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Nitrification in a submerged attached growth bioreactor using <i>Luffa cylindrica</i> as solid substrate


JT de Sousa
IN Henrique
R Oliveira
WS Lopes
VD Leite

Abstract

A laboratory-scale submerged attached growth bioreactor using Luffa cylindrica as support material for the immobilization of nitrifying bacteria was applied for polishing the effluent of an UASB reactor
treating domestic wastewater under the tropical conditions of northeast Brazil, in the City of Campina Grande (7o 13’ 11” South, 35o 52’ 31” West, 550 m above m.s.l.), Paraiba state. L. cylindrica showed a
very good performance as a solid substrate for the development of the biofilm aggregating microorganisms capable of metabolizing both organic and inorganic compounds adsorbed on it, particularly those responsible for nitrification. The efficiency of nitrification varied within the range of
82 - 95% with a mean of 88%. The final effluent had an ammonia nitrogen mean concentration of 5 mg.L-1, which is less than that recommended by the National Council for the Environment for discharges into receiving bodies in Brazil.

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eISSN: 1684-5315