Upgrading to nutrient removal by means of internal carbon from sludge hydrolysis

Due to the introduction of stricter nutrient effluent standards, many existing wastewater treatment plants performing only primary or secondary treatment are about to be upgraded. As the space available at the plants is, however, often limited, processes are required which will accommodate the need for increased treatment capacity without requiring much more space. In the hydrolysis of primary or pre-precipitated sludge direct-degradable organic carbon is produced which can speed up the reaction rate and increase both biological phosphorus and nitrogen removal. Full-scale tests with dosing of hydrolysate for biological P and N removal, respectively, have shown that this is a most viable process. The use of on-line monitoring has improved the process further.