A pilot scale study of a sequencing batch reactor treating municipal wastewater operated via the UP-PND process

SBRs are usually preferred as small and decentralized wastewater treatment systems. We have demonstrated previously that using a frequent enough switching between aerobic and anoxic conditions and a specific to the treated wastewater aerobic to anoxic phase ratio, it is possible to by-pass the second step of nitrification (i.e. conversion of nitrite to nitrate nitrogen). This innovative process for nitrate by-pass has been branded as UP-PND (University of Patras-Partial Nitrification Denitrification) (WO 2006/129132). The proved methodology was successfully transferred from a lab-scale SBR reactor treating synthetic wastewater to a pilot-scale SBR system treating real wastewater. In this work we present the results from the operation of this pilot-scale SBR, constructed in the Wastewater Treatment Plant of Patras (Greece), using 6-hour, 8-hour and 12-hour cycles. It is demonstrated that three pairs of aerobic/anoxic phases with a relative duration of 1:2 (8-hour cycle) and 2:3 (12-hour cycle) secures the desired by-pass of nitrate production.