Simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal in a lab‐scale sequencing batch reactor

TLDR

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification via the nitrite pathway combined with anaerobic‑anoxic enhanced biological phosphorus removal can markedly reduce energy and COD requirements for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. A lab‑scale sequencing batch reactor operated in alternating anaerobic‑aerobic cycles with low dissolved oxygen (0.5 mg L⁻¹) achieved simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal by converting COD to polyhydroxyalkanoates and releasing phosphorus anaerobically, then oxidizing the polyhydroxyalkanoates and uptaking phosphorus aerobically while oxidizing ammonia without accumulating nitrite or nitrate. Denitrification produced mainly nitrous oxide rather than dinitrogen, proceeded via the nitrite pathway, and was driven by denitrifying glycogen‑accumulating organisms instead of denitrifying polyphosphate‑accumulating organisms.

Abstract

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) via the nitrite pathway and anaerobic-anoxic-enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) are two processes that can significantly reduce the energy and COD demand for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The combination of these two processes has the potential of achieving simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal with a minimal requirement for COD. A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated in alternating anaerobic-aerobic mode with a low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration (0.5 mg/L) during the aerobic period, and was demonstrated to accomplish nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. Under anaerobic conditions, COD was taken up and converted to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), accompanied by phosphorus release. In the subsequent aerobic stage, PHA was oxidized and phosphorus was taken up to <0.5 mg/L by the end of the cycle. Ammonia was also oxidized during the aerobic period, but without accumulation of nitrite or nitrate in the system, indicating the occurrence of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. However, off-gas analysis showed that the final denitrification product was mainly nitrous oxide (N(2)O), not N(2). Further experimental results demonstrated that nitrogen removal was via nitrite, not nitrate. These experiments also showed that denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms (DGAOs), rather than denitrifying polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (DPAOs), were responsible for the denitrification activity.