Conventional and new concepts of biological treatment processes for the nitrogen removal from wastewater

Resumo

Nitrogenous compounds are predominant in many wastewater and need treatment prior to discharge in order to prevent oxygen depletion and eutrophication of surface water bodies. Nitrogen removal is usually accomplished through sequential nitrification and denitrification processes. Here, it is presented a review of the conventional biological nitrogen removal by nitrification-denitrification and also some processes that make use of new concepts, as: Anammox, Sharon, and Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND).