Optimizing nitrogen removal in PN/A process: Step-Feed influence analysis

LI Dong; WANG Kai-lu; ZHU Yan-jun; Lü Heng-kang; ZHANG Jie

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China Environmental Science ›› 2024, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (7) : 3672-3681.

Water Pollution Control

Optimizing nitrogen removal in PN/A process: Step-Feed influence analysis

LI Dong¹, WANG Kai-lu¹, ZHU Yan-jun¹, Lü Heng-kang¹, ZHANG Jie^1,2

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Abstract

In this work, a novel model was established to optimize the C/N in the aerobic section based on the regulation of the influent distribution ratio of each aerobic section, using pre-decarbonized wastewater and municipal wastewater as target wastewater. This work was aiming at achieving the stable operation of the partial nitrification-anammox (PN/A) process under realistic conditions. Four groups of sequential batch reactors (SBR) with the same specifications run in oxic/anoxic/oxic/anoxic (O/A/O/A) mode, R1, R2, R3, and R4 operated in the step-feed mode with the influent distribution ratios (pre-decarbonized wastewater: municipal wastewater) of 1:0, 2:1, 1:1, and 1:2. The results illustrated that R1failed to realize the PN/A process and total nitrogen removal efficiency (NRE) was only 60.2%. Along with the decreasing influent distribution ratio, R2, R3, and R4 completed the PN/A process on the 34th, 30th, and 36th days, which NRE reaching 71.8%, 80.3%, and 74.1%. Among them, R3 had the optimized performance with best stability, and the contribution of anammox reaching 83.9%. It was revealed that sludge exhibited excellent settling characteristics and optimal particle size. Moreover, high-throughput data also demonstrated the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (Nitrosomonas) and anammox bacteria (Candidatus_Kuenenia) at 2.74% and 12.17%. These microbial populations synergized effectively with aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (AHB). Hence, the step-feed model could be conductive to achieve a stable PN/A process. The influent distribution ratio of 1:1was suggested as a suitable reference value, fostering better enrichment and balance of functional microorganisms.

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competitive inhibition / influent distribution ratio / PN/A process / step-feed

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LI Dong, WANG Kai-lu, ZHU Yan-jun, Lü Heng-kang, ZHANG Jie. Optimizing nitrogen removal in PN/A process: Step-Feed influence analysis[J]. China Environmental Science. 2024, 44(7): 3672-3681

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