摘要：An up-flow packed bed reactor has been operated to investigate the technical feasibility of biological nitrate removal applied to the synthetic solution. This study was evaluated Microbial Cellulose (MC) as a biopolymer carrier in a laboratory bioreactor. The effects of nitrate content and flow rate on the nitrate removal performance of a MC packed bed bioreactor have been investigated. Ethanol was used as a carbon source for biological denitrification. It was found that up to 500 mg L-1 nitrate concentration the present system is able to produce an effluent with nitrate content below 10 ppm at 3 h hydraulic retention time. The highest observed denitrification rate was 4.57 kg NO3-N/(m3 day) at a nitrate load of 5.64 kg NO3-N/(m3 day). The removal efficiencies higher than 90% were obtained for loads up to 4.2 kg NO3-N/(m3 day). A mass relation between COD consumed and NO3-N removed by 2.82 was observed. This continuous flow pilot bioreactor proved an efficient denitrification system with a relatively low retention time.
