Synergistic ammonia and nitrate removal in a novel pyrite-driven autotrophic denitrification biofilter

Yanfei Wang; Guangxue Wu; Xiaona Zheng; Wei Mao; Yuntao Guan

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127223

Synergistic ammonia and nitrate removal in a novel pyrite-driven autotrophic denitrification biofilter

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Jul:355:127223. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127223. Epub 2022 Apr 26.

Authors

Yanfei Wang¹, Guangxue Wu², Xiaona Zheng¹, Wei Mao¹, Yuntao Guan³

Affiliations

¹ Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, International Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China.
² Civil Engineering, School of Engineering, College of Science and Engineering, National University of Ireland, Galway, Galway H91 TK33, Ireland.
³ Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center for Urban Water Recycling and Environmental Safety, International Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Microorganism Application and Risk Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China. Electronic address: guanyt@tsinghua.edu.cn.

PMID: 35483533
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127223

Abstract

Pyrite is one kind of cost-effective electron donors for nitrate denitrification. In this study, a pyrite-driven autotrophic denitrification biofilter was applied for simultaneous removal of NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- over the 150-day. The influent NH₄⁺/NO₃^- ratio (0.3-1.7) had less effect on system performance, while for the hydraulic retention times (HRTs, 24-3 h), the removal percentage of both > 90% and removal loading rates of 52.8 and 59.4 mg N/(L·d) for NH₄⁺ and NO₃^- removal were obtained at the HRT of 6 h. The 16S rRNA genes analysis showed that Ferritrophicum, Thiobacillus, Candidatus_Brocadia, and unidentified_Nitrospiraceae were predominant. Analyses of nitrogen and sulfur metabolism showed that ammonia was removed by complete nitrification, nitrate was reduced to N₂, and sulfide was oxidized to sulfate. Dynamics of pollutants within the reactor and microbial activity showed nitrification/Anammox and pyrite-driven autotrophic denitrification were responsible for the synergistic removal of NH₄⁺/NO₃^- in this system.

Keywords: Autotrophic denitrification biofilter; NH(4)(+)/NO(3)(–); Pyrite; Simultaneous removal.

MeSH terms

Ammonia
Autotrophic Processes
Bioreactors
Denitrification*
Iron
Nitrates*
Nitrogen
Oxidation-Reduction
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
Sulfides

Substances

Nitrates
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
Sulfides
pyrite
Ammonia
Iron
Nitrogen