Nitrification monitoring in a biofilter treating pig manure

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nitrogen removal by organic biofilters treating pig manure is incomplete and has to be optimized. This could be achieved by promoting the activity of denitrifiers, this being the limiting factor for nitrogen removal in this kind of process. However, changing the operating conditions could impair nitrification; no data are currently available about the activity and distribution of nitrifiers in organic biofilters. A better knowledge of the process of colonization by nitrifiers is needed to determine their potential to oxidize ammonia and whether they share the same physical space as denitrifiers or not.

Progress in Slow Sand and Alternative Biofiltration Processes

“…When investigating the biofilm thickness in a trickling filter, Persson et al (2002) effectively found that it decreases with depth. Moreover, potential nitrifying and denitrifying activities measured ex-situ were much greater than activities observed inside the trickling biofilters, suggesting the possibility to enhance nitrogen removal (Gilbert et al, 2007(Gilbert et al, , 2008. Moreover, potential nitrifying and denitrifying activities measured ex-situ were much greater than activities observed inside the trickling biofilters, suggesting the possibility to enhance nitrogen removal (Gilbert et al, 2007(Gilbert et al, , 2008.…”