Comparative study of two biological nitrogen removal processes:A/O process and step-feeding process

Two biological nitrogen removal processes are compared in the aspect of nitrogen removal, process operation and energy saving. Results show that when the returned sludge ratio is 50% of the inflow rate, the step-feeding process achieves over 80% total nitrogen （TN） removal efficiency, but the TN removal efficiency of the A/O process is only 40%. Moreover, filamentous sludge bulking can be well restrained in the step-feeding process. Given the conditions of a returned sludge ratio of 100% and a nitrifying liquor recycle ratio of 200%, the TN removal efficiency is 78.32% in the A/O process, but the sludge volume index （SVI） value increases to 143 mL/g. In the step-feeding process, the SVI is only 94.4 mL/g when the TN removal efficiency reaches 81. 1%. The step-feeding process has distinct advantages over the A/O process in the aspects of practicability, nitrogen removal and operating stability.

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in step feeding biological nitrogen removal process

The simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in step-feeding biological nitrogen removal process were investigated under different influent substrate concentrations and aeration flow rates. Biological occurrence of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification was verified in the aspect of nitrogen mass balance and alkalinity. The experimental results also showed that there was a distinct linear relationship between simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and DO concentration under the conditions of low and high aeration flow rate. In each experimental run the floc sizes of activated sludge were also measured and the results showed that simultaneous nitrification and denitrification could occur with very small size of floc.

Achieving and maintaining biological nitrogen removal via nitrite under normal conditions

The principal aim of this paper is to develop an approach to realize stable biological nitrogen removal via nitrite under normal conditions. Validation of the new method was established on laboratory-scale experiments applying the sequencing batch reactor（SBR） activated sludge process to domestic wastewater with low C/N ratio. The addition of sodium chloride（NaCI） to influent was established to achieve nitrite build-up. The high nitrite accumulation, depending on the salinity in influent and the application duration of salt, was obtained in SBRs treating saline wastewater. The maintenance results indicated that the real-time SBRs can maintain stable nitrite accumulation, but conversion from shorter nitrification-denitrification to full nitrification-denitrification was observed after some operation cycles in the other SBR with fixed-time control. The presented method is valuable to offer a solution to realize and to maintain nitrogen removal via nitrite under normal conditions.

Development and Experimental Evaluation of a Steady-state Model for the Step-feed Biological Nitrogen Removal Process

In this article,a steady-state mathematical model was developed and experimentally evaluated to inves- tigate the effect of influent flow distribution and volume ratios of anoxic and aerobic zones in each stage on the to- tal nitrogen concentration of the effluent in the step-feed biological nitrogen removal process.Unlike the previous modeling methods,this model can be used to calculate the removal rates of ammonia and nitrate in each stage and thereby predict the concentrations of ammonia,nitrate,and total nitrogen in the effluent.To verify the simulation results,pilot-scale experimental studies were carried out in a four-stage step feed process.Good correlations were achieved between the measured data and the simulation results,which proved the validity of the developed model. The sensitivity of the model predictions was analyzed.After verification of the validity,the step feed process was optimally operated for five months using the model and the criteria developed for the design and operation.During the pilot-scale experimental period,the effluent total nitrogen concentrations were all below 5mg·L -1 ,with more than 90%removal efficiency.

Effect of Sludge Retention Time on Nitrite Accumulation in Real-time Control Biological Nitrogen Removal Sequencing Batch Reactor

In this study,four sequencing batch reactors(SBR),with the sludge retention time(SRT)of 5,10,20 and 40 d,were used to treat domestic wastewater,and the effect of SRT on nitrite accumulation in the biological nitrogen removal SBR was investigated.The real-time control strategy based on online parameters,such as pH,dissolved oxygen(DO)and oxidation reduction potential(ORP),was used to regulate the nitrite accumulation in SBR. The model-based simulation and experimental results showed that with the increase of SRT,longer time was needed to achieve high level of nitritation.In addition,the nitrite accumulation rate(NAR)was higher when the SRT was relatively shorter during a 112-day operation.When the SRT was 5 d,the system was unstable with the mixed liquor suspended solids(MLSS)decreased day after day.When the SRT was 40 d,the nitrification process was significantly inhibited.SRT of 10 to 20 d was more suitable in this study.The real-time control strategy combined with SRT control in SBR is an effective method for biological nitrogen removal via nitrite from wastewater.

