Nitrous oxide emission mitigation from biological wastewater treatment - A review

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) emitted from wastewater treatment processes has emerged as a focal point for academic and practical research amidst pressing environmental issues. This review presents an updated view on the biological pathways for N₂O production and consumption in addition to the critical process factors affecting N₂O emission. The current research trends including the strain and reactor aspects were then outlined with discussions. Last but not least, the research needs were proposed. The holistic life cycle assessment needs to be performed to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of the proposed mitigation strategies or recovery options. This review also provides the background information for the proposed future research prospects on N₂O mitigation and recovery technologies. As pointed out, dilution effects of the produced N₂O gas product would hinder its use as renewable energy; instead, its use as an effective oxidizing agent is proposed as a promising recovery option.

Keywords: Biological wastewater treatment; Metabolic pathway; Metrics analysis; Mitigation strategy; Nitrous oxide emission; Nitrous oxide recovery.