The application of the sulfur oxidizing bacteria to wastewater including high concentration of nitrate was basically examined by the experiment using artificial wastewater. As a result, the following were clarified.
Sulfur oxidizing bacteria having the denitrification function was acclimated by using artificial wastewater containing only nitrate as a nitrogen source from the activated sludge of the sewage plant in about three weeks This bacteria was able to remove nitrogen from artificial wastewater which included nitrate of 900-1300mg-N·l-1 under the condition of 1.5-3 hours of HRT (The water temperature: 20°C). This sulfur source was thiosulfate and 3.5-4 was suitable in the S/N ratio. As for the acclimated sulfur oxidizing bacteria, the denitrification rate was presumed to be large since it was easy to make self-immobilized and was maintained to be hightly concentrated in the reactor. On the other hand, it was thought that there was a problem in the maintenance management by accumulating sulfur when an excessive high load operation was continued.