Nitrogen elimination mechanisms in an organic media aerated biofilter treating pig manure

Biofilters using organic media are known to procure efficient treatment for different types of wastewater, but the nitrogen removal pathways implied are still not well understood. In this study, a lab-scale aerated biofilter using peat and treating pig manure was operated for 180 days, in order to quantify the nitrogen transformations occurring in it. It was shown that stripping was important during the start-up, until nitrification took place. Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, proved by N₂ production, became the principal mechanism after some time. The production of N₂O did not seem to come only from heterotrophic denitrification, but also from chemodenitrification and autotrophic denitrification. It has also been found that part of the influent nitrogen was retained in the system during the first 150 days, due to filtration, sorption and assimilation. During the last periods of operation, the nitrogen previously retained has been used by microorganisms, leading to an excessive N₂ discharge.