O fenômeno conhecido como Nitrificação e Desnitrificação Simultânea (SND) significa que em um mesmo reator ocorre simultaneamente a nitrificação e a desnitrificação, sob condições de operações idênticas, podendo ser justificada principalmente pela teoria de microambiente no floco ou biofilme. Assim, em um único reator, sob condições controladas de oxigênio dissolvido (OD) e elevados tempos de residênciacelular épossível que ocorra a nitrificação e a criação de zonas anóxicas no interior dos flocos ou biofilme para a ocorrência da desnitrificação. Neste sentido, a tecnologia MBBR/IFAStem como característicaelevado tempo de residência celular do biofilme formado nos meios suporte presentes no reator. Deste modo, neste estudo avaliou-se a remoção de nitrogênio via SND em um sistema IFAS quando submetido a diferentes concentrações de OD e Tempo de DetençãoHidraulica de 5,5 e 11 horas, tratando efluente sanitário e efluente sintético. Os resultados experimentais demonstraram que pode ser possível desenvolver efetiva SND com concentrações de OD média de 1,0 mg.L-1 e 1,5 mg.L-1. Sendo que, foram obtidas eficiência média de remoção de NTde cerca de 68% e concentrações médias efluente de N-NH4 de aproximadamente 5,0 mg L-1, de N-NO3 inferiores a 4,5 mg L-1 e de N-NO2 em torno de 0,1 mg L-1, e com eficiência média de remoção DQO solúvel acima de 90%, quando empregado efluente sintético. Ademais, por meio da avaliação da emissão de Óxido Nitroso (N2O), foi possível comprovar que a desnitrificação ocorreu de forma efetiva. / The phenomenon known as Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification (SND) means that in the same reactor simultaneously occurring nitrification and denitrification under identical operations conditions, and can be mainly explained by the microenvironment theory inside the floc or biofilm. Therefore, in a single reactor under controlled conditions of dissolved oxygen (DO) and high Solids Retention Time (SRT) it is possible that the nitrification happens and the creation of anoxic zones within the flocsor biofilm to the occurrence of the denitrification. In this sense, the MBBR/IFAS technology is characterized by high SRT of the biofilm formed on the carriers present in the reactor. Thereby,this work evaluated the nitrogen removal through SND in a IFAS system when submitted to different DOconcentrations and Hydraulic Retention Time of 5.5 hours and 11.0 hours, treating domestic and synthetic effluents. The experimental results showed that it may be possible to develop effective SND withaverage concentrations of DO of 1.0 mg L-1 and 1.5 mg L-1. It was obtained a TN average removal efficiency about 68%, and an average effluent concentration of NH4-N of approximately 5.0 mg L-1, of NO3-N less than 4.5 mg L-1 and ofNO2-N around 0.1 mg L-1, and an average CODsoluble removal efficiency above 90%, employing synthetic effluent. Furthermore, by evaluating the Nitrous Oxide(N2O) emission, it was possible to prove that the denitrification occurred effectively.