Experimental study of nitrite accumulation in pre-denitrification biological nitrogen removal process

The effect of dissolved oxygen(DO)concentration on nitrite accumulation was investigated in a pilot-scale pre-denitrification process at room temperature for 100 days.In the first 10 days,due to the instability of the system,the DO concentration fluctuated between 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L.In the next 14 days,the DO concentration was kept at 0.5 mg/L and nitrite accumulation occurred,with the average nitrite accumulation rate at 91%.From the 25th day,the DO concentration was increased to 2.0 mg/L to destroy the nitrite accumulation,but nitrite accumulation rate was still as high as 90%.From the 38th day the nitrite accumulation rate decreased to 15%–30%linearly.From the 50th day,DO concentration was decreased to 0.5 mg/L to resume nitrite accumulation.Until the 83rd day the nitrite accumulation rate began to increase to 80%.Dissolved oxygen was the main cause of nitrite accumulation,taking into account other factors such as pH,free ammonia concentration,temperature,and sludge retention time.Because of the different affinity for oxygen between nitrite oxidizing bacteria and ammonia oxidizing bacteria when DO concentration was kept at 0.5 mg/L,nitrite accumulation occurred.

A Combined System for Biological Removal of Nitrogen and Carbon from Nylon-6 Production Wastewater

A combined system consisting of hydrolysis acidification, denitrification and nitrification reactors was used to remove carbon and nitrogen from the nylon - 6 production wastewater, which was characterized by good biodegradability and high nitrogen concentration. The influences of Chemical Oxygen Demand （COD） in the influent, recirculation ratio, Hydraulic Residence Time （HRT） and Dissolved Oxygen （DO） concentration on the system performances were investigated. From results it could be seen that good performances have been achieved during the overall experiments periods, and COD, Total Nitrogen （TN）, NH^＋ -N and Suspended Solids （SS） in the effluent were 53, 16, 2 and 24 mg· L^-1, respectively, which has satisfied the first standard of wastewater discharge established by Environmental Protection Agency （EPA） of China. Furthermore, results showed that operation factors, viz. COD in the influent, recirculation ratio, HRT and DO concentration, all had important influences on the system performances.

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal in pilot-scale anaerobic-anoxic oxidation ditch system

To achieve high efficiency of nitrogen and phosphorus removal and to investigate the rule of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification phosphorus removal （SNDPR）, a whole course of SNDPR damage and recovery was studied in a pilot-scale, anaerobicanoxic oxidation ditch （OD）, where the volumes of anaerobic zone, anoxic zone, and ditches zone of the OD system were 7, 21, and 280 L, respectively. The reactor was fed with municipal wastewater with a flow rate of 336 L/d. The concept of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification （SND） rate （rSND） was put forward to quantify SND. The results indicate that： （1） high nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies were achieved during the stable SND phase, total nitrogen （TN） and total phosphate （TP） removal rates were 80% and 85%, respectively; （2） when the system was aerated excessively, the stability of SND was damaged, and rSND dropped from 80% to 20% or less; （3） the natural logarithm of the ratio of NOx to NH4^＋ in the effluent had a linear correlation to oxidation-reduction potential （ORP）; （4） when NO3^- was less than 6 mg/L, high phosphorus removal efficiency could be achieved; （5） denitrifying phosphorus removal （DNPR） could take place in the anaerobic-anoxic OD system. The major innovation was that the SND rate was devised and quantified.

Applying real-time control to enhance the performance of nitrogen removal in CAST system

A bench-scale reactor（72 L） red with domestic sewage, was operated more than 3 months with three operation modes： traditional mode, modified mode and real-time control mode, so as to evaluate effects of the operation mode on the system performance and to develop a feasible control strategy. Results obtained from fixed-time control study indicate that the variations of the pH and oxidation-reduction potential（ORP） profiles can represent dynamic characteristics of system and the cycle sequences can be controlled and optimized by the control points on the pH and ORP profiles. A control strategy was, therefore, developed and applied to real-time control mode. Compared with traditional mode, the total nitrogen（TN） removal can be increased by approximately 16% in modified mode and a mean TN removal of 92% was achieved in real-time control mode. Moreover, approximately 12.5% aeration energy was saved in real- time control mode. The result of this study shows that the performance of nitrogen removal was enhanced in modified operation mode. Moreover, the real-time control made it possible to optimize process operation and save aeration energy.

