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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors

Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N₂O Microsensors

Published on: December 6, 2018

Denitrification with carbon addition--kinetic considerations.

P Dold¹, I Takács, Y Mokhayeri

¹EnviroSim Associates Ltd., Flamborough, Ontario, Canada. dold@envirosim.com

Water Environment Research : a Research Publication of the Water Environment Federation

|July 9, 2008

Summary

Wastewater treatment plants using methanol for denitrification face challenges in winter due to temperature effects on microbes. This study investigated methanol-utilizing bacteria kinetics and alternative carbon sources to improve nitrogen removal efficiency.

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Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O

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The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations

The Benthic Exchange of O₂, N₂ and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations

Published on: August 3, 2016

Area of Science:

Environmental microbiology
Wastewater engineering
Biogeochemical cycles

Background:

The Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant utilizes methanol as an external carbon source for postdenitrification to reduce effluent total nitrogen.
Lower temperatures and higher flows in winter negatively impact the kinetic behavior of methanol-utilizing heterotrophs, complicating nitrogen removal.
Understanding microbial kinetics is crucial for optimizing nutrient removal in advanced wastewater treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

To determine the maximum specific growth rate (Mu(METH)) of methanol-utilizing heterotrophs in postdenitrification sludge.
To investigate the temperature dependency of the growth rate of these microorganisms.
To evaluate the effectiveness of alternative carbon substrates (ethanol, acetate, sugar) compared to methanol.

Main Methods:

Experimental batch tests were performed on postdenitrification sludge from the Blue Plains facility.
Key parameters measured included maximum specific growth rate and temperature-dependent growth kinetics.
Limited tests were also conducted on sludge from two additional treatment plants utilizing methanol.

Main Results:

The study quantified the maximum specific growth rate of methanol-utilizing heterotrophs.
The temperature dependency of microbial growth rates was characterized, highlighting winter performance challenges.
Preliminary data on the efficacy of alternative substrates was gathered.

Conclusions:

Methanol-utilizing heterotroph kinetics are temperature-sensitive, impacting winter denitrification efficiency.
Further research into alternative carbon sources may offer solutions for optimizing nitrogen removal under varying conditions.
Optimizing external carbon source strategy is vital for consistent low effluent nitrogen concentrations.