mox) (ANAMMOX®)
Volumetric kg N 0.7 – 1.2
0.7 – 1.2 1.4 – 2.0
Loading Rates /m3/day IFAS > 3.2 ?
Performance ~90% NH3-N ~90% NH3-N ~90% NH3-N
%
TN Removal ~85% TN ~85% TN ~85% TN
Energy Demand kW hrs/
kg N 1.0 – 1.3 1.2 – 1.75 1.0 – 1.3
removed
Startup 1-2 months with
~4 mo w/ 1 mo
cyclone &
10% seeding w/ seeding
30% seeding
Sensitivity / pH & DO control DO control DO control
Flexibility NO2 < 5 mg/l Tolerates elevated Tolerates
Pre-settling DO & NO2 well elevated NO2
Sidestream Deammonification - Proven Technology

ANAMMOX
DEMON

Final Generation
Mature Technology

MBBR Second Generation

AnitaMox (building on lessons learned
First from first applications)
Demonstration

IFAS AnitaMox
Pilot Clear Green
Terra-N First Applications
Sidestream Treatment
 70 operational facilities
 Proven process, sustainable, small footprint, cost-effective
 60% less oxygen
 90% less carbon
 50% less alkalinity
 40% less biomass
“Future Ready for New Frontiers”
- Mainstream Deammonification
Strass WWTP, Austria-
Cold Climate Full Scale Mainstream Deammonification Demonstration

– First cold climate demonstration

– A-B type plant

– Temperature 10-12°C range

– A-Stage - ½ day SRT high rate

activated sludge with 65% carbon
capture for energy recovery

– B-Stage - carousel type aeration

tank providing high DO transient
anoxia (DO 0-1.7 mg/L).

– Sidestream DEMON for AOB &

Anammox bio-augmentation

– Cyclones for mainstream Anammox

retention
 Full Scale Cold Climate Success - Strass WWTP, Austria
Deammonification performance was better and more reliable than
the conventional BNR process resulting in less nitrogen to the river

2010/2011NO3-N
2010/2011 NO3-N effluent
effluent 2010/2011 NO2-N
2010/2011 NO2-N effluent
effluent 2011/2012 NO3-N
2011/2012 NO3-Neffluent
effluent 2011/2012 NO2-N
2011/2012 NO2-Neffluent
effluent
25
N/L)
(mgN/L)

Conventional BNR
concentration(mg

20
Effluent Nitrogen 2010
nitrogenconcentration

15
Mainstream Deammonification
10 Effluent Nitrogen 2011
nitrogen

0
1-Dec
1-Dec 11-Dec
31-Dec 21-Dec
30-Jan 31-Dec
29-Feb 10-Jan
30-Mar 20-Jan
29-Apr 30-Jan
29-May
Mainstream Granular Deammonification Performance at Dokhaven
WWTP, Rotterdam at Cold Temperatures
• At temperatures down to 12 C,
removal rates sustained at
80% to 100% of that expected
at 20C

• Need good DO control and

control of BOD and TSS from
the A-Stage
• High BOD and TSS
loading will
encourage growth of
NOB and other
microorganisms that
hamper selection of
AOB on the granule
surface
Key Findings of Mainstream Granular ANAMMOX
3-year Demonstration
– NOB activity was successfully suppressed and controlled.
– High removal rates were achieved with a low NOB activity.
– Long term process stability remains a challenge; fluctuations in influent BOD
are an important factor.
– Fluctuating BOD loads can be better handled in a plug flow reactor, instead of
the mixed tank reactor as used in the demonstration project.
– New full scale demonstration planned for China
Conclusions

• Sidestream deammonification is a proven, mature

technology.

• Mainstream deammonification strategy is promising.

• When upgrading your plant, consider incorporating

sidestream deammonification along with flexibility for
mainstream in the future.
Thank you!

lucy.pugh@aecom.com
(616) 574-8321

November 8, 2017