O uso de aterros sanitários como forma de disposição dos resíduos sólidos urbanos constitui-se na alternativa mais usual tanto do ponto de vista econômico, como na correta disposição final do lixo. Entretanto, a geração de lixiviados permanece como uma inevitável consequência do uso de tal tecnologia. Das diversas alternativas de controle desse líquido percolado, destaca-se seu envio para estações de tratamento de esgoto sanitário. No presente estudo, avaliou-se o impacto causado pela introdução de cargas progressivas de lixiviado em conjunto com o esgoto sanitário em dois sistemas pilotos de tratamento: um de lodos ativados convencional e outro, um modelo híbrido do tipo IFAS (Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge). A pesquisa foi dividida em três fases, mantendo-se as mesmas condições operacionais e alterando, em cada fase, a contribuição de lixiviado na composição da carga afluente, em valores de 5 por cento , 10 por cento e 20 por cento em relação à carga de DBO5,20. Os resultados obtidos a partir da investigação experimental permitiram concluir que o aumento progressivo da carga advinda do lixiviado não provocou redução na eficiência de tratamento em ambos os sistemas, em nenhuma fase da pesquisa. Obtiveram-se, para o processo IFAS, índices de remoção de matéria orgânica, expressos em DBO, da ordem de 87 por cento com a contribuição de 5 por cento e 10 por cento de lixiviado e de 80 por cento com 20 por cento de lixiviado; no processo de lodos ativados, tanto com 10 por cento e 20 por cento de carga de lixiviado, a eficiência foi de 80 por cento , os resultados referentes à fase de 5 por cento , nesse processo, foram prejudicados em decorrência de problemas operacionais. Em relação à oxidação de compostos nitrogenados, expressos em termos de NTK, observaram-se para o processo IFAS remoções acima de 90 por cento em todas as fases, indicando que a nitrificação ocorreu de forma satisfatória. No processo de lodos ativados, os índices de remoção foram de 72 por cento com 5 por cento de lixiviado e de 65 por cento com 10 por cento e 20 por cento , indicando um rendimento abaixo do esperado. Estudos relativos à composição da biomassa presente em ambos os processos não revelaram aspectos que as diferenciem significativamente em termos quantitativo; tão poucos indicaram alterações provocadas na microfauna em função da adição da carga de lixiviado. Os coeficientes cinéticos referentes ao metabolismo heterotrófico não apresentaram variações em função do aumento da contribuição do lixiviado, mantendo-se semelhantes aos encontrados na literatura; já os valores obtidos para constante máxima de crescimento (m) das bactérias nitritantes apontaram uma redução em torno de 76 por cento e 41 por cento para os processos de lodos ativados e IFAS, respectivamente, quando comparados com dados relativos à fase preliminar, sem adição de lixiviado; tal fato, contudo, não provocou interrupção ou inibição no rendimento da nitrificação. Ensaios de toxicidade aguda demonstraram significativa redução deste potencial em relação ao afluente, sobretudo, no processo IFAS, sendo que a técnica Microtox® mostrou-se mais sensível do que o teste com microcrustáceo Daphnia similis. Em linhas gerais, o processo IFAS demonstrou um desempenho superior em termos de eficiência de remoção tanto de matéria orgânica como nitrogenada, bem como maior estabilidade operacional. / The utilization of landfills as an urban solid waste management technology constitutes an economically viable alternative of final waste disposal. However, the generation of contaminated leachate remains as an inevitable consequence of this technology. Among various treatment alternatives for that percolated liquid, a major one is sending it to a wastewater treatment plant. The present paper evaluated the impact caused by the introduction of progressive leachate loads together with domestic sewage in two pilot scale treatment plants: an activated sludge plant and a hybrid model type IFAS (Integrated fixed-film activated sludge) plant. The research was divided into 3 phases, maintaining the same operation conditions in both pilot plants and changing at each phase the amount of leachate in the composition of the influent to percent values of 5 per cent , 10 per cent and 20 per cent . Results obtained from the experimental investigation demonstrated that the leachate load did not cause inhibition of the treatment process in both pilots, at any phase of the research. For the IFAS process, removal rates of organic matter in terms of BOD were on the order of 87 per cent with leachate contributions of 5 per cent and 10 per cent , and 80 per cent with 20 per cent of leachate contribution. Regarding the activated sludge process, at both 10 per cent and 20 per cent of leachate load, the BOD removal efficiency was 80 per cent . The results from the 5 per cent leachate contribution phase were not available due to operational problems. Regarding nitrogen removal, in terms of NTK, a removal efficiency over 90 per cent was observed for the IFAS process in all phases, showing that nitrification occurred in a satisfactory way; as for the activated sludge process, the removal rates were 72 per cent with 5 per cent of leachate contribution and 65 per cent with 10 and 20 per cent leachate contributions, results lower than expected. The study of the biomass composition did not show aspects that differ significantly in quantitative terms for both processes; and it did not show any changes in the micro fauna due to the leachate addition. The kinetic coefficients related to the heterotrophic metabolism did not present variation due to the increase of leachate addition, being similar to those found in the literature. On the other hand, the obtained values for the maximum growth rate (m) of nitrifying bacteria pointed to reductions of about 76 per cent and 41 per cent for the activated sludge and IFAS processes, respectively, when compared with data related to the preliminary phase, without leachate addition. This fact, however, did not cause disruption or inhibition to affect the nitrification yield. Acute toxicity assays demonstrated significant reduction of this potential relative to affluent, especially on the IFAS process, and the Microtox® technique appeared to be more sensitive. In a more general way, the IFAS process presented a better performance than the activated sludge process in terms of removal efficiencies of organic and nitrogenous matter, as well as higher operating stability.

