A NEW ON-LINE MONITORING INSTRUMENT FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF NITRIFICATION AND DENITRIFICATION RATES

Permit and consent standards for nitrogen discharges are becoming more stringent. With this in mind, the need for good process design and control based on reliable and useful data is more pressing than ever.The authors have developed a new approach to monitoring the nitrification and denitrification processes in activated sludge using an online UV nitrate analyzer, membrane filtration and PLC controlled valves. This paper describes the set up of the equipment within the MAT2000 monitoring trailer and describes the modes of operation used to measure nitrification and denitrification rates.Typical data from the monitor is presented and discussed. The results highlight the need for accurate data based on real time online measurements. Future work with the equipment will look at the effects of substrate addition, dissolved oxygen levels and the changes in pH in a complete dynamic measurement.