AC24 Full-Scale Performance Comparison of Sidestream Nitrogen Removal Processes in the U.S.

CWEA Members: $20.00
Non-Members $30.00
CWEA Contact Hours: 1.0 contact hours towards CWEA Certifications: ECI, AWTO

"In response to increasingly stringent nutrient regulations, sidestream treatment (SST) processes have entered the U.S. market to meet growing demand. But given a lack of operational familiarity, established design practices, and overall performance outcomes, the process of deciding which technology is the best fit for a given facility is challenging. Owners are reliant on information provided by vendors or published literature for comparing and evaluating tradeoffs between technologies, often basing decisions on nitrogen removal performance, reliability, and cost. To support SST technology decisions, this paper summarizes relevant operating data that the authors solicited from full-scale wastewater facilities with SSTs in the US. The SST processes evaluated include:

1. Conventional nitrification/denitrification (NDN) SST
2. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox)
a. AnoxKaldnes ANITA™ Mox (Veolia)
b. DEMON® Anammox Treatment Technology (World Water Works)
c. ANAMMOX® (PAQUES)
3. Post-aerobic digestion - DigestivorPAD™ (Ovivo)

1-3 years of full-scale operating data were analyzed from a dozen facilities to calculate and compare the following metrics:
1. Design criteria
2. Performance metrics
3. Alkalinity consumption
4. Chemical addition
5. Energy consumption and air demand
6. Process stability and resilience
7. Capital and estimated O&M costs
8. O&M complexity

The results indicate high ammonia and TIN removal across technologies and installations. In addition, there is significant variance in ammonia/TIN removal within a process category and on an individual plant basis. There are also the occasional outliers of poor performance that could be due to operational upsets. The results for alkalinity consumption are significant in verifying claims that anammox-based processes save alkalinity. The results show alkalinity requirements sometimes exceeding the vendor recommended design ratio of 4:1. This could be explained by unstable deammonification leading to some ammonia removal occurring via conventional nitrification pathways. Though this may be a contributing factor, without operational optimization, it can be expected that anammox-based processes will not result in alkalinity savings. This evaluation highlights the sensitivity of SST processes and the importance of a holistic design approach that properly supports those processes. More needs to be learned as an industry to move closer towards fine-tuned operation and optimal biological performance."

Learning Objectives:

"Describe the different nitrogen removal sidestream treatment systems in operation in the US
List key performance metrics used for evaluating sidestream treatment systems
Identify potential causes of poor performance for sidestream treatment systems"

Registrants who view the live webinar to see the slides and hear the audio and then enter the correct attention check code (directions below)1.0  contact hours towards CWEA's Contact Hours. ECI, AWTO

To receive your contact hours for viewing the live webinar, please note the one (1) attention check code that will be displayed during the webinar in the top left or right corner of the presentation for approximately 90 seconds.  Please enter this code in the Attention Check Code component under the "Contents" tab.  

Please note, all user activity of CWEA certification holders on the Online Wastewater Education Network is subject to the CWEA Code of Ethics standards for professional conduct and ethics. Certification holders should receive credit for a training only once within the same contact hour period. Any attempt to undermine the certification process may be subject to ethics procedures and possible sanctions. It is not possible to receive contact hours for both attending the live webinar and viewing the recording.  

Once you have entered the correct attendance check code, you will be able to create and download an electronic "Certificate of Completion" under the "Contents" tab.