Which of the following processes enhances the efficiency of biological treatment?

Nitrification is a crucial biological process that enhances the efficiency of biological treatment in wastewater management. This process involves the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite followed by the oxidation of nitrite to nitrate, carried out by specific groups of bacteria known as nitrifiers.

This biological transformation effectively reduces the concentration of ammonia, a toxic pollutant in wastewater, thereby improving the overall quality of the effluent. By converting ammonia to nitrate, nitrification facilitates the removal of nitrogen from the wastewater, which is essential for meeting regulatory discharge limits and protecting water bodies from nutrient over-enrichment, which can lead to issues like algal blooms.

In essence, nitrification is integral to managing nitrogen levels in wastewater, ensuring that the biological treatment process is efficient and effective in producing a safe and compliant effluent for discharge or further treatment.