O fenômeno conhecido como Nitrificação e Desnitrificação Simultânea (SND) significa que em um mesmo reator ocorre simultaneamente a nitrificação e a desnitrificação, sob condições de operações idênticas, podendo ser justificada principalmente pela teoria de microambiente no floco ou biofilme. Assim, em um único reator, sob condições controladas de oxigênio dissolvido (OD) e elevados tempos de residênciacelular épossível que ocorra a nitrificação e a criação de zonas anóxicas no interior dos flocos ou biofilme para a ocorrência da desnitrificação. Neste sentido, a tecnologia MBBR/IFAStem como característicaelevado tempo de residência celular do biofilme formado nos meios suporte presentes no reator. Deste modo, neste estudo avaliou-se a remoção de nitrogênio via SND em um sistema IFAS quando submetido a diferentes concentrações de OD e Tempo de DetençãoHidraulica de 5,5 e 11 horas, tratando efluente sanitário e efluente sintético. Os resultados experimentais demonstraram que pode ser possível desenvolver efetiva SND com concentrações de OD média de 1,0 mg.L-1 e 1,5 mg.L-1. Sendo que, foram obtidas eficiência média de remoção de NTde cerca de 68% e concentrações médias efluente de N-NH4 de aproximadamente 5,0 mg L-1, de N-NO3 inferiores a 4,5 mg L-1 e de N-NO2 em torno de 0,1 mg L-1, e com eficiência média de remoção DQO solúvel acima de 90%, quando empregado efluente sintético. Ademais, por meio da avaliação da emissão de Óxido Nitroso (N2O), foi possível comprovar que a desnitrificação ocorreu de forma efetiva. / The phenomenon known as Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification (SND) means that in the same reactor simultaneously occurring nitrification and denitrification under identical operations conditions, and can be mainly explained by the microenvironment theory inside the floc or biofilm. Therefore, in a single reactor under controlled conditions of dissolved oxygen (DO) and high Solids Retention Time (SRT) it is possible that the nitrification happens and the creation of anoxic zones within the flocsor biofilm to the occurrence of the denitrification. In this sense, the MBBR/IFAS technology is characterized by high SRT of the biofilm formed on the carriers present in the reactor. Thereby,this work evaluated the nitrogen removal through SND in a IFAS system when submitted to different DOconcentrations and Hydraulic Retention Time of 5.5 hours and 11.0 hours, treating domestic and synthetic effluents. The experimental results showed that it may be possible to develop effective SND withaverage concentrations of DO of 1.0 mg L-1 and 1.5 mg L-1. It was obtained a TN average removal efficiency about 68%, and an average effluent concentration of NH4-N of approximately 5.0 mg L-1, of NO3-N less than 4.5 mg L-1 and ofNO2-N around 0.1 mg L-1, and an average CODsoluble removal efficiency above 90%, employing synthetic effluent. Furthermore, by evaluating the Nitrous Oxide(N2O) emission, it was possible to prove that the denitrification occurred effectively.

