A laboratory experiment was performed to investigate nitrogen removal by the soil column. The addition of 20% waste oyster shell to the soil accelerated nitrification in soil column. The NO3--N concentration in the effluent decreased with the decrease of HRT(Hydraulic Retention Time). When methanol and glucose added as carbon sources, the average removal rates of T-N(Total Nitrogen) were 82% and 77.9%, respectively. The NO3--N removal by methanol supplementation in soil column can likely be attributed to denitrification.
In continuous removal of nitrogen using the soil column, the COD(Chemical Oxygen Demand) and NH4+-N removed simultaneously in organic matter decomposing column. The greater part of NH4+-N was nitrified by the percolated through nitrification column, and the little NH4+-N was found in the effluent. The T-N of 87.4% removed at HRT of 36 hrs in denitrfication column. Because of nitrified effluents from nitrification column are low in carbonaceous matter, an external source of carbon is required.