Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2016ND310B

Contribution of Soluble Microbial Products on Dissolved Organic Nitrogen and its Biodegradability in Wastewater Effluent

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2016 Start Date: 2016-03-01 End Date: 2017-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $6,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $12,000

Principal Investigators: Halis Simsek

Abstract: Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and biodegradable DON (BDON) in wastewater effluent can deteriorate the quality of receiving waters. Source of DON and its biodegradable form (BDON) in treated effluent from biofilm process is not known. Soluble microbial products (SMP) released by wastewater biofilm can contribute to DON and BDON. The main scope of this study is to investigate the contribution of SMP on DON and BDON level in treated effluent of an attached-growth wastewater treatment system operated under varying conditions and circumstances. The specific objectives of the study are as follows: 1. To investigate wastewater characteristics on composition of DON and SMP in biofilm reactor effluent; 2. To investigate organic loading rate effect on composition of SMP and DON in effluent; and 3. To investigate effect of redox conditions in biofilm reactor on the quantity and characteristics of SMP.