Theoretical evaluation on nitrogen removal of step-feed anoxic/oxic activated sludge process

Evaluation on nitrogen removal of step-feed anoxic/oxic activated sludge process at the standpoint of reaction kinetics and process kinetics was conducted. Theoretical biological nitrogen removal efficiency was deduced based on the mass balance of nitrate in the last stage. The comparison of pre-denitrification process and step feed process in the aspects of nitrogen removal efficiency, volume of reactor and building investment was studied, and the results indicated that step-feed anoxic/oxic activated sludge process was superior to pre-denitrification process in these aspects.

Study of control strategy and simulation in anoxic-oxic nitrogen removal process

The control strategy and simulation of external carbon addition were specially studied in an anoxic-oxic(A/O) process with low carbon: nitrogen(C/N) domestic wastewater. The control strategy aimed to adjust the flow rate of external carbon dosage to the anoxic zone, thus the concentration of nitrate plus nitrite(NOx--N) in the anoxic zone was kept closed to the set point. The relationship was studied between the NOx--N concentration in the anoxic zone(S_ NO) and the dosage of external carbon, and the results showed that the removal efficiency of the total nitrogen(TN) could not be largely improved by double dosage of carbon source when S_ NO reached about 2 mg/L. Through keeping S_ NO at the level of about 2 mg/L, the demand of effluent quality could be met and the carbon dosage could be optimized. Based on the Activated Sludge Model No.1(ASM No.1), a simplified mathematical model of external carbon dosage was developed. Simulation results showed that PI controller and feed-forward PI controller both had good dynamic response and steady precision. And feed-forward PI controller had better control effects due to its consideration of influent disturbances.

Effect of initial ammonium concentration on a one-stage partial nitrification/anammox biofilm system:Nitrogen removal performance and the microbial community

One-stage partial nitrification coupled with anammox(PN/A)technology effectively reduces the energy consumption of a biological nitrogen removal system.Inhibiting nitrite-oxidizing bacteria(NOB)is essential for this technology to maintain efficient nitrogen removal performance.Initial ammonium concentration(IAC)affects the degree of inhibited NOB.In this study,the effect of the IAC on a PN/A biofilm was investigated in a moving bed biofilm reactor.The results showed that nitrogen removal efficiency decreased from 82.49%±1.90%to 64.57%±3.96%after the IAC was reduced from 60 to 20 mg N/L,while the nitrate production ratio increased from 13.87%±0.90%to 26.50%±3.76%.NOB activity increased to1,133.86 mg N/m^(2)/day after the IAC decreased,approximately 4-fold,indicating that the IAC plays an important inhibitory role in NOB.The rate-limiting step in the mature biofilm of the PN/A system is the nitritation process and is not shifted by the IAC.The analysis of the microbial community structure in the biofilm indicates that the IAC was the dominant factor in changes in community structure.Ca.Brocadia and Ca.Jettenia were the main anammox bacteria,and Nitrosomonas and Nitrospira were the main AOB and NOB,respectively.IAC did not affect the difference in growth between Ca.Brocadia and Ca.Jettenia.Thus,modulating the IAC promoted the PN/A process with efficient nitrogen removal performance at medium to low ammonium concentrations.

Research progress and prospect of low-carbon biological technology for nitrate removal in wastewater treatment

Wastewater treatment plants are the major energy consumers and significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions,among which biological nitrogen removal of wastewater is an important contributor to carbon emissions.However,traditional heterotrophic denitrification still has the problems of excessive residual sludge and the requirement of external carbon sources.Consequently,the development of innovative low-carbon nitrate removal technologies is necessary.This review outlines the key roles of sulfur autotrophic denitrification and hydrogen autotrophic denitrification in low-carbon wastewater treatment.The discovered nitrate/nitrite dependent anaerobic methane oxidation enables sustainable methane emission reduction and nitrogen removal by utilizing available methane in situ.Photosynthetic microorganisms exhibited a promising potential to achieve carbon-negative nitrate removal.Specifically,the algal-bacterial symbiosis system and photogranules offer effective and prospective low-carbon options for nitrogen removal.Then,the emerging nitrate removal technology of photoelectrotrophic denitrification and the underlying,photoelectron transfer mechanisms are discussed.Finally,we summarize and prospect these technologies,highlighting that solar-driven biological nitrogen removal technology is a promising area for future sustainable wastewater treatment.This review has important guiding significance for the design of low-carbon wastewater treatment systems.