Motivées par des normes de rejets en azote toujours plus sévères et par les besoins d'extension de certaines stations d'épuration, les agglomérations sont à la recherche de nouvelles technologies de traitement plus compactes et plus performantes. Dans ce sens, le procédé hybride, à lit fluidisé placé dans un réacteur de type boues activées (IFAS), est une nouvelle technologie de traitement du carbone et de l'azote très attractive. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'optimiser le dimensionnement du procédé IFAS en configuration trois bassins (anoxie/aérobie BA/aérobie IFAS) et d'apporter des recommandations sur la conduite du procédé (charge massique appliquée, température.). Pour cela, une double démarche expérimentale et numérique a été mise en place. Un pilote de 3 m3 alimenté en eau usée brute a été conçu, instrumenté et étudié pendant 2 ans au cours de 7 périodes stabilisées (entre 0,15 et 0,30 kgDBO5/kgMVSLM/j, température entre 10 et 22°C, et le séquençage de l'aération dans les bassins). La concentration en MES dans la liqueur mixte a été maintenue à 2,3 gMES/L et la concentration en oxygène entre 2 à 6 mgO2/L. Les capacités de nitrification du biofilm et de la liqueur mixte (NPRmax) ont été mesurées tous les 15 jours. Les performances d'élimination de l'azote (nitrification et dénitrification) et du carbone observées sont restées supérieur à 90% d'élimination pour une charge massique maximale de 0,30 kgDBO5/kgMVSLM/j entre 16 à 24°C. Le biofilm dispose d'une capacité de nitrification maximale de 0,90 gN/m2/j et tributaire des concentrations en oxygène dans la liqueur mixte (contraintes diffusionnelle). Le biofilm contribue en moyenne à hauteur de 60% du flux total nitrifié dans le réacteur IFAS pour des âges de boues < 5 jours à 16°C. La diminution du MLSRT en dessous de 4 jours a permis de limiter le développement des bactéries autotrophes dans la liqueur mixte (minimum 10% du flux total nitrifié par la liqueur mixte) mais pas de les supprimer totalement (apport de nitrifiante par détachement de biofilm) / Motivated by the increasingly demanding discharge consents and by the need to improve overall treatment capacity, water authorities are uninterruptedly examining better performing and more compact wastewater treatment technologies. Thanks to its compactness and to its capacity to treat both organic matter and nitrogen at an affordable cost, the IFAS process represents an attractive addition to improve retrofitting-activated sludge plants performance. The main objective of this thesis is to optimize IFAS process with regards to key operation parameters such as dimensioning, F/M ratio by combining experimental and mathematical modelling approaches. A 3 m3 pilot IFAS fed with raw wastewater was operated at the experimental hall of La Feyssine wastewater treatment plant, Villeurbanne, for a period of 2 years. The IFAS process was separated in 3 tanks to treat organic matter and total nitrogen separately (anoxic/aerobic, suspended/aerobic IFAS). The experimental study was divided in 7 periods with different steady state operation conditions each. The feasibility of nitrification at steady F/M ratios (between 0,1S to 0,30 kgBODS/kgMLVSS/d), at constant temperatures (between 10 - 22°C) and at different oxygen supply rates was investigated. TSS in mixed liquor were maintained at 2,3 gMLTSS/L and oxygen concentration between 2 to 6 mgO2/L. Biofilm mass and combined nitrification capacity of biofilm and mixed liquor (NPRmax) were measured on a weekly basis. The removal performance was up to 90% for nitrogen and carbon treatment with a maximal F/M ratio of 0,30 kgBODS/kgMLVSS/d between 16°C to 24 °C. The biofilm was able to nitrify 0,90 gN/m2/d (NPRmax) depending on the oxygen concentration in the mixed liquor (diffusional limitation). Under the operating conditions tested in this study, biofilm was responsible for 40 to 70% of NOx-N production in IFAS reactor during nitrification. Decreasing the MLSRT to less than 4 days limits the growth of autotrophic bacteria in the mixed liquor but does not halt it completely

