| US 7,491,331 B2 | ||
| Methods for total nitrogen removal | ||
| Bruce E. Rittmann, Tempe, Ariz. (US); César Torres, Chicago, Ill. (US); and Jennifer Cowman, Woodbury, Minn. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. (US) | ||
| Filed on May 15, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/121,036. | ||
| Application 12/121036 is a continuation of application No. 11/129133, filed on May 13, 2005, granted, now 7,384,554. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/571344, filed on May 14, 2004. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2008/0217242 A1, Sep. 11, 2008 | ||
| Int. Cl. C02F 3/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 210—603 [210/620; 210/220; 210/615; 210/757; 210/758] | 9 Claims |
| 1. A method for removing a nitrogenous contaminant from water, comprising:
providing a system having an inlet for introduction of water comprising a nitrogenous contaminant and a nitrification reactor
in fluid communication with a denitrification reactor;
introducing water via the inlet to the system, for flow through the nitrification and denitrification reactors;
introducing oxygen gas to the nitrification reactor, to establish in the nitrification reactor a biofilm comprised of nitrifying
bacteria capable of oxidizing the nitrogenous contaminant to form an oxidized contaminant;
introducing hydrogen gas to the denitrification reactor, to establish a biofilm comprised of denitrifying bacteria capable
of reducing the oxidized contaminant; and
controlling the amount of oxygen gas introduced to the nitrification reactor to promote reduction of the oxidized contaminant
in the denitrification reactor.
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