High Yield Fermentation to Enhance Biological Phosphorus Removal

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9362161 Coleman The objective of this project is to evaluate a biological nutrient removal process that provides an alternative to chemical treatment methods, which produce a residue for disposal. The success and reliability of the biological process depends on the ability to produce a fermentation product from the wastewater; namely acetate and propionate. Primary treatment sludge is fermented to provide additional acetate, but where this has been used, the acetate production has been below theoretical expectations. This may be due to the growth of other sulfate reducing and methane forming organisms that consume the acetate. The process to be evaluated in this project involves a primary sludge fermentation system that uses intermittent oxygenation to inhibit the organisms and thus greatly increase the fermentation yield. Experiments designed to test this concept will also investigate the use of oxidation-reduction potential measurements to control the process. A higher acetate and propionate production will greatly improve the reliability and performance of biological phosphorus removal systems. Experiments are designed to test this innovative concept using primary sludge at the City of Yakima WWTP. Oxygenation frequency, duration and control methods will be studied and the effect on acetate and propionate yield will be followed. This is a Phase I award based on a proposal submitted in response to NSF 93-18, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program Solicitation. An improved primary sludge fermentation process with a process control system using ORP measurements is expected. This involves process technology, equipment design and a process control system that can be marketed. There is a significant need for improved technology for biological phosphorus removal economically competitive with chemical treatment systems.