Övergödning är ett utbrett miljöproblem i hav och sjöar, som yttrar sig i toxiska algblomningar och en minskad biodiversitet. Eftersom kväve är en betydande källa till övergödning, har flera avloppsreningsverk (ARV) krav på kväveavskiljning innan utsläpp i recipient. Tierp ARV omfattas [TA1] för närvarande inte av sådana utsläppskrav på kväve, men förväntas bli det i och med kommande lagstiftning. En utbyggnad av det biologiska reningssteget, som idag endast medför viss kväveavskiljning, kan därför bli nödvändigt för att åstadkomma fullständig kväverening.  Syftet med examensarbetet var att föreslå reningstekniker som kan åstadkomma tillräcklig kväveavskiljning vid Tierp ARV och bedöma vilken av dessa som är mest fördelaktig för implementering. Vidare utvärderades nuvarande reduktion av kväve och organiskt material samt rådande nitrifikation i det biologiska reningssteget. Massbalanser upprättades utifrån provtagning på dessa parametrar. Lämpliga kvävereningstekniker föreslogs med hänsyn till lokala krav och förutsättningar. Dessa tekniker jämfördes därefter i en multikriterieanalys med avseende på platsåtgång, växthusgasutsläpp, drift- och underhållskostnader, kapitalkostnader och arbetsinsats.  Massbalanserna uppvisade en reduktion på 31 % för totalkväve, 10 % för ammoniumkväve, 63 % för nitratkväve, 7 % för nitritkväve, 62 % för COD och 67 % för BOD7. Nuvarande nitrifikation bedömdes vara relativt låg, vilket troligtvis är resultatet av den låga temperaturen på avloppsvattnet, eventuell otillräcklig syretillförsel samt ogynnsamt pH. De reningstekniker som föreslås kunna minska kväveutsläppen från Tierp ARV är aktivslamprocess, membranbioreaktor (MBR) och hybridprocess med biofilmsbärare och aktivslam (IFAS). Utifrån en samlad bedömning av kriterierna i multikriterieanalysen bedömdes IFAS som mest fördelaktig för etablering och MBR som minst gynnsamt. / Eutrophication is a major environmental problem in oceans and lakes, which manifests itself intoxic algal blooms and reduced biodiversity. As nitrogen is a significant contributor toeutrophication, numerous wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) have requirements for nitrogenremoval before discharge into the recipient. Tierp WTP is not currently subject to suchregulation, but is expected to be so with forthcoming legislation. Consequently, an expansion ofthe biological treatment, which presently facilitates only partial nitrogen removal, may becomepertinent to achieve complete nitrogen removal. The objective of this thesis was to propose treatment methods capable of achieving adequatenitrogen removal at Tierp WTP and evaluate the most suitable option for implementation.Furthermore, the current nitrogen and organic material reduction, as well as present nitrificationin the biological treatment, were assessed. Mass balances were established based on sampling ofthese parameters. Suitable nitrogen purification techniques were proposed, considering localrequirements and conditions. These techniques were then compared through a multi-criteriaanalysis, taking into account space occupancy, greenhouse gas emissions, operation andmaintenance costs, capital costs and workload. The mass balances revealed reductions of 31% for total nitrogen, 10% for ammonium nitrogen,63% for nitrate nitrogen, 7% for nitrite nitrogen, 62% for COD and 67% for BOD7. The currentnitrification was assessed as relatively low, likely attributable to the low temperature of thewastewater, possibly insufficient oxygen supply and unfavourable pH. The treatment methodsproposed in the thesis to achieve sufficient nitrogen removal at Tierp WTP are the activatedsludge process, membrane bioreactor (MBR), and hybrid process with biofilm carriers andactivated sludge (IFAS). According to the multicriteria analysis, IFAS was deemed the mostadvantageous option for implementation, while MBR was evaluated as the least favourable.

