Effects of nitrite inhibition on anaerobic ammonium oxidation

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2010 Mar;86(1):359-65. doi: 10.1007/s00253-009-2359-z. Epub 2009 Dec 3.

Abstract

In order to assess the stability of nitrogen removal systems utilizing anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), it is necessary to study the toxic effects of nitrite on these biochemical reactions. In this study, the effects of nitrite on anammox bacteria entrapped in gel carriers were investigated using batch and continuous feeding tests. The results showed that the nitrite concentration in a reactor must be less than 274-mg N/L in order to prevent a decrease in the anammox activity, which occurred when the gel carriers were soaked in nitrite solutions with concentrations greater than 274-mg N/L in a batch test. In a continuous feeding test, nitrite inhibition was not observed at low concentrations of nitrite. However, the anammox activity decreased to 10% when the nitrite concentration increased to 750-mg N/L over a 7-day period in the reactor. In addition, it was shown that the effects of nitrogen on the anammox reaction were reversible because the anammox activity completely recovered within 3 days when the influent nitrite concentration was decreased to less than 274-mg N/L.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Anaerobiosis / drug effects
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bioreactors
  • Cells, Immobilized
  • Culture Media
  • Gels
  • Industrial Waste
  • Nitrites / pharmacology*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / metabolism*
  • Sewage / microbiology*
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Gels
  • Industrial Waste
  • Nitrites
  • Quaternary Ammonium Compounds
  • Sewage