Nitrogen removal and nitrogen functional gene abundances in three subsurface wastewater infiltration systems under different modes of aeration and influent C/N ratios

Abstract

Matrix DO, nitrogen removal and nitrogen functional gene abundances in non-aerated (NA), continuously aerated (CA) and intermittently aerated (IA) subsurface wastewater infiltration systems (SWISs) under different influent C/N ratios were studied. Aeration created aerobic condition in 50cm depth and did not change anoxic or anaerobic condition in 80 and 110cm depths, which enhanced NH₄⁺-N and TN removal and the enrichment of nitrogen removal functional genes (amoA, nxrA, narG, napA, nirK, nirS, qnorB and nosZ) compared to NA SWIS, especially under high influent C/N ratio. High TN removal rate (89.6%) was obtained in IA SWIS under the influent C/N ratio of 12, which was higher than that in CA SWIS (87.1%). The results suggested that intermittent aeration was a reliable option to achieve high TN removal in SWISs, especially under high influent C/N ratio.

Keywords: Aeration mode; C/N ratio; Nitrogen; Nitrogen functional gene.