Operation of a fluidized-bed denitrification bioreactor

Technical Report · Wed Nov 15 04:00:00 EST 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6824514· OSTI ID:6824514

Taylor, P. A.

In the fluidized-bed denitrification process developed, bacteria are allowed to grow and attach themselves to 0.25 to 0.60-mm-OD coal particles, and nitrate-containing solution is pumped up through the column at a velocity sufficient to fluidize the bacteria-coated coal particles. The denitrification bacteria convert the nitrate ions to nitrogen gas. A 10-cm-ID column has been operated by Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant personnel to test the scale-up and operational characteristics of the fluidized bed process. The reactor consists of a tapered bottom section for flow distribution, several straight 10-cm-ID cylindrical sections, and a tapered top section for solid/liquid disengaging. Increasing the diameter of the reactor by a factor of two did not cause any decrease in reactor performance. The fluidized-bed reactor is characterized by short-residence-time requirements (about 2 minutes per meter of height), and by high, but variable, denitrification rates (2 to 35 g NO/sub 3//sup -/-N/dm/sup 3//day). The reactor is best suited for relatively low-concentration nitrate wastes (<1 wt% NO/sub 3//sup -/). The economics of using the reactor for high-concentration wastes (>20 wt% NO/sub 3//sup -/) is less favorable, but still may be competitive with other reactor types. 9 figs, 2 tables.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant, TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6824514
• Report Number(s): Y-2160
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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BACTERIA
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COAL
DENITRIFICATION
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDIZED BED
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
LIQUID WASTES
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
TESTING
WASTE WATER
WASTES
WATER