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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Efficient nutrient removal from low C/N municipal wastewater using a phototrophic biofilm system integrating
Qingan Meng1, Wei Zeng1, Jiayu Zhang1
1National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment And, Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China.
Abstract:
Microalgae-bacteria systems based on phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs) offer low-energy and low-carbon-emission solutions for wastewater treatment, but their performance declines with low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios municipal wastewater. In this study, a phototrophic biofilm system capable of coupling simultaneous nitrification-denitrification with phosphorus removal (P-SNDPRB) was developed to enhance low C/N ratios (3.32-4.11) municipal wastewater treatment. Before biofilm integration, total nitrogen (TN) removal was below 75%. After integration, TN removal increased to over 82%, while organic matter and phosphorus removal efficiencies remained at 85% and 90% in the P-SNDPRB system, respectively. Microalgae photosynthesis supplied oxygen to the biofilm, enabling denitrification. Chemometric and metagenomic analyses revealed denitrification and phosphorus accumulating metabolism (PAM) as key pathways for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Flow cytometry sorting showed that biofilm spatial distribution promoted synergistic interactions among Accumulibacter, Competibacter, Nitrosomonas, Chlorella, and Cyanobacteria, further enhancing nitrogen and phosphorus removal. This study provides a low-energy and sustainable approach for the treatment of municipal wastewater with a low C/N ratio.
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