Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026

Evaluation of Integrated Anaerobic Digestion and Hydrothermal Carbonization for Bioenergy Production
Published on: June 15, 2014
Sustainable biochar application in anammox process: Unveiling novel pathways for enhanced nitrogen removal and
Biao Yang1, Jiawei Sun1, Zhongyu Wang1
1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030024, China.
Abstract:
This study explored the use of biochar to accelerate the establishment of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) reactors operating at 15 ± 1℃. Incorporating 10 g/L bamboo charcoal in S1 accelerated the start-up of anammox in 87 days, which was significantly shorter than 103 days in S0 (without biochar). After 140 days, S1 exhibited a 10.9 % increase in nitrogen removal efficiency due to a 28.9 % elevation in extracellular polymeric substances, bolstering anammox bacterial resilience. Predominant anammox bacteria (Cadidatus Brocadia and Cadidatus Jettenia) showed relative abundances of 3.19 % and 0.38 % in S1, respectively, which were significantly higher than 0.40 % and 0.05 % in S0. Biochar provides favorable habitats for the enrichment of anammox bacteria and accelerates the establishment of anammox at low temperatures. This finding holds promise for enhancing the efficiency of anammox in cold climates and advancing sustainable wastewater nitrogen removal.
Related Concept Videos
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation
Microbes and Methanogenesis
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Biofuels

