INVESTIGATION OF OXIDATION

DITCH PERFORMANCE IN lXEATMENT OF

DOMESTIC WASTEWATER

Edward C. Fiss, Jr.

Robert M. Stein
George P. lptan

AWARE Environmental Inc.

9305 Monroe Road, Suite J
Charlotte, North Carolina 28270

Presented at
1989 N.C. W C F Conference

I.

INVESTIGATION OF OXIDATION DITCH PEFORMANCE

IN TREATMENT OF DOMESTIC WASTEWATER

Edward C. Fiss, Jr.
Robert M. Stein
George P. Tyrian

The oxidation ditch technology offers an innovative approach to achieve

tertiary treatment. The use of oxidation ditches originated in Europe and is
now utilized all over the world. This paper reviews the tertiary treatment
concepts for oxidation ditches.

The oxidation ditch is a variation of the activated sludge process. The

system consists of a closed-loop aeration channel through which mixed liquor
is continuously recirculated. The heart of the oxidation ditch technology is
I

the aeration system. The aerator provides for oxygen transfer, mixing, and
recirculation of the mixed liquor. Through the proper design of the aeration
system, it is possible to achieve organic removal, ammonia removal (nitrification), and nitrate removal (denitrification) in a single sludge system.
The oxidation ditch concept also has the potential for phosphorus removal.
There are a number of types of aeration units which have been utilized in
oxidation ditches. This includes turbine aerators, jet aerators, surface
aerators, and brush aerators. Manufacturers have developed a number of

proprietary systems geared to the oxidation ditch process.

i5

One such approach

the "barrier" ditch. As the name implies, this includes a concrete or

earthen barrier in the channel in which a draft-tube (turbine type) aerator

is installed.

- 1 -

l
1.

'

f,

The draft-tube aerator serves to pump water through the draft-tube providing
single-point aeration and positive wastewater recirculation through the
ditch.

The barrier arrangement is unique in that it allows separate control

of mixed 1 iquor mixing/recirculation and aeration.

A second method for implementation of the oxidation ditch process is the
"carousel process".

In the carousel arrangement, vertical shaft mechanical

aerators are positioned in the oxidation ditch channel at the two ends of the
race track configuration.

The rotating action o f the aerators provides

oxygen transfer and mixed liquor recirculation/mixing.

The most common method of oxygen transfer and mixing is the installation of a
horizontal shaft, brush rotor in a shallow channel.

The brush rotors may be

bridge mounted or floating and are normally installed in the "straightawaytt

portion of the channel.

Depending on oxygen transfer and mixing require-

ments, a single brush rotor or multiple units in series may be installed in

the channel.
PROCESS CHARACTERISTICS
The ability to provide aerobic/anoxic/anaerobic conditions within an oxidation ditch allows a condition conducive for carbonaceous BOD removal,
nitrification, and denitrification with a single sludge system.

Carbonaceous

BOD removal or oxidation o f organics is achieved in both the aerobic and

anoxic zones of the channel.

Nitrification or oxidation o f ammonia to

nitrate occurs only in the aerobic' portion of the channel.

Denitrification

or conversion o f nitrate to nitrogen gas occurs only in the anoxic portion of

the channel.

- 2 -

Carbonaceous BOD removal in the ditch process is achieved by facultative

heterotrophic bacteria.

The reaction occurs in two phases.

The overall

oxidation reactions are presented as Equation 1 and Equation 2.

1.

Organics + 02 + N + P-New

2.

Cells + 02 -C02

Cells + C02 + H20

Nondegradable
Cellular Residue

+ H20 + N + P + Nondegradable Cellular Residue

In the aerobic portion of the channel, organic materials (BOD, COD, TOC) are
oxidized by the bacteria using oxygen as an electron acceptor.

In the anoxic

portions o f the basin, the organic materials are oxidized by the bacteria
using nitrate (NO3) as an electron acceptor.

Consequently, the alternating

aerobidanoxic oxidation o f organic materials results in reduced power

requirements for aeration and a reduction in capital and operational cost.
Nitrification is the two-step biological oxidation of ammonia (NH3) to
nitrate (NO3). The oxidation is performed by aerobic autotrophic bacteria
frequently called nitrifiers. The predominant species responsible are
nitrobacter and nitrosomonas.

