Denitrification of High Nitrate and Ammonia Waters Using Fixed-Biofilms Reactors on Natural Supports

摘要

The pollution of ground water with nitrate is becoming a serious problem in Northern France. Biological dissimilative denitrification may be used to treat highly contaminated aquifers. Microbial denitrification was studied in laboratory continuously-fed fixed-film reactors using limestone or pouzzolan as supports for three months. Denitrification efficiencies were determined throughout the experimental period and reached 90#x2013;99 nitrate removal when the exogenous donor addition (glucose) was adequate. There was also a significant relationship between denitrification rates and the phosphorus supply.