Nitrification-denitrification via nitrite pathway in biological treatment of hypersaline wastewater

Pilot-scale studies on biological treatment of hypersaline wastewater at low temperature were conducted and results showed that seawater salinity had a strong negative effect on notrouomonas and nitrobaeter growth, but much more on the nitrobaeter. The nitrification action was mainly accomplished by nitrosomonas. Bench-scale experiments using two SBRs were carried out for further investigation under different conditions of salinities, ammonia loadings and temperatures. Biological nitrogen removal via nitrite pathway from wastewater containing 30 percent seawater was achieved, but the ammonia removal efficiency was strongly related not only to the influent ammonia loading at different salinities but also to temperatures. When the ratio of seawater to wastewater was 30 percent, and the ammonia loading was below the critical value of 0. 15 kgNH4 ^＋ -N/（ kgMLSS · d） , the ammonia removal efficiency via nitrite pathway was above 90 %. The critical level of ammonia loading was 0. 15, 0. 08 and 0. 03 kgNH4 ^＋ -N/（ kgMLSS · d） respectively at different temperatures of 30℃, 25℃ and 20℃ when the influent ammonia concentration was 60 - 80 mg/L and pH was 7.5 - 8.0.

Insights into a novel nitrogen removal process based on simultaneous anammox and denitrification(SAD) following nitritation with in-situ NOB elimination

Simultaneous anammox and denitrification(SAD) is an efficient approach to treat wastewater having a low C/N ratio;however, few studies have investigated a combination of SAD and partial nitritation(PN). In this study, a lab-scale up-flow blanket filter(UBF) and zeolite sequence batch reactor(ZSBR) were continuously operated to implement SAD and PN advantages, respectively. The UBF achieved a high total nitrogen(TN) removal efficiency of over 70% during the start-up stage(days 1–50), and reached a TN removal efficiency of 96%in the following 90 days(days 51–140) at COD/NH_(4)^(+)-N ratio of 2.5. The absolute abundance of anammox bateria increased to the highest value of 1.58 × 107copies/μL DNA;Comamonadaceae was predominant in the UBF at the optimal ratio. Meanwhile, ZSBR was initiated on day 115 as fast nitritation process to satisfy the influent requirement for the UBF. The combined process was started on day 140 and then lasted for 30 days, during the combined process, between the two reactors, the UBF was the main contributor for TN(66.5% ± 4.5%)and COD(71.8% ± 4.9%) removal. These results demonstrated that strong SAD occurred in the UBF when following a ZSBR with in-situ NOB elimination. This research presents insights into a novel biological nitrogen removal process for low C/N ratio wastewater treatment.

Advances and challenges of sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification(SDAD)for nitrogen removal

Sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification(SDAD),a process suited for the treatment of nitrogen and sulfur-polluted wastewater without extra supplement of organic carbon,is a promising biological nitrogen removal process.However,the SDAD process was affected by many factors such as various electron donors,organic carbon and exogenous substances(e.g.,antibiotics and heavy metal),which prevent further application.Thus,we conducted a detailed review of previous studies on such influence factors and its current application.Besides,a comparative analysis was adopted to recognize the current challenges and future needs for feasible application,so as to ultimately perfect the SDAD process and extend its application scope.