Equations describing the oxidation of amnonia

to nitrite (N02) and oxidation of nitrite to nitrate are presented in

Equations 3 and 4, respectively.
3.

2NH4'

+ 302-2N02'

4. .2N02' + O2-2NO3-

+ 2H20 + 4H+ + New Cells

+ New Cells

Nitrification occurs only under aerobic conditions. Temperature, pH, and

alkalinity are primary factors in biological nitrification. Alkalinity is
.

consumed at a rate of approximately 7.14 pounds per pound of amnonia nitrified.

This alkalinity reduction causes the p H of the mixed liquor to drop.

The rate of nitrification is pH dependent. The optimum pH for nitrification

- 3 -

is approximately 8.4.

The rate of nitrification drops off rapidly at pH

levels of less than 7. There is also a significant drop in nitrification

rates at temperatures less than 15OC.
Denitrification or nitrogen removal is the biological reduction of nitrate
(NO3) to nitrogen gas (N2).

The process is performed under anoxic conditions

by facultative heterotrophic bacteria.

The formula which represents reaction

i s presented as Equation 5.

5.

6NO3- + 5CH30H -3N2

+ 5C02 + 7H20 + 60H'

+ New Cells

A carbon source (shown as CH30H in Equation 5) is required for denitrifica-

tion to occur.

In the oxidation ditch process, the carbonaceous BOD in the

wastewater is utilized as the carbon source.

Denitrification is an alka-

linity producing process whereby approximately 3.57 pounds of alkalinity are

released per pound of denitrified nitrate.

Denitrification therefore slows

the lowering of pH caused by nitrification in the mixed liquor.

Denitrification occurs only under anaerobic or anoxic conditions and therefore occurs only in the anoxic portions of the oxidation ditch.

Denitrifi-

cation normally will begin occurring when the bulk mixed liquor dissolved
oxygen concentration is 0.5 mg/l or less. A dissolved oxygen gradient is
present in each biological floc particle composing the mixed liquor as shown

in Figure 1. This gradient causes the dissolved oxygen concentration in the

center of the biofloc to be zero when the bulk mixed liquor dissolved
concentration may be above zero.

As a result, denitrification can occur

under low mixed liquor dissolved oxygen conditions.

- 4 -

OPERATION AND DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

The oxidation ditch can be operated under entirely aerobic conditions to
obtain organic removal and nitrification.

However, in order to operate an

oxidation ditch process and achieve both nitrification and denitrification,

alternating aerobic and anoxic conditions are necessary.
The typical variation in dissolved oxygen concentrations along the length of
the oxidation ditch channel and, from another perspective, over time is
presented in Figure 2.
point of aeration.

The dissolved oxygen concentration is highest at the

The dissolved oxygen concentration then declines over the

length of the channel.

The rate o f oxygen depletion or the slope of the

dissolved oxygen versus time line is the oxygen uptake rate expressed in
units of mg/l per minute.
The oxygen uptake rate is dependent on several parameters including wastewater characteristics, temperature, F/M level, and the mean cell residence
time or sludge age.

In other words, variation o f the mixed liquor volatile

suspended sol ids (MLVSS) concentrations within a given aeration basin volume
will change the slope of the dissolved oxygen versus time line and the
re1 ative proportions o f aerobic-anoxic basin volumes.

If an anoxic zone is not provided, then denitrification will not occur. The
loss of an anoxic zone may result from the process being operated under a
very low F/M condition (weekends), very low oxygen uptake rates, excessive
aeration, or excessive recirculation.

Conversely, higher F/M conditions and

the resulting higher oxygen uptake rate may cause the detention time o f the
aerobic portion of the basin to be insufficient for complete nitrification.

- 5 -

Without a source of nitrate created by nitrification, denitrification cannot

take place.
The following section presents an approach to utilize in the design o f a
nitrification system.

