Title
Monitoring and Kinetic Study of Ammonia Oxidation Using Dissolved Oxygen Electrode and Nad (P) H Fluorometer
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 2003
Abstract
The ammonia oxidation of a mixed culture enriched from a wastewater treatment plant sludge was monitored by a DO probe and a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) (NAD(P)H) fluorometer. Under fixed aeration, DO reflected ammonia oxidation effectively. According to the DO profiles and the total ammonia concentrations analyzed experimentally, the ammonia oxidation kinetics of the enriched culture was determined. The ammonia oxidation rate was found sensitive to pH, especially at low total ammonia concentrations. At high concentrations of total ammonia, the maximum ammonia oxidation rate occurred at pH 7.6±0.1. At low concentrations, the pH sensitivity intensified significantly and the apparentoptimal pH shifted higher with decreasing total ammonia concentrations, because NH3 molecules were the true substrate for ammonia oxidation and more NH4+ ions were converted to NH3 molecules at higher pH. The ammonia oxidation kinetics was therefore developed according to the concentration of NH3 molecules, instead of the commonly used total ammonia concentration. The kinetics followed Michaelis–Menten behavior for both DO and NH3 concentration: the maximum rate was 16.7±0.7 mg NH3-N/(g TSS-h) and the Michaelis constants for DO and NH3 were (14±2)% air saturation and (4.4±0.4)×10−2 (mg NH3-N/L), respectively. It was also concluded from the study that with or without exogenous organic substances, the NAD(P)H fluorescence of the enriched nitrifying culture was undetectable. The fluorescence did not respond to addition or depletion of substrate (ammonia, glucose, or acetate), change between aerobic and anaerobic conditions, or even KCN addition to kill the culture.
Volume
37
Issue
1
First Page
188
Last Page
196
Recommended Citation
Ju, Lu-Kwang, "Monitoring and Kinetic Study of Ammonia Oxidation Using Dissolved Oxygen Electrode and Nad (P) H Fluorometer" (2003). Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering Faculty Research. 87.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/chemengin_ideas/87