Biodegradable Resin for Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nitrogen removal methods require separate tanks for nitrification and denitrification, necessitating equipment for carbon source control and circulation, leading to increased system size and costs, and are inefficient for high ammonium nitrogen concentrations.

Innovation Solution

A method where biodegradable resin is added to a water system containing bacteria with nitrification and denitrification capabilities, allowing both reactions to occur in one tank, reducing equipment needs and promoting efficient nitrogen conversion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If separate nitrification tank and denitrification tank are used, then nitrogen removal ability is improved, but system size and equipment complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen removal abilityVSAvoidsystem size
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines nitrification and denitrification processes into a single reactor by introducing a biodegradable resin as a slow-release carbon source. The resin provides hydrogen donors that enable denitrification while nitrification occurs simultaneously, merging two separate treatment processes into one integrated system, thereby reducing system size while maintaining nitrogen removal effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The biodegradable resin is pre-added to the reactor before treatment begins. The resin gradually decomposes to release carbon sources, providing a sustained supply of hydrogen donors for denitrification throughout the treatment process, eliminating the need for external carbon source addition and complex circulation systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If carbon source is strictly controlled for denitrification, then nitrogen removal efficiency is improved, but operation complexity and equipment costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrogen removal efficiencyVSAvoidoperation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The biodegradable resin serves as a self-regulating carbon source that automatically decomposes at a controlled rate, providing hydrogen donors for denitrification without requiring external control mechanisms. The resin's gradual decomposition naturally matches the nitrogen removal rate, eliminating the need for strict carbon source supply control and associated monitoring equipment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The biodegradable resin is a consumable material that is added once and gradually decomposes over time. It replaces expensive, controllable carbon sources like methanol with a cheaper, disposable biodegradable polymer, simplifying operation while maintaining denitrification efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If nitrite nitrogen is accumulated to maintain nitrification, then nitrification stability is improved, but nitrogen removal completeness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenitrification stabilityVSAvoidnitrogen removal completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The biodegradable resin provides a continuous supply of hydrogen donors through gradual decomposition, enabling sustained denitrification activity. This continuous action ensures that nitrite nitrogen produced by nitrification is continuously converted to nitrogen gas, preventing nitrite accumulation and ensuring complete nitrogen removal throughout the treatment process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in one tank, improving treated water quality, reducing equipment costs, and allowing for effective nitrogen removal without diluting high-ammonium nitrogen waters.

Implementation Method 1

adding a hydrogen donor containing a biodegradable resin to a water system in which bacteria cells having an ability to decompose a biodegradable resin, bacteria cells having nitrification capabilities, and bacteria cells having denitrification capabilities live together

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

oxidizing ammonium nitrogen contained therein to nitrite nitrogen/nitrate nitrogen by an aerobic biological nitrification process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

reducing it to nitrogen gas by an anaerobic denitrification process

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReduction: Reduction

Data Source

PatentEP3369713B1Nitrogen removal method
Publication Date: 2024.04.10 KANEKA CORP
  • EP3369713B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3369713B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3369713B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a method for removing nitrogen from water, which makes it possible to omit equipment for controlling the supply of a carbon source (hydrogen donor), equipment for post-processing a carbon source (hydrogen donor), and circulation equipment and to prevent an increase in the size of a system. The method includes adding a solid material containing a biodegradable resin as a hydrogen donor to one water system in which bacteria cells having an ability to decompose a biodegradable resin, bacteria cells having nitrification capabilities, and bacteria cells having denitrification capabilities live together to allow a nitrification reaction and a denitrification reaction coexist in the water system. Also disclosed herein is a nitrification-reaction promoting agent for water treatment including 20 wt% or more of a biodegradable resin and having a specific gravity of more than 1 g/cm3.