Control factors of partial nitritation for landfill leachate treatment

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation （ANAMMOX） technology has potential technical superiority and economical efficiency for the nitrogen removal from landfill leachate, which contains high-strength ammonium nitrogen （NH4^＋-N） and refractory organics. To complete the ANAMMOX process, a preceding partial nitritation step to produce the appropriate ratio of nitrite/ammonium is a key stage. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal conditions to acquire constant partial nitritation for landfill leachate treatment, and a bench scale fixed bed bio-film reactor was used in this study to investigate the effects of the running factors on the partial nitritation. The results showed that both the dissolved oxygen （DO） concentration and the ammonium volumetric loading rate （Nv） had effects on the partial nitritation. In the controlling conditions with a temperature of 30±1℃, Nv of 0.2-1.0 kg NH4＋-N/（m^3·d）, and DO concentration of 0.8-2.3 mg/L, the steady partial nitritation was achieved as follows： more than 94% partial nitritation efficiency （nitrite as the main product）, 60%-74% NH4^＋-N removal efficiency, and NO2^--N/NH4^＋-N ratio （concentration ratio） of 1.0-1.4 in the effluent.The impact of temperature was related to Nv at certain DO concentration, and the temperature range of 25-30℃ was suitable for treating high strength ammonium leachate. Ammonium-oxidizing bacteria （AOB） could be acclimated to higher FA （free ammonium） in the range of 122-224 mg/L. According to the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis result of the bio-film in the reactor, there were 25 kinds of 16S rRNA gene fragments, which indicated that abundant microbial communities existed in the bio-film, although high concentrations of ammonium and FA may inhibit the growth of the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria （NOB） and other microorganisms in the reactor.

Investigation of Nitrite Production Pathway in Integrated Partial Denitrification/Anammox Process via Isotope Labelling Technique and the Relevant Microbial Communities

In this study,the nitrogen removal performance of partial denitrificaiton/anammox(PDA)process was investigated by using an UASB reactor.High total nitrogen(TN)removal efficiency(91.97%)was achieved at an influent nitrogen loading rate of 0.64 kg/(m3·d).Anammox bacteria did execute the function of converting nitrate to nitrite in PDA system according to ^(15)N isotope labeling experiments and the contribution was approximately 36.3%.Candidatus_Brocadia,Candidatus_Kuenenia and Thauera were functional strains for anammox and denitrification process,respectively.Thauera and Candidatus_Brocadia were more important for TN removal at high loading rates(0.64 kg/(m3·d)).This result can provide a theoretical and technical foundation for the application of the PDA process.

Treated results study on organic substance and ammonia from coke plant wastewater by SBR method in different operating mode and aeration time conditions

In this paper, a research was made on the treatment of distillation ammonia wastewater from Tai'an Coke-Plant by SBR(sequencing batch reactors). The feasibility and cost effectiveness was tested. Performance of SBR process treating organic substance and ammonia was presented for different operating pattern and aeration time. The mechanism of the simultaneous nitrification and denitrification from coke plant were analysed on SBR process.

Enhancing the efficiency of nitrogen removing bacterial population to a wide range of C:N ratio(1.5:1 to 14:1)for simultaneous C&N removal

High C:N ratio in the wastewater limits biological nitrogen removal(BNR),especially in anammox based technologies.The present study attempts to improve the COD tolerance of the BNR process by associating methanogens with nitrogen removing bacterial(NRB)populations.The new microbial system coined as‘Methammox’,was investigated for simultaneous removal of COD(C)and ammonia(N)at C:N ratio 1.5:1 to 14:1.The ammonia removal rate(11.5 mg N/g VSS/d)and the COD removal rates(70.6 mg O/g VSS/d)of Methammox was close to that of the NRB(11.1 mg N/g VSS/d)and the methanogenic populations(77.9 mg O/g VSS/d),respectively.The activities established that these two populations existed simultaneously and independently in‘Methammox’.Further studies in biofilm reactor fetched a balanced COD and ammonia removal(55%–60%)at a low C:N ratio(£2:1)and high C:N ratio(≥9:1).The population abundance of methanogens was reasonably constant,but the nitrogen removal shifted from mixotrophy to heterotrophy as the C:N ratio shifted from low(C:N£2:1)to high(C:N≥9:1).The reduced autotrophic NRB(ammonia-and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria and Anammox)population at a high C:N ratio was compensated by the fermentative group that could carry out denitrification heterotrophically.The functional plasticity of the Methammox system to adjust to a broad C:N ratio opens new frontiers in biological nitrogen removal of high COD containing wastewaters.