Nitrous oxide emissions from one-step partial nitritation/anammox processes

Water Sci Technol. 2016 Dec;74(12):2870-2878. doi: 10.2166/wst.2016.454.

Abstract

Measurements of nitrous oxide were made at pilot- and full-scale plants to evaluate greenhouse gas emissions from one-step partial nitritation/anammox processes applied in moving bed biofilm reactors treating reject water. It was found that 0.51-1.29% and 0.35-1.33% of the total nitrogen loads in the pilot- and full-scale reactor, respectively, were emitted as nitrous oxide. Between 80 and 90% of nitrous oxide emissions were in gaseous form and the rest amount was found in the reactor effluent; over 90% of nitrous oxide emissions occurred in the aerated period and less than 8% in the non-aerated period in the full-scale study. Nitrous oxide productions/consumptions were closely related to aeration and the nitrogen loads applied in the system.

MeSH terms

  • Biofilms
  • Bioreactors*
  • Greenhouse Effect
  • Nitrogen
  • Nitrous Oxide / analysis*

Substances

  • Nitrous Oxide
  • Nitrogen