[Short or Long-Term Influence of Phenol on Nitrogen Removal Efficiency of ANAMMOX Sludge]

The effects of phenol concentration on nitrogen removal efficiency in ANAMMOX sludge were studied in short or long-term. The nitrogen removal rate decreased rapidly with the increase of concentration of phenol in short-term. When the phenol concentration was above 600 mg x L(-1), the removal rate of NH4(+) -N was lower than 6% and the removal rate of TN was only about 10%. The long-term experimental results showed when the phenol concentration was below 100 mg x L(-1), the removal rate of NH4(+) -N can reach 99%, which indicated that ANAMMOX bacteria have a process of adaptation to the low concentration of phenol. However, when the phenol concentration was above 400 mg x L(-1), the removal rate of NH4(+) -N and TN was only 23.59% and 50.3%, the activity in sludge was significantly inhibited which was similarly to the short-term and the activity of denitrifying bacteria was significantly higher than ANAMMOX bacteria. As an organic carbon source, phenol can activated denitrification reaction and finally plays a dominant role in the system. However, the high concentration of phenol (1 000 mg x L(-1)) also has an inhibitory effect on denitrification bacteria. Half inhibitory concentration (IC50) of phenol to ANAMMOX activity was 71.57 mg x L(-1) by fitting. After 18 days' recovery, the stoichiometric ratios of nitrogen were changed, although the NH4(+) -N was basicly removed. The ratio of removed NH4(+) -N, reomved NO2(-) -N and produced NO3(-) -N was 1: 0.86: 0.2. Our results showed that the concentration of phenol should be controlled within a reasonable range, so that the reactor can achieve simultaneous removal of phenol and nitrogen.