Efficient Nitrogen Removal (ANAMMOX) from digester supernatant.

The separate treatment of the nitrogenous return supernatant from the sludge treatment process constitutes a special application. In this way, the treatment plant’s denitrification performance can be boosted while taking the pressure off the biological treatment stage. Nitrogen can be removed from the return supernatant conventionally by using an external denitrification substrate or by means of the innovative Anammox process.

The conventional method of removing nitrogen separately generates high operating costs due to the need for intensive aeration and the addition of methanol. With the Anammox method, operating conditions are carefully controlled so that ammonium is only oxidized into nitrite (instead of nitrate). This is then converted into nitrogen – simultaneously with ammonium – by special microorganisms. As a result, this process requires 60% less oxygen and no methanol at all.

The DAMOPUR® process uses the FLUOPUR® carrier material to hold the Anammox biomass. This largely prevents the loss of very slow-growing microorganisms in the event of operational disturbances and increases operational stability.

Key Features 

• Takes the pressure off the biological treatment stage
• Very low operating costs compared to the methanol method