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Estimating Sediment Denitrification Rates Using Cores and N2O Microsensors
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Characterizing denitrification kinetics at cold temperature using various carbon sources in lab-scale sequencing

Yalda Mokhayeri1, Rumana Riffat, Imre Takacs

  • 1Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20052, USA. yalda@gwu.edu

Water Science and Technology : a Journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research
|July 26, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Acetate and ethanol are effective external carbon sources for wastewater denitrification, showing higher specific denitrification rates than methanol. These substrates can be interchanged with minimal lag time for biomass adaptation.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Water Quality Management

Background:

  • Chesapeake Bay regulations necessitate stringent effluent nitrogen limits (near 3 mg/L).
  • Wastewater treatment plants require external carbon sources for complete denitrification due to insufficient internal carbon.
  • Methanol is a common external carbon source, but alternatives are being explored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the specific denitrification rate (SDNR) of methanol, ethanol, and acetate as external carbon sources.
  • To compare the effectiveness of these substrates under various conditions at 13°C.
  • To assess the potential for interchanging carbon sources for biomass adaptation.

Main Methods:

  • Sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were used to cultivate biomass on specific substrates.
  • In situ and ex situ specific denitrification rate (SDNR) tests were conducted.
  • Evaluated substrate combinations using biomass grown on methanol, ethanol, and acetate.

Main Results:

  • SDNRs were 9.2 mg NO(3)-N/g VSS/hr for methanol, 30.4 mg NO(3)-N/g VSS/hr for ethanol, and 31.7 mg NO(3)-N/g VSS/hr for acetate.
  • Acetate and ethanol demonstrated significantly higher SDNRs compared to methanol.
  • Ethanol-grown biomass showed rapid acclimation to methanol, and vice versa, with minimal lag periods.

Conclusions:

  • Ethanol and acetate are highly effective external carbon sources for denitrification, comparable in performance.
  • Methanol is less effective but can be supplemented or replaced by ethanol or acetate.
  • The interchangeability of methanol and ethanol simplifies operational adjustments in wastewater treatment.