Nitrogen Removal on anaerobic digestion rejects from a THP-AD pretreatment by deammonification. Experiences in Lagares WWTP
Oller M., GS INIMA, Spain
(free)
Introduction
The new Lagares WWTP, with a treatment capacity up to 800.000 inhab.eq, is the most advanced plant
in Spain, it has state-of-the-art technologies such as: 2-step Biofiltration (the largest in Spain and almost
in Europe), high-flow ballasted clarification, sand separation system in sludge line by hydrocyclones,
Thermal Hydrolysis (CAMBI-THP) as anaerobic digestion (AD) pretreatment, Low-Temperature Sludge
dryer, Energy recovery system with motogenerators heat recovery for steam production, SideStream
Nitrogen Removal by deammonification (EssDe®), and other unique processes. The project was
sponsored by the Spanish Water Administration AcuaES with European (FEDER) and regional
administration funds, and was executed by the Joint Venture GS INIMA-OHL.
The start-up period of the WWTP ended in May 2018. The Sidestream Deammonificaction process
EssDe® (formerly known as DEMON) was the last process to be put in operation, which started in April
2017.
The aim of this paper is to present the evolution during the start-up and ramp-up of a unique
deammonification process. It had become a great challenge as it had been designed, and operated
since its start-up, influenced by the presence of the THP-AD rejects (characterized by its extreme
ammonia concentrations, severe inhibition inherent factors, and others). To our knowledge, the Lagares
WWTP is the first plant to be in operation with the implementation of a THP-AD and deammonification
process, at least in Spain, and probably in the world. Thus far, nitrification and THP-AD were seen a
mutually exclusive.
