Submerged Biotower Technology for Tertiary Nitrification of Poultry Abattoir Wastewater

The paper describes the design and operation of a submerged biotower, i.e. flooded upflow reactor which utilises a random-packed polypropylene medium for supporting the biomass. The process can be used for carbonaceous removal or nitrification. In the application which is described, the process has been used for tertiary nitrification of a poultry abattoir wastewater as an extension to the existing effluent-treatment plant. Details of process commissioning at low temperatures are given and results from twelve months'operation are discussed. Operating costs are compared with other processes.