Abstract

In this study, a lab-scale Partial Nitritation Sequencing Batch Reactor (PNSBR) was implemented for treating high-ammonium old landfill leachate to yield an appropriate NO2—N/ NH4+-N ratio from 1/1 to 1.32/1 mixture as a pretreatment for subsequent Anammox. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT) at different influent ammonia concentrations for 210 days. The experimental results showed that with the influent ammonia concentrations of 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/L, HRT is 12 h, 21 h, 30 h and 48 h, respectively. The range of free ammonia (FA) concentration from 17 to 44 mg/L completely inhibited nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) for long time operation. The COD removal efficiency was very low (6±2) %.