Successful Treatability Study Eliminates Biological Inhibition 

Problem: Nitrification inhibition was occurring at a biological treatment plant installed at a large landfill in the Midwest. The goal of the treatability study was to determine the best approach for eliminating toxicity and maximizing nitrification rates at the site.

Solution: A biological treatability study was conducted at bioprocessH2O’s laboratory to assess the existing treatment system and determine an improved configuration that would eliminate toxicity and increase capacity. Three biological reactors were set up in the lab and operated over a period of 140 days. A control reactor mimicked the existing plant and two additional reactors were designed and operated to allow higher nitrification rates and enhanced biological performance.

Status/Results: The study was successful and resulted in a full scale design that allowed increased performance at the existing landfill to increase leachate throughput and eliminate biological inhibition.