This study investigated the effect of sludge retention time (SRT) on the removal of high concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphate in a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor operating with a three-stage alternating anoxic-oxic sequence and step-feed (SAOSBR) to treat synthetic wastewater. The SAOSBR was controlled at a constant volumetric loading rate and operated under various rates of sludge wasted to obtain SRTs of 6,11,and 21 days. Full nitrification(>99%) and substantial denitrification (>85%) efficiencies were achieved with SRTs of 11and 21days, resulting in nitrogen removal of 89.3-90.4%. An SRT of 6days led to remarkable decreases in both nitrification efficiency (4.2%) and denitrification efficiency (40%) and to a significant reduction in nitrogen removal (51.4%). Maximum phosphate removal of 97% was observed with an SRT of 11days. SRTs of 6days and 21days led to phosphate removal of 36%and 66%, respectively. The removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was not affected by SRT. Consequently, the optimal SRT was around 11days for nutrient removal.
This study investigated the effect of sludge retention time (SRT) on the removal of high concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphate in a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor operating with a three-stage alternating anoxic-oxic sequence and step-feed (SAOSBR) to treat synthetic wastewater. The SAOSBR was controlled at a constant volumetric loading rate and operated under various rates of sludge wasted to obtain SRTs of 6,11,and 21 days. Full nitrification(>99%) and substantial denitrification (>85%) efficiencies were achieved with SRTs of 11and 21days, resulting in nitrogen removal of 89.3-90.4%. An SRT of 6days led to remarkable decreases in both nitrification efficiency (4.2%) and denitrification efficiency (40%) and to a significant reduction in nitrogen removal (51.4%). Maximum phosphate removal of 97% was observed with an SRT of 11days. SRTs of 6days and 21days led to phosphate removal of 36%and 66%, respectively. The removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was not affected by SRT. Consequently, the optimal SRT was around 11days for nutrient removal.