Title: Investigation of potato starch and sonicated RAS as alternative carbon sources for biological nitrogen removal

Authors: Gideon Kuncoro, Yung Ngothai, Uwe Kaeding, David Sweeney, Brian O'Neill

Addresses: School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, South Australia 5005, Australia. ' School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, South Australia 5005, Australia. ' United Water International Pty Ltd, Northern Region, 1100 Grand Junction Road, Hope Valley, South Australia 5090, Australia P.O. Box 690, Modbury, South Australia 5092, Australia. ' United Water International Pty Ltd, 180 Greenhill Road, Parkside, South Australia 5063, Australia. ' School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, South Australia 5005, Australia

Abstract: High nitrogen discharge from wastewater impacts negatively on the marine environment. Under the South Australian Environmental Improvement Program, metropolitan wastewater treatment plants are reconfigured to meet the new nitrogen discharge guideline. The denitrification process is carbon limited with carbon supplementation required to meet discharge guidelines, hence molasses is used for carbon source. Although molasses is inexpensive, other carbon sources particularly industrial waste potato starch and sonicated Return Activated Sludge (RAS) are explored. Research to evaluate soluble carbon release is quantified and preliminary results are presented suggesting that sonicated RAS may be an attractive substitute for molasses.

Keywords: denitrification; ultrasound treatment; sonicated RAS; return activated sludge; potato starch; molasses; sonication; carbon sources; biological nitrogen removal; Australia; wastewater treatment; molasses substitute.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2009.026339

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2009 Vol.3 No.3/4, pp.226 - 235

Published online: 07 Jun 2009 *

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