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Updated: Jul 24, 2025

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Enhanced nitrogen removal in immersed rotating self-aerated biofilm reactor: Nitrogen removal pathway and microbial
Ya-Nan Luan1, Yanming Xu1, Zhonghong Guo1
1School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao University of Technology, Qingdao 266033, China.
Abstract:
To achieve energy-efficient treatment of the rural wastewater with satisfying performance, a novel immersed rotating self-aerated biofilm reactor (iRSABR) was proposed in this study. The iRSABR system showed better biofilm renewal performance and higher microbial activity. The effect of different regulation strategies on the iRSABR system was investigated in this study. The 70% immersion ratio and 4 r/min rotation speed (stage III) exhibited the best performance, with a total nitrogen removal efficiency of 86% and a simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) rate of 76%, along with the highest electron transport system activity. The nitrogen removal pathway revealed that the SND was achieved through autotrophic/heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic/anoxic denitrification. The regulation strategy in the iRSABR system established a synergistic microbial community with main functional bacteria of nitrification (Nitrosomonas), anoxic denitrification (Flavobacterium, Pseudoxanthomonas), and aerobic denitrification (Thauera). This study highlighted the feasibility and adaptability of the iRSABR system toward energy-efficient rural wastewater treatment.
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