Deammonification in an aerobic Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC)

Leachate from landfills is a highly complex polluted wastewater. Landfill leachate with a high concentration of ammonium nitrogen is generally difficult to treat, efficiently. Furthermore, it can be very expensive when there is lack of an easily biodegradable carbon source. Combination of the nitrification/denitrification with the Anammox process can be a very attractive alternative. For the purpose of this study, a Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) was used. The main objective of the research was to investigate the performance of the Anammox process that occurs together with heterotrophic denitrification in the same RBC. During the operation period the acclimation of biofilm to the Anammox process was successful at temperature not exceeding 20°C. Apparently, the process was not affected by a high concentration of nitrite up to 100 g NO₂-N m^-3 Additionally, it was shown that the Stover-Kincannon model could be used for description of the ammonium and nitrite removal rates.