The minimum detention time for nitrification can be

calculated using Equation 6 as follows:

;N

Where:

= Maximum nitrified growth rate, Days-1

T = Basin Temp.,

OC

pH = Basin pH
D.O. = Basin D.O. concentration, mg/l
1.3 = Monod half saturation constant for oxygen, mg/l
From the maximum growth rate, the minimum nitrifier mean cell residence time
(MCRTN) can be calculated by:

7.

8"

UN

Where:

Q"

= Minimum nitrifier solids retention time, days

The design MCRTN ( Q N ~ )is determined by:

Where:

2.5 is a safety factor.

.The required hydraulic detention time of the aerobic zone can now be
calculated as follows:

- 6 -

Where:

YH

= Heterotrophic yield constant (typically 0.6)

X v = MLVSS, mg/l

QN = Design MCRTN, days

KD

Decay constant, l/days (typically 0.05)

So = Influent BOD
SE = Effluent soluble BOD, mg/l

The detention time for denitrification is determined assuming all influent

TKN is oxidized to NOs-N, and therefore the nitrate concentration to be

reduced is equal to the influent TKN.
The minimum MCRT required for denitrification is calculated from:

Where:

YDN = Heterotrophic yield constant o f denitrification,

lb MLVSS/lb BOD
Decay constant of denitrification, l/days
Peak rate o f denitrification, l b NO3/lb MLVSS-day
Minimum solids retention time, days

The design MCRTD is determined using a safety factor of 2.5, similar to the
nitrification MCRT.
11.

QcD = 2.5 Qcm

Where:

Qc = Design Heterotrophic MCRT, days

Using equation 10, solve for the specific denitrification rate:

- 7 -

. "

I'

The required hydraulic detention time in the anoxic zone can now be
calculated by:
12.

D.T.

= (No

- NE)

x v qDN
Where: No = Influent TKN, mg/l

NE = Effluent NO3-N, mg/l

Once the required detention times have been established, the selection and
placement of aeration devices must be determined.
The rate of recirculation or the velocity of the mixed liquor flowing in the
channel determines the slope of the dissolved oxygen versus feet of channel
line.

The slope of the dissolved oxygen gradient in the channel is

represented by Equation 13:

13.

SDO = OU/V
Where:

SDO = Slope of the dissolved oxygen gradient, mg/l/ft

OU = Oxygen uptake, mg/l per minute

V

= Bulk mixed liquor velocity, ft/min

Increasing the recirculation rate reduces the slope o f the dissolved oxygen
gradient and, therefore, reduces the detention time of the mixed liquor in
each pass of the anoxic zone.

-8-

The ditch aeration system is sized based on the oxygen demand which will be
exerted on the aeration system.

Equation 14 represents a method for

determining the process oxygen demand in an aerobidanoxic ditch process:

14.

AOR = a t SR + b' Xv + c'Ng

Where:

- d'

NOR

AOR = Process Oxygen Demand, lbs 02/day

SR = BOD removal, lbs/day

Xv

No

= Ammonia oxidized, lbs/day

MLSS, lbs

NOR = Nitrate reduced to nitrogen gas, lbs/day

a'

= Organic oxygen utilization

b'

= Endogenous oxygen utilization

c'

= Nitrification oxygen utilization

d'

= Denitrification oxygen credit

The amount o f oxygen required for the aerobic portion of the system is
normally a function of BOD removal, MLVSS in the system, and the ammonia
loading. Normally, 4.5 pounds of oxygen are required per pound o f amnonia
removed.

In the anoxic portion of the system where nitrate is utilized as

the oxygen source, cred t in calculation of oxygen required to satisfy BOD

may be taken for oxygen supplied through denitrification.

Normally, 2.6

pounds o f oxygen credit may be expected per pound of nitrate reduced.

Since the mixed liquor is recirculated continuously around the race track
channel, both the level o f aeration and the placement of aeration devices is
critical.

Sufficient flexibility should be incorporated into any design to

allow variation in the level of oxygen transfer, level of MLVSS concentration, and aeration volume.

Provision of at least two aeration basins allows

- 9 -

the process to be operated at both high F/M (high oxygen uptake rate) and low
F/M (low oxygen uptake rate).

