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An EGSB-SBR based process for coupling methanogenesis and shortcut nitrogen removal
Cui Bai1, Daijun Zhang, Qiang He
1Department of Environmental Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Beijing BOE Display Technology Co., Ltd, Beijing 100176, China.
Summary
This study integrates anaerobic/anoxic expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) and aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) processes for wastewater treatment. The coupled system effectively removes chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen using methanogenesis, denitrification, and anammox.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Microbiology
- Wastewater Treatment Technologies
Background:
- The anammox process is typically applied to low-strength wastewater, limiting its use in treating high-COD and ammonium industrial effluents.
- Integrated anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic systems offer potential for enhanced nutrient and organic removal but require careful operational control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate an integrated anaerobic/anoxic expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) and aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system.
- To couple methanogenesis, denitrification, and anammox processes for simultaneous removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium from high-strength wastewater.
- To investigate the influence of carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio on process performance and microbial contributions.
Main Methods:
- An integrated EGSB-SBR system was operated in a sequencing batch mode.
- Partial nitrification was achieved in the SBR to supply nitrite for the anammox process in the EGSB.
- Methanogenesis, denitrification, and anammox were coupled sequentially within the EGSB reactor.
Main Results:
- The integrated system achieved high removal efficiencies: 74.38-83.65% for NH(4)(+)-N, 72.68-83.12% for total nitrogen (TN), and 88.34-98.86% for COD.
- COD removal was primarily attributed to methanogenesis (70.89-98.79%), increasing with the C/N ratio.
- Anammox contributed significantly to TN removal (26.35-58.64%), while shortcut denitrification played a lesser role (0-32.80%), with their relative importance shifting based on the C/N ratio.
Conclusions:
- The integrated EGSB-SBR process effectively treats high-COD and ammonium wastewater, extending the applicability of anammox.
- Process performance is sensitive to the C/N ratio, influencing the balance between methanogenesis, anammox, and denitrification.
- Optimized sequencing batch operation enables efficient simultaneous removal of organic matter and nitrogen through coupled microbial processes.
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