Assigning strategic COD flow to enhance denitrification coupled with anaerobic digestion and anammox for systematic upgradation of advanced nitrogen removal from food waste digestate

Abstract

Anammox is a low-carbon and efficient technology for treating high-strength ammonium in food waste digestate (FWD). However, achieving superior low-nitrogen effluent levels to meet strict discharge standards remains challenging. This study proposes an anammox-based process that integrates simultaneous denitrification and methanogenesis (SDM), partial nitrification (PN), and simultaneous anammox and denitrification (SAD) to realize advanced nitrogen removal from FWD by strategically utilizing influent organic matter. The SAD process achieved an inorganic nitrogen removal efficiency of 94.0 %, with the anammox reaction contributing 96.0 %. Residual nitrate in the SAD effluent was recirculated into SDM, maintaining a removal efficiency of 95 %–97 %. Profiling wastewater and material flows in the integrated process showed a 97.2 % nitrogen removal efficiency, with effluent nitrogen levels meeting discharge standards (<70 mg/L for municipal sewer systems). 3D-fluorescence analysis indicated that quasi-humic acid was effectively removed through SDM. Soluble microbial by-products of FWD served as carbon source for the denitrifying bacteria in SAD. Controlling influent bypass flow and effluent recirculation allowed for strategic allocation of chemical oxygen demand (COD) flow, achieving a total removal efficiency of 71.8 %. SDM removed 45.8 % COD, followed by PN at 13.4 % and SAD at 12.6 %. Compared with those of conventional nitrification and denitrification process, the economic cost, greenhouse gas emission, and total environmental impact of this integrated process were reduced by 85.8 %, 35.8 %, and 84.1 %, respectively. This study provides new insights into the application of anammox-based process for attaining advanced nitrogen removal while minimizing environmental impact.