TYPICAL PROCESS PERFORMANCE

The oxidation ditch process is capable of achieving consistently high levels

of BOD, suspended solids (TSS), and nitrogen removal.

A telephone survey was

undertaken in November 1986 to determine the levels of effluent BOD and TSS
which are routinely achieved in oxidation ditch wastewater treatment plants
in the U.S.

Plant performance data from the surveyed facilities are

presented in Table 1.

In addition, plant operating data for a ditch system

achieving nitrification/denitrification is presented in Table 2.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

In the oxidation ditch process, the activated sludge mixed liquor undergoes
continuous alternation of aerobic/anoxic conditions enabling a wide variety
of microorganisms to survive.

Consequently, oxidation ditches provide

favorable conditions for simultaneous removal of carbonaceous BOD, nitrification, and denitrification.

Because an oxidation ditch process utilizes a

single sludge system for three processes, and because carbonaceous BOD
removal occurs i n both aerobic and anoxic conditions, oxidation ditches are
usually characterized by capital and operational costs lower than a
traditional activated sludge treatment plant achieving similar performance.
The oxidation ditch process can achieve consistently high levels of BOD,
suspended solids, and nitrogen removal.

10

, -

TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF DITCH ACTIVATED SLUDGE PERFORMANCE DATA

BOD

Location

(mg/l)

E f f 1uent
TSS
sv I
(mg/l) (mg/l)

FLOW

C1 ari f i er
Overflow

(mg/l)

(gpd/ft2)

Sol ids
Clarifi r Loading
Q mgd Area ft5
lbs/hr/ft2

RAS

MLSS

1.2

395

3000

1.0

3040

0.69

200

.6

565

2340

0.3

1062

0.69

223

1.01

351

3060

1.75

2880

1.02

0.26

310

3000

0.22

840

0.60

200

1.3

230

3200

2.7

5652

0.79

10

69-70

0.7

220

4500

0.7

3180

0.69

95

2.0

157

6500

1.5

12723

0.62

Clayton, GA
(Jackson Plant)

13

121

0.44

187

3400

2.29

2353

1.37

S o u t h Florida

115

0.908

1620

0.82

6720

0.15

Immokcalee, FL

Holdenville, OK

12

Thompson, NY

16

Dawson, MN

30

Presque Isle,
ME

28

5-8

Clayton, GA
(N.E. Plant)

Foley, AL

- 11 -

TABLE 2

TY P ICAL OPERATING DATA

Effluent
BOD

Influent
TSS

mg/l

mg/l

July

103

Total
N
pH mg/l

Total

F1ow

BOD

TSS

MGD

mg/l

mg/l

124

0.928

2.5

6.8

4.65

6.42

81

98

0.844

10

32

6.8

5.88

6.46

Sept.

171

87

1.170

6.9

1.89

4.22

Oct.

208

118

0.908

6.9

4.92

6.66

Nov.

226

134

1.155

7.0

4.79

4.92

Dec.

216

150

0.957

12

10

6.8

5.97

6.34

Jan.

199

142

1.126

10

6.8

5.53

4.52

Feb.

215

179

0.908

6.9

3.14

6.43

1.167

6.7

2.69

3.77

Month

Aug

TKN*

NH3*

March

mg/l

Apr i1

230

141

0.98

10

6.9

1.91

6.2

May

196

143

0.89

6.8

3.14

10.40

June

226

141

0.750

6.8

2.14

7.9

188

132

3.89

6.19

Avg

32*

25.6*

0.976

6.6

*Long-term avg. only

12

9.5

Representation of FLOC

Figure 1

Aerobic
Port ion
of Floc

Portion
of Floc

tA

co

a.0-

Mechanical
,erator #l

.4

03

E 2.5C
0

03
s2.0-

x->

1.5-

(D

1.0-

-0

0.5

Mechanical
Aerator Y2

Existing
aerator

100

200

300

400

500

700

600

800

Influent Pipe

Channel ler,3t!1, Ft

3.0

Mechanical
Aerator #1

0, Uptakez0.43 mg/l/min.

g
>
e

2.0

ExistingI

Mechanical
Aerator #2

Influent Pipe

Time (Min)

SO0

1000

1100