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The Leopold® elimi-NITE™ denitrification system harnesses the advantages of deep-bed, mono-media filters to effectively and efficiently remove nitrate- nitrogen in wastewater effluent. In addition to nitrogen, an elimi-NITE denitrifcation system can remove suspended solids.

• Methanol, or another carbon source, is added to the filter influent to provide an organic substrate for the denitrifying microbiological culture in the filter media.
  
• Nitrified effluent enters the filter and passes through the filter media, where it contacts the denitrifying culture.
  
• The culture metabolizes the nitrate, changing it to nitrogen gas that becomes embedded in the filter bed.

Nitrogen Release Cycle

• Small bubbles of nitrogen gas accumulate in the filter media, trapped by the media and the filter downward flow.
  
• A short backwash cycle•or “bump”•releases the trapped bubbles of nitrogen gas into the atmosphere.

Full Backwash Cycle

• A complete backwash cycle•performed as usual•cleans the media, removing influent suspended solids trapped during the normal filter cycle and some of the microbiology.

Features and Benefits
 
Biological Denitrification - Converts nitrate-nitrogen to harmless nitrogen gas in an attached growth, microbioligcal system, removing nearly all nitrate-nitrogen, achieving levels of below 1 mg/liter.
 
Deep Bed Filtration - Simultaneous effluent suspended solids removal with denitrification. Handles wide swings in solids loading while providing long filter runs.
 
Downflow Design - Works with gravity, eliminating the need to pump influent through the media, combining reduced power consumption and high filtration rates (15+ m/hr).
 
Combined Air/Water Backwash - Superior media cleaning; low backwash water consumption (<2%).
 
Flexibility in Filter Design - Not restricted to one type of filter layout based on underdrain design limitations. System can be designed to a variety of site conditions or to existing filter basins.

A Typical Leopold elimi-NITE Denitrification System

Click on drawing for a description of each Leopold Technology component.

For more information, click here to download Leopold® elimi-NITE™ Denitrification System brochures