Revealing the effect of biofilm formation in partial nitritation-anammox systems: Start-up, performance stability, and recovery

Hong Wang; Chen Chen; Enzhe Yang; Zhi Tu; Jie Liang; Xiaohu Dai; Hong Chen

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127379

Revealing the effect of biofilm formation in partial nitritation-anammox systems: Start-up, performance stability, and recovery

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Aug:357:127379. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127379. Epub 2022 May 26.

Authors

Hong Wang¹, Chen Chen², Enzhe Yang³, Zhi Tu³, Jie Liang⁴, Xiaohu Dai⁵, Hong Chen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
² Changsha Social Work College, Changsha 410004, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China.
⁴ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Dongting Lake Aquatic Eco-Environmental Control and Restoration of Hunan Province, School of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China. Electronic address: chenh@hnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 35642853
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127379

Abstract

Successful application of partial nitritation-anammox (PNA) processes is currently and primarily associated with biofilm systems. Biofilm characteristics significantly influence start-up, performance stability, and recovery. Here, two PNA systems with and without carriers were implemented simultaneously for treating wastewater containing 50 mg-NH₄/L. The performance characteristics of these two PNA systems were compared. Stable nitrogen removal efficiencies of 76.3 ± 2.8% and 72.9 ± 1.6% were obtained for suspended sludge and biofilm systems, respectively. The slow process of biofilm colonization resulted in a long start-up time in the biofilm system. Biofilm enrichment and protection conferred stable performance when exposed to aeration shock. The suspended sludge system displayed good elasticity during performance recovery after shock compared to the slow recovery in the biofilm system. Moreover, suitable control of dissolved oxygen could improve the activity and abundance of the functional microbes. This study provides new insights into the operation and control of PNA systems for treating mainstream wastewater.

Keywords: Biofilm; Mainstream; Nitrogen removal; Partial nitritation-anammox; Suspended sludge.

MeSH terms

Ammonium Compounds*
Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation
Biofilms
Bioreactors
Nitrogen
Oxidation-Reduction
Sewage*
Wastewater

Substances

Ammonium Compounds
Sewage
Waste Water
Nitrogen