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Published on: July 24, 2018
Zeolite-driven anammox bacteria enrichment enhances nitrogen removal in mainstream partial denitrification-anammox
Xiaojian Liao1, Shuo Wang1, Bo Wang1
1National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China.
Abstract:
The inefficient enrichment of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) limits partial denitrification-anammox (PDA) applications. This study assessed the role of zeolite in enriching AnAOB in a nitrification-PDA-coupled system using composite carriers comprising zeolite and plastic hollow cylinders in a sequencing batch reactor. The system achieved effluent total inorganic nitrogen of 1.7 ± 1.4 mg/L and nitrogen removal efficiency of 97.7 ± 1.8% over 118 days of continuous operation. Microbial analysis revealed that zeolite substantially promoted AnAOB enrichment, with Candidatus Brocadia (6.1%) and Candidatus Kuenenia (3.0%) as dominant genera on its surface, whch significantly higher than on plastic carriers. Biofilm attachment did not alter zeolite's structural integrity, as indicated by the nearly unchanged specific surface area, while enlarged pores enhanced mass transfer. This study expands the application potential of zeolite in wastewater treatment and provides a potential pathway for the efficient and stable implementation of the PDA process in engineering applications.
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