The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor achieving partial nitritation/anammox process to treat reject water after dewatering of digested sludge. During the study period, dissolved oxygen setpoint, aeration mode and inflow loading were changed to evaluate their influence on the process performance and efficiency in the reactor. Four different values for dissolved oxygen setpoint were tested: 2.0 mg/L, 1.8 mg/L, 1.5mg/L and 1.3 mg/L. Three different aeration modes in a one-hour cycle were tested: 30 min, 35 min, 40 min. And two different inflow loadings were tested: 2 g N/m2∙d and 1.6 g N/m2∙d. Discussion and evaluation were based on laboratory analyses and online sensors. The highest achieved total inorganic nitrogen removal efficiency was 85.6%, at 40 min aeration per hour, 2.0 mg/L dissolved oxygen and with 2 g N/m2∙day inflow NH4-N loading. Specific anammox activity (SAA) tests were also done for the anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria in biofilm attached to the carriers in the IFAS reactor, and the results showed that the bacteria could achieve a higher nitrogen removal rate than in the pilot-scale IFAS reactor.

This master thesis is based on own studies. A four-month study was performed at Hammarby Sjostad Research Station, which is located in Stockholm. One-stage deammonification process was evaluated in two different system configurations in pilot plant scale. The theoretical background for this thesis works is presented in the first part and where is presented negative impacts of nitrogen compounds in environment and requirements for purified wastewater in European Union (Sweden and Poland). In the next part of the thesis the nitrogen cycle is described and with focus on biological reactions for nitrogen removal. Especially, nitrification/denitrification and anammox processes are described with special focus on parameters affecting the anammox process performance and its advantages and disadvantages of using this process. Experimental results from the four-month study and evaluation of the microbial activity are described in the last part.

Esta pesquisa objetivou enriquecer biomassa capaz de realizar a oxidação anaeróbia do amônio (anammox) utilizando inóculo proveniente de reator nitrificante-desnitrificante, com a finalidade de estabelecer biofilme nitrificante-anammox em reator de leito fixo. O enriquecimento foi realizado em reator operado em bateladas sequenciais (RBS), com volume útil de 5 L e tempo de ciclo, inicialmente, de 56 h, e depois, sem tempo predeterminado (estratégias I e II). Após 89 dias de operação, 27,2 mg de \'N\'-\'N0 IND.2\'POT.-\'/L e 32,1 mg de \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/L foram consumidos concomitantemente. A estratégia III consistiu de batelada alimentada com ciclos de sete dias com afluente contendo 210 mg de cada composto nitrogenado. Na última estratégia (IV) a operação foi com ciclos de 24 h. Nessa etapa, a carga nitrogenada aplicada (CNA) foi aumentada de 155 g de \'N\' (\'N\'-\'N0 IND.2\'POT.-\' \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\')/\'M POT.3\' dia para 1.405,7 g de \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' dia com eficiências de conversão de nitrogênio de 91,7% e 98,0%, respectivamente. Essa biomassa foi inoculada em reator de leito fixo ascendente (RLF) visando estabelecimento da biomassa anammox em meio suporte (PEBD). Sob tais condições foi obtido eficiência de conversão de nitrogênio de 97,6% e carga nitrogenada removida média de 598,5 \'+ OU -\' 22,5 g \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' dia. Após estabelecimento de biomassa anammox, foi adicionado lodo ativado da indústria Volkswagen (São Carlos-SP) para formação de biofilme nitrificante-anammox. Nessa fase, a remoção de nitrogênio foi de 19,2% para CNA de 112,2 g \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' dia. A atividade anammox específica máxima foi 33,5 mg \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/g SSV h com a biomassa submetida à 50 rpm. Paralelamente ao processo de enriquecimento, foi verificada a influência de micronutrientes em condições nitrificantes em três quimiostatos, nas seguintes condições: Q1 alimentado com meio contendo solução de micronutrientes completa, Q2 alimentado sem solução de micronutrientes e Q3 alimentado com solução de micronutrientes sem o elemento Boro (quimiostato experimental). Nas três condições a estabilidade foi atingida com 11 dias de operação com conversão média de nitrogênio amoniacal de 99 \'+ OU -\' 1,5%, 94,6\'+ OU -\' 6,3% e 93,3\'+ OU -\' 7,3%, para Q1, Q2 e Q3, respectivamente, para 79 mg \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/L afluente. Após 450 dias de operação do RBS foi constatado semelhança do clones com Brocadia anammoxidans, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Chlorobi, Nitrospira, filo Chloroflexi e ao filo candidato OP 11. A composição microbiana encontrada no RLF com 139 dias de operação (final da fase anammox) foi de 48% dos clones relacionados à B. anammoxidans, 4% relacionados à Planctomycetes não cultivados, 12% relacionados à Proteobacteria, 8% relacionados à Chlorobi, 24% relacionados à Nitrospira, 4% relacionados ao filo Chloroflexi. Pode-se concluir que a biomassa aderida em PEBD selecionou positivamente microrganismos anammox e Nitrospira e negativamente aos filamentos relacionados ao filo Chloroflexi. / This research aimed to enhance biomass capable of performing anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) using inoculum from nitrifying-denitrifying reactor, with the goal of establishing nitrifying-anammox biofilm in fixed bed reactor. The enrichment was performed in sequencing batch reactor (SBR), with a volume of 5 L and cycle time, initially, 56 h, and then, without pre-set time (strategies I and II). After 89 operation days, 27.2 mg \'N\'-\'N0 IND.2\'POT.