Mainstream Partial Nitritation/Anammox, also known as Mainstream Deammonification, is a promising technology for future wastewater purification that aims to remove nitrogen from wastewater in order to prevent the eutrophication. It is less costly than the traditional nitrification/denitrification process and it heads towards the direction of converting the WWTPs from energy consuming into energy producing facilities.   This Master’s thesis is based on a study regarding the nitrogen removal from mainstream wastewater. It was conducted at Hammarby Sjöstadsverk that is a research facility in the area of the Henriksdal Waste Wastewater Treatment Plant in Stockholm. Three parts of the study were developed. The main one had the purpose to evaluate the process performances of a biological pilot-scale IFAS reactor used for Mainstream Deammonification that was operated from October 2017 to March 2018. This evaluation was addressed to comprehend how the pilot-scale reactor works at different operational conditions. The remaining studies analysed the progress of the pilot-scale reactor in relation to different factors and to the settling properties of the activated sludge used in the process.   It was found that the process performances improved by changing the aeration pattern from 40 to 50 minutes for non-aeration time and from 20 to 10 minutes for aeration time and by increasing the dissolved oxygen set-point from 0.6 to 1.0 mg/L. The enhancement of the performances consisted in an inhibition of nitrite oxidizing bacteria and rise of the total nitrogen removal efficiency. In addition, anammox biofilm was observed to grow on the carriers and it was observed that the activated sludge did not have good settling properties.

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.

The Integrated Film Activated Sludge Process (IFAS) was developed to reduce the cost of additional facilities required to complete year round nitrification in the design of new or retrofit wastewater treatment plants. The purpose of this project was to develop a computer-based mechanistic model, called IFAS, which can be used as a tool by scientists and engineers to optimize their designs and to troubleshoot a full-scale treatment plant. The program also can be employed to assist researchers conducting their studies of IFAS wastewater treatment processes. IFAS enables the steady-state simulation of nitrification-denitrification processes as well as carbonaceous removal in systems utilizing integrated media, but this current version supports only sponge type media. The IFAS program was developed by incorporating empirical equations for integrated biofilm carbonaceous uptake and nitrification developed by Sen and Randall (1995) into the general activated sludge model, developed by the International Association on Water Quality (IAWQ, previously known as IAWRC), plus the biological phosphorus removal model of Wentzel et al (1989). The calibration and evaluation of the IFAS model was performed using existing data from both an IFAS system and a conventional activated sludge bench-scale plant operated over a wide range of Aerobic Mean Cell Residence Times (Aerobic MCRT's). The model developed provides a good fit and a reasonable prediction of the experimental data for both the IFAS and the conventional pilot-scale systems. The phosphorus removal component of the model has not yet been calibrated because of insufficient data and the lack of adequately defined parameters. / Master of Science

All life on Earth is based on and is constantly dependent on flows of water through every plant, every animal and every human body. This makes water Earth's most important natural resource. Lack of water can cause enormous suffering to faculty of agriculture, industry and local ecosystem. Although models, research and pure common sense shows the rational and positive in cooperating on shared water resources, it takes time to build up a stable cooperation between the different political states. Although a generalization is not possible, it is possible to find patterns that despite prevailing political situation, there is a willingness and desire to override political differences and seek a sustainable development in the region. Today there is a consensus among scientists that shared water combined with water shortages, often causes political conflicts. These disputes rather get the parties to realize that they are dependent on each other to get the water they need, and that they find ways to cooperate.

