An investigation with respect to inhibition of nitrification of wastewater from 109 Swedish municipal wastewater treatment plants was performed. Flow proportional, 24-hour composite samples were collected during one week, and then analysed using the screening method. Inhibition of nitrification above 10% was found at only 20 plants. In general, the load of inhibiting substances is limited in Swedish municipal wastewater according to this study. The inhibition found is not connected to any special category of treatment plants with respect to the size of the plant. Neither was any general pattern of inhibition during the week found in this investigation. It was also shown that the screening method can be used for detecting small quantities of inhibiting substances if different dilutions of the same simple are analysed.

Inhibition, nitrification, nitrogen removal, screening method, toxicity, wastewater
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