Ammonia-Nitrogen Reduction in Low Strength Domestic Wastewater by Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) Gel Beads

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel beads as an immobilized biofilm carrier to enhance the reduction rate of Ammonia-Nitrogen (NH3-N) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in domestic wastewater. Laboratory scale reactors were developed to assess the reduction levels of ammonia-nitrogen and COD with and without PVA gel beads using optimal and non-optimal treatment mode settings based on operation procedures from the sewage treatment plant in Taman Kajang Utama, Selangor. The treatment method used is an activated sludge sequencing batch reactor with a treatment cycle duration of 288 minutes. The findings showed the ammonia-nitrogen reduction by non-optimal treatment mode is more effective, with a reduced rate of 62.96% to 65.71% compared to optimal treatment mode with a reduced rate of 30.94% and treatment without PVA gel beads (optimal and non-optimal) with a reduced rate of 32.41% to 47.85%. The ammonia-nitrogen reduction rate using PVA gel beads for non-optimal treatment mode was significantly increased from 17.86% to 18.82% and complied with ammonia-nitrogen reduction parameter 10mg/L, Standard A of Environmental Quality (Sewage) Regulations 2009 (EQSR 2009). The rate of COD reduction using the non-optimal treatment mode was also more stable, with a reduced rate of 70.68%. It was also found that the COD reduction rate using PVA gel beads for the non-optimal mode was better than the optimal mode, which was 70.68% compared to 42.0%, and both treatment modes complied with COD reduction parameters 120mg/L, Standard A of EQSR 2009.