Nitrogen cycling during wastewater treatment
Dawn E Holmes1, Yan Dang2, Jessica A Smith3
1Department of Physical and Biological Sciences, Western New England University, Springfield, MA, United States.
Advances in Applied Microbiology
|February 26, 2019
Summary
Biological nitrogen removal is a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to chemical treatments for wastewater. This approach uses microorganisms to convert harmful ammonia into harmless nitrogen gas, protecting ecosystems and human health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Environmental Engineering
Background:
- Wastewater treatment plants often fail to remove reactive nitrogen, leading to environmental pollution and ecosystem damage.
- Excess reactive nitrogen poses risks to human health and contributes to air and water pollution.
- Tertiary wastewater treatment is crucial for removing reactive nitrogen species before environmental release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the importance of tertiary wastewater treatment for reactive nitrogen removal.
- To present biological nitrogen removal as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to chemical methods.
- To discuss the role of various microorganisms in biological nitrogen removal processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of biological nitrogen removal mechanisms in wastewater treatment.
- Identification of key microbial groups involved in nitrogen cycling (e.g., ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, anammox bacteria, denitrifying microorganisms).
- Description of different biological treatment systems like nitrifying-denitrifying and anammox reactors.
Main Results:
- Biological nitrogen removal leverages microbial processes to convert ammonia to nitrogen gas.
- Diverse microbial communities, including bacteria and archaea, facilitate nitrogen cycling.
- Specific processes like nitrification-denitrification and anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) are effective nitrogen removal pathways.
Conclusions:
- Biological nitrogen removal offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for managing reactive nitrogen in wastewater.
- Emerging biological treatment technologies show promise for wider adoption.
- Increased implementation of biological tertiary treatment is essential for mitigating nitrogen pollution.
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