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Electroactive microorganisms enriched from activated sludge remove nitrogen in bioelectrochemical reactor.
Anna Joicy1, Young-Chae Song1, Chae-Young Lee2
1Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, South Korea.
Journal of Environmental Management
|December 24, 2018
Summary
Bioelectrochemical anaerobic nitrogen removal efficiently eliminates ammonium and nitrite using electroactive bacteria in a specialized reactor. This novel method avoids nitrate by-products, offering a sustainable solution for nitrogen-rich wastewater treatment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Electrochemistry
- Wastewater Treatment
Background:
- Nitrogen removal from wastewater is crucial for environmental protection.
- Conventional methods often produce undesirable by-products like nitrate.
- Bioelectrochemical systems offer a promising alternative for sustainable nitrogen management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate and optimize anaerobic nitrogen removal using a bioelectrochemical reactor.
- To investigate the enrichment of electroactive bacteria for nitrogen removal.
- To quantify the requirements for nitrite and alkalinity in the process.
Main Methods:
- Operation of an anaerobic batch reactor with polarized bioelectrodes.
- Sequential batch operation with activated sludge inoculation.
- Electrochemical analysis using cyclic voltammograms to confirm microbial activity.
Main Results:
- Simultaneous removal of ammonium, nitrite, and alkalinity was achieved.
- Enrichment of ammonia oxidizing exoelectrogens (AOE) and denitritating electrotrophs (DNE) was confirmed.
- Nitrogen gas production observed, with no significant nitrate by-product formation.
Conclusions:
- Bioelectrochemical systems can effectively remove nitrogen without producing nitrate.
- Electroactive autotrophs, enriched by polarized electrodes, drive this process.
- This method is a novel and recommended approach for treating nitrogen-rich wastewater.
Keywords:
Activated sludgeAlkalinityBioelectrochemical nitrogen removalElectroactive microorganismsNitriteMore Related Videos
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