Early Warning of Nitrification Failure

N-Tox® is a new technique for evaluating the nitrification efficiency of industrial and municipal activated sludge systems, using nitrous oxide (N2O) measurements as an early warning of nitrification failure.
The N-Tox® monitor from Water Innovate (UK) uses a non-invasive gas-phase detection method to avoid sampling of activated sludge. This eliminates problems of probe fouling and maintenance issues. The online
N-Tox® system constantly monitors for nitrification failure enabling plant operators the time (up to 1 Hydraulic Retention Time) to take remedial action before breaching ammonia discharge consents. Furthermore, N-Tox® avoids false-negative readings associated with respirometry monitors which fail to detect incomplete
nitrification.
As ammonia discharge regulations tighten, process optimisation may include activated sludge systems where N2O levels can be reduced. However, given that N2O is a greenhouse gas 310x more damaging than
CO2, N-Tox® can help plant operators monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through optimised waste water treatment (WWT) processes.