Intensive Nitrogen Removal within new or existing plants
The AGAR® IFAS (Integrated Fixed film Activated Sludge) configuration utilizes the complex interactions between a bio-film on the Biomass Carriers and suspended biomass in the activated sludge. This co-existence creates a specialized and highly concentrated nitrifying bio-film on the Aqwise Biomass Carriers, acting simultaneously with the organic carbon oxidation by the activated sludge.
This process principle is to introduce biomass carriers into the activated sludge, thereby allowing the activated sludge to remove most of the BOD, while allowing the biofilm to develop a microbiological population that oxidizes ammonium compounds.
The AGAR® IFAS is particularly well suited for retrofitting existing plants in order to add nitrification capacity, as well as increasing carbonaceous BOD removal, without any additional tank volume. The IFAS process can also be utilized in newly designed plants.
An AGAR® IFAS reactor is typically divided into a series of process stages that include aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic volumes, in a similar way to some well known BNR (Biological Nutrient Removal) configurations. In AGAR® IFAS biomass carriers are filled in the aerobic stages. The carriers are retained by screens located at the effluent end of the process stage.
The heart of the IFAS process lies in the competition between microorganisms growing in the liquid sludge, and those growing on the Carriers. As the suspended biomass has an absolute advantage over the fixed biomass in soluble BOD assimilation, the biomass developing on the Carriers consists almost entirely of nitrifying bacteria. As a result, the same tank contains two different microbiological populations executing completely different functions, thereby greatly increasing the treatment potential within the same volume. By using advanced modeling and in-depth process design tools, the size, location and quantity of biomass carriers in each of the process stage can be accurately determined to achieve extremely precise nutrient removal.
The AGAR® IFAS process is the perfect solution for upgrading existing plants to Biological Nutrient Removal, without adding reactor volume. In addition, the IFAS process can be used to increase plant treatment capacity with no addition of tankage.
|
