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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
Published on: October 7, 2020
[Reactivation characteristics of stored aerobic nitrifying granules]
Xin-Hua Wang1, Han-Min Zhang, Li-Ping Xia
1Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental and Biological Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China. xinhuawang@yahoo.com.cn
Abstract:
A sequencing batch airlift reactor (SBAR) was conducted to study the performance of physical characteristics and respirometric activities during reactivation of aerobic granules after a 2-month storage time. Results showed that the color of the aerobic granules had completely become dark, the size and settleability did hardly change during the storage period. The color turned to be brownish-yellowish when the reactor was restarted for 2 weeks. The MLSS, granule size, and settleability increased rapidly along with reactivation. The heterotrophic activity resumed 86% within 1 day and was fully reactivated after 5 days. Then the COD removal rate was stabilized above 80%. Higher aeration rate and longer cycle time facilitated the reactivation of nitrifiers. When aeration rate was increased from 0.05 m3 x h(-1) to 0.10 m3 x h(-1) at 41st day, activities of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were improved from 88% and 82% to 122% and 92%, respectively. The removal rate of ammonium-nitrogen promptly reached above 96%. Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were fully reactivated after the cycle time was prolonged from 4 h to 6 h.
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