Enhancement of biological wastewater treatment by magnetic field exposure

In this work the results of investigation on the effect of magnetic field of induction 40 mT on organic compounds removal were presented. Moreover the transformation of nitrogen compounds and the oxygen uptake rate of nitrifying microorganism in activated sludge wastewater treatment process was determinated. The experiments were performed at temperature 14 +/- 1 degrees C in two simultaneously operating laboratory activated sludge plant units. In one of the unit a pair of permanent magnets was installed on the pipe using to recycle of activated sludge from the secondary clarifier to the aeration vessel. The second was a control unit. The data show that COD removal for unit where the activated sludge return was exposed to magnetic field was as higher as for control unit. However the analysis of nitrogen compounds transformations shows that elimination of organic nitrogen compounds was more effective for unit with magnets. The confirmation of more intensive nitrogen compounds transformations is also higher nitrification rate for unit where magnets were installed as compare with the unit without magnetic field application. The studies on oxygen uptake rate of activated sludge microorganisms show also that the nitrification process was more effective for unit with magnets.