Pre-Precipitation Facilitates Nitrogen Removal without Tank Expansion

Chemically coagulated sewage water gives an effluent low in both suspended matter and organics. To use chemical precipitation as the first step in waste water treatment improves nitrification in the following biological stage. The precipitated sludge contains 75% of the organic matter in the sewage and can by hydrolysis be converted to readily degradable organic matter, which presents a valuable carbon source for the denitrification process. This paper will review experiences from full scale applications as well as pilot plant- and laboratory studies.