-\'/L and 32.1 mg \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/L were consumed concomitantly. The strategy consisted of fed batch III with seven days cycles with influent containing 210 mg of each nitrogen compound. The last strategy (IV) was with 24 h/cycle. At this strategy, the nitrogen applied load (NAL) was increased from 155 \'N\' (\'N\'-\'N0 IND.2\'POT.-\' + \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\')/\'M POT.3\' to 1405.7 g \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' day with conversion efficiencies of 91.7% nitrogen and 98.0%, respectively. This biomass was inoculated into fixed bed reactor up (FBR) in order to establish the anammox biomass in support medium (LDPE). Under such conditions was obtained nitrogen conversion efficiency of 97.6% and nitrogen load removed an average of 598.5 \'+ OU -\' 22.5 g \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' day. After establishment of anammox biomass it was added activated sludge - Volkswagen industry (São Carlos-SP) - for nitrifying-anammox biofilm. At that stage the removaI of nitrogen was 19.2% to 112.2 g CNA \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' day. Simultaneously to enrichment process, was verified the influence of micronutrients in nitrifying conditions in three chemostats, as follows: Q1 fed with medium containing micronutrients solution complete feeds without Q2 and Q3 micronutrients solution fed micronutrients solution without the element Boron (chemostat experiment). In the three conditions stability was achieved with 11 days of operation with average conversion of ammonia nitrogen of 99 \'+ OU -\' 1.5%, 94.6 \'+ OU -\' 6.3% and 93.3 \'+ OU -\' 7.3% for Q1, Q2 and Q3 respectively for 79 mg \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/L. After 450 days of operation of the RBS was found similarity of clones with Brocadia anammoxidans, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Chlorobi, Nitrospira, Chloroflexi phyla and candidate phylum OP 11. The microbial composition found in the FBR with 139 days of operation (end of anammox phase) was 48% of clones related to B. anammoxidans, 4% related to uncultured Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria related to 12%, 8% related to Chlorobi, 24% related to Nitrospira, 4% related to the phylum Chloroflexi. It can be concluded that biomass adhered to LDPE selected anammox microorganisms and Nitrospira positively, and negatively to the filaments related to the Chloroflexi phylum.

Esta pesquisa objetivou enriquecer biomassa capaz de realizar a oxidação anaeróbia do amônio (anammox) utilizando inóculo proveniente de reator nitrificante-desnitrificante, com a finalidade de estabelecer biofilme nitrificante-anammox em reator de leito fixo. O enriquecimento foi realizado em reator operado em bateladas sequenciais (RBS), com volume útil de 5 L e tempo de ciclo, inicialmente, de 56 h, e depois, sem tempo predeterminado (estratégias I e II). Após 89 dias de operação, 27,2 mg de \'N\'-\'N0 IND.2\'POT.-\'/L e 32,1 mg de \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/L foram consumidos concomitantemente. A estratégia III consistiu de batelada alimentada com ciclos de sete dias com afluente contendo 210 mg de cada composto nitrogenado. Na última estratégia (IV) a operação foi com ciclos de 24 h. Nessa etapa, a carga nitrogenada aplicada (CNA) foi aumentada de 155 g de \'N\' (\'N\'-\'N0 IND.2\'POT.-\' \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\')/\'M POT.3\' dia para 1.405,7 g de \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' dia com eficiências de conversão de nitrogênio de 91,7% e 98,0%, respectivamente. Essa biomassa foi inoculada em reator de leito fixo ascendente (RLF) visando estabelecimento da biomassa anammox em meio suporte (PEBD). Sob tais condições foi obtido eficiência de conversão de nitrogênio de 97,6% e carga nitrogenada removida média de 598,5 \'+ OU -\' 22,5 g \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' dia. Após estabelecimento de biomassa anammox, foi adicionado lodo ativado da indústria Volkswagen (São Carlos-SP) para formação de biofilme nitrificante-anammox. Nessa fase, a remoção de nitrogênio foi de 19,2% para CNA de 112,2 g \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' dia. A atividade anammox específica máxima foi 33,5 mg \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/g SSV h com a biomassa submetida à 50 rpm. Paralelamente ao processo de enriquecimento, foi verificada a influência de micronutrientes em condições nitrificantes em três quimiostatos, nas seguintes condições: Q1 alimentado com meio contendo solução de micronutrientes completa, Q2 alimentado sem solução de micronutrientes e Q3 alimentado com solução de micronutrientes sem o elemento Boro (quimiostato experimental). Nas três condições a estabilidade foi atingida com 11 dias de operação com conversão média de nitrogênio amoniacal de 99 \'+ OU -\' 1,5%, 94,6\'+ OU -\' 6,3% e 93,3\'+ OU -\' 7,3%, para Q1, Q2 e Q3, respectivamente, para 79 mg \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/L afluente. Após 450 dias de operação