Deammonification is a widely used technology for side stream treatment with rich ammonium streams at relatively high temperatures, such as, the reject water coming from dewatering units in treatment of digested sludge and industrial wastewaters. The deammonification process has lower operational costs than conventional systems, consumes less energy, enables the increase of biogas production and it is easy to implement. However, this technology has not yet been applied in full- scale mainstream treatment due to its restrictions in coping with high C/N ratios, low temperatures, and the need for post-treatment processes. These conditions are allegedly negative to the growth and performance of anammox bacteria affecting the bacterial groups’ behavior in the process. This master thesis project aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using deammonification to remove nitrogen from mainstream wastewater, which was studied by monitoring the bacterial activity in a pilot scale reactor. The different bacterial groups involved (AOB, NOB, heterotrophs, and denitrifiers) were monitored by weekly measuring their activity in batch activity tests. The results allowed the evaluation of different operational scenarios and their impact by following up on the changes in the bacterial competition. The study was conducted for six months in a single-stage IFAS (integrated fixed-film activated sludge) pilot-scale reactor located in Stockholm and fed with pretreated (with a UASB) municipal wastewater. The different operational scenarios involved changes in temperature, aeration patterns, DO concentration, SRT, and HRT. The adjustment of these features was done in the interest of promoting AOB and anammox bacterial growth, leading to an improvement of the deammonification efficiency in future studies. However, the chosen operational conditions were to enhance bacterial competition and facilitate its visualization, not to maximize nitrogen removal. Thus, the most suitable scenario found during this study included DO concentration of 1.5 mg/L with 10 aeration-20 non-aeration pattern and ensured nitrogen removal rates within normal values while allowing the monitoring of all the bacterial groups. TN removal reached a value above 50% and NH4-N above 95%, whereas nitrogen Removal Rate (NRR) increased to 30g/N/m3-d and the system had an overall nitrogen removal efficiency of 75%. Nevertheless, it was proven that in the right environment, the necessary bacterial groups can be selectively accumulated and successfully perform deammonification and reduce nitrogen levels in mainstream wastewater. / Deammonifikation är en välanvänd teknik för rening av sidoströmmar med höga ammoniumkoncentrationer vid relativt hög temperatur, som till exempel rejektvatten från avvattning av rötslam eller industriellt avloppsvatten. Deammonifikationsprocessen har lägre driftkostnad än konventionella reningsprocesser, förbrukar mindre energi samt möjliggör högre biogasproduktion samtidigt som processen är enkel att implementera. Reningstekniken har dock ännu inte tillämpats i fullskala för rening av huvudströmmen på grund av den höga C/N-kvoten och de låga vattentemperaturerna i kommunalt avloppsvatten samt behovet av efterbehandling. Detta anses ha en negativ inverkan på anammoxbakteriernas tillväxthastighet och funktion vilket påverkar bakteriegruppens beteende i processen. Syftet med detta examensarbete var att utvärdera om det är praktiskt genomförbart att använda deammonifikation för att rena kväve från kommunalt avloppsvatten, vilket följdes upp genom att studera bakterieaktiviteten i en pilotskalereaktor. De involverade bakteriegrupperna (AOB, NOB, heterotrofer och denitrifierare) övervakades genom att mäta den mikrobiella aktiviteten varje vecka med hjälp av batch-tester. Resultaten användes till att utvärdera olika driftstrategier och deras effekt genom att följa förändringarna i mikrobiell aktivitet hos de konkurrerande bakteriegrupperna. Studien genomfördes i Stockholm under sex månader i en enstegs-IFAS-pilotskalereaktor (integrerad process med biofilm på fast bärarmaterial och aktivslam) som matades med kommunalt avloppsvatten som förbehandlats i en UASB-reaktor. De olika driftstrategierna omfattade olika temperaturer, luftningsstrategier, syrekoncentrationer, slamåldrar och hydrauliska uppehållstider. Syftet med driftstrategierna var att främja AOB- och anammoxbakteriers tillväxt för att i framtida studier kunna erhålla en förbättrad deammonifikationsprocess. Syftet i denna studie var dock i första hand att förbättra den bakteriella konkurrensen och göra den lättare att mäta, inte att uppnå bästa möjliga kväverening. Den driftstrategi som gav bäst resultat i denna studie innebar att hålla en syrehalt på 1,5 mg/l med 10 minuter luftning följt av 20 minuter utan luftning vilket säkerställde en normal kväveavskiljning och samtidigt möjliggjorde övervakning av samtliga fyra bakteriegrupper. Totalkväveavskiljningen var över 50 % och ammoniumavskiljningen över 95 % medan kvävereningsaktiviteten ökade till 30 g N/m3-d och systemet hade en övergripande effektivitet på 75 %. Studien visade att under rätt förutsättningar kan de nödvändiga bakteriegrupperna selekteras fram och deammonifikation av kommunalt avloppsvatten kan utföras på ett framgångsrikt sätt.