Nitrogen removal efficiency and nitrification rates at the Sequencing Batch Reactor in Nowy Targ, Poland / Kvävereduktion och nitrifikationshastigheter vid SBR-anläggningen i Nowy Targ, Polen
Biological nitrogen removal by the use of Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBR) is today an accepted and well proven model. The Nowy Targ SBR plant has been in operation for 15 years, and comprehensive performance data are available for assessment. This paper focuses on the 2005 year operation, characterised by high organic and nitrogen loading and also very high chromium loads. The available performance data allows an analysis of both nitrification rates and denitrification rates, along with an assessment of the temperature influence. The results reveal a high nitrification rate even at temperatures in the range 6–10°C, close to 2 g N/kg VSS/h, a clear relation between nitrogen loading and nitrification as well as denitrification. Furthermore a relation between the COD/N- ratio and the nitrification rate is found: the rate increases with decreasing COD/N-ratio.