do RBS foi constatado semelhança do clones com Brocadia anammoxidans, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Chlorobi, Nitrospira, filo Chloroflexi e ao filo candidato OP 11. A composição microbiana encontrada no RLF com 139 dias de operação (final da fase anammox) foi de 48% dos clones relacionados à B. anammoxidans, 4% relacionados à Planctomycetes não cultivados, 12% relacionados à Proteobacteria, 8% relacionados à Chlorobi, 24% relacionados à Nitrospira, 4% relacionados ao filo Chloroflexi. Pode-se concluir que a biomassa aderida em PEBD selecionou positivamente microrganismos anammox e Nitrospira e negativamente aos filamentos relacionados ao filo Chloroflexi. / This research aimed to enhance biomass capable of performing anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) using inoculum from nitrifying-denitrifying reactor, with the goal of establishing nitrifying-anammox biofilm in fixed bed reactor. The enrichment was performed in sequencing batch reactor (SBR), with a volume of 5 L and cycle time, initially, 56 h, and then, without pre-set time (strategies I and II). After 89 operation days, 27.2 mg \'N\'-\'N0 IND.2\'POT.-\'/L and 32.1 mg \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/L were consumed concomitantly. The strategy consisted of fed batch III with seven days cycles with influent containing 210 mg of each nitrogen compound. The last strategy (IV) was with 24 h/cycle. At this strategy, the nitrogen applied load (NAL) was increased from 155 \'N\' (\'N\'-\'N0 IND.2\'POT.-\' + \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\')/\'M POT.3\' to 1405.7 g \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' day with conversion efficiencies of 91.7% nitrogen and 98.0%, respectively. This biomass was inoculated into fixed bed reactor up (FBR) in order to establish the anammox biomass in support medium (LDPE). Under such conditions was obtained nitrogen conversion efficiency of 97.6% and nitrogen load removed an average of 598.5 \'+ OU -\' 22.5 g \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' day. After establishment of anammox biomass it was added activated sludge - Volkswagen industry (São Carlos-SP) - for nitrifying-anammox biofilm. At that stage the removaI of nitrogen was 19.2% to 112.2 g CNA \'N\'/\'M POT.3\' day. Simultaneously to enrichment process, was verified the influence of micronutrients in nitrifying conditions in three chemostats, as follows: Q1 fed with medium containing micronutrients solution complete feeds without Q2 and Q3 micronutrients solution fed micronutrients solution without the element Boron (chemostat experiment). In the three conditions stability was achieved with 11 days of operation with average conversion of ammonia nitrogen of 99 \'+ OU -\' 1.5%, 94.6 \'+ OU -\' 6.3% and 93.3 \'+ OU -\' 7.3% for Q1, Q2 and Q3 respectively for 79 mg \'N\'-\'NH IND.4\'POT.+\'/L. After 450 days of operation of the RBS was found similarity of clones with Brocadia anammoxidans, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, Chlorobi, Nitrospira, Chloroflexi phyla and candidate phylum OP 11. The microbial composition found in the FBR with 139 days of operation (end of anammox phase) was 48% of clones related to B. anammoxidans, 4% related to uncultured Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria related to 12%, 8% related to Chlorobi, 24% related to Nitrospira, 4% related to the phylum Chloroflexi. It can be concluded that biomass adhered to LDPE selected anammox microorganisms and Nitrospira positively, and negatively to the filaments related to the Chloroflexi phylum.

Partial Nitritation/Anammox process (deammonification process), by which occurs oxidation of ammonium to nitrogen gas by autotrophic bacteria in anaerobic conditions, considered to be cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of nitrogen removal. Present research work focuses on achieving a high nitrogen removal degree, thanks to Anammox bacteria, while providing the best performance of the ongoing process. Integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor was supplied with the main stream of the wastewater after UASB reactor, characterized by low concentration of nitrogen and organic matter. The bacteria ability to accommodate, were tested in the biofilm and in the activated sludge, depending on the different stages in which the process were being conducted. Batch test, such as Specific Anammox Activity (SAA), Nitrate Uptake Rate (NUR) and Oxygen Uptake Rate (OUR), were used for the evaluation of activity of various groups of bacteria. On the basis of laboratory analysis verified the values obtained from the batch tests. It was determined that a high degree of nitrogen removal (92% of NH4-N) was achieved thanks to the dominant activity of the Anammox bacteria, with low participation of other groups of bacteria. It was also proved, that Anammox bacteria activity were overwhelming in the biofilm. Dominant role of Ammonium Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) was associated with high activity of Anammox bacteria, which together satisfyingly out-competed Nitrite Oxidizing Bacteria (NOB) and heterotrophic bacteria. It has been shown that Anammox bacteria quickly adapt to the new conditions and they are able to assume a dominant role, even in the case of inoculation of the reactor with the sludge from SBR. This allows conclude, that in the case of operational problems, the reactor can be supplied from another source, in order not to inhibit the process.