Production of N₂O in two biologic nitrogen removal processes: a comparison between conventional and short-cut Nitrogen removal processes

Abstract

The N₂O production in two nitrogen removal processes treating domestic wastewater was investigated in laboratory-scale aerobic-anoxic sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Results showed that N₂O emission happened in the aerobic phase rather than in the anoxic phase. During the aerobic phase, the nitrogen conversion to N₂O gas was 27.7% and 36.8% of \mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_4^{+}‐\mathrm{N} loss for conventional biologic N-removal process and short-cut biologic N-removal process. The dissolved N₂O was reduced to N₂ in the anoxic denitrification phase. The N₂O production rate increased with the increasing of nitrite concentration and ceased when \mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_4^{+}‐\mathrm{N} oxidation was terminated. Higher nitrite accumulation resulted in higher N₂O emission in the short-cut nitrogen removal process. Pulse-wise addition of 20 mg \mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_2^{-}‐\mathrm{N}\cdot {\mathrm{L}}^{-1} gave rise to 3-fold of N₂O emission in the conventional N-removal process, while little change happened with 20 mg \mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_3^{-}‐\mathrm{N}\cdot {\mathrm{L}}^{-1} was added to SBR1.

Keywords

conventional N-removal process / N₂O / short-cut N-removal process / nitrite accumulation / ammonia- oxidizing bacteria (AOB) denitrification

References

[1] NodaN, KanekoN, MikamiM, KimochiY, TsunedaS, HirataA, MizuochiM, InamoriY. Effects of SRT and DO on N₂O reductase activity in an anoxic-oxic activated sludge system. Water Science & Technology, 2003, 48(11-12): 363-370

[2] LiuX H, PengY, WuC Y, AkioT, PengY Z. Nitrous oxide production during nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater in lab-scale sequencing batch reactor. Journal of Environmental Sciences (China), 2008, 20(6): 641-645

[3] ZhouY, PijuanM, YuanZ G. Development of a 2-sludge, 3-stage system for nitrogen and phosphorous removal from nutrient-rich wastewater using granular sludge and biofilms. Water Research, 2008, 42(12): 3207-3217

[4] Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate Change: the Scientific Basis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001

[5] KampschreurM J,TemminkH,KleerebezemR,JettenM S M,LoosdrechtM C M.Nitrous oxide emission during wastewater treatmentWater Research,2009, 43 (17 ):4093-4103

[6] BockE, KoopsH P, HarnsH. Cell Biology of Nitrifying Bacteria, Nitrification. Oxford: IRL Press, 1986, 17-38

[7] ProsserJ I. Autotrophic nitrification in bacteria. Advances in Microbial Physiology, 1989, 30(1): 125-181

[8] von SchulthessR, WildD, GujerW. Nitric and nitrous oxides from denitrifying activated sludge at low oxygen concentration. Water Science & Technology, 1994, 30(6): 123-132

[9] OsadaT, KurodaK, YonagaM. Reducing nitrous oxide gas emissions from fill-and-draw type activated sludge process. Water Research, 1995, 29(6): 1607-1608http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0043-1354(94)00246-4

[10] ItokawaH, HanakiK, MatsuoT. Nitrous oxide production in high-loading biological nitrogen removal process under low COD/N ratio condition. Water Research, 2001, 35(3): 657-664

[11] BurgessJ E, ColliverB B, StuetzR M, StephensonT. Dinitrogen oxide production by a mixed culture of nitrifying bacteria during ammonia shock loading and aeration failure. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology, 2002, 29(6): 309-313

[12] PengY Z, ZhuG B. Biological nitrogen removal with nitrification and denitrification via nitrite pathway. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2006, 73(1): 15-26

[13] BockE, SchmidtI, StüvenR, ZartD. Nitrogen loss caused by denitrifying Nitrosomonas cells using ammonium or hydrogen as electron donors and nitrite as electron acceptor. Archives of Microbiology, 1995, 163(1): 16-20

[14] KampschreurM J, TanN C G, KleerebezemR, PicioreanuC, JettenM S M, LoosdrechtM C M. Effect of dynamic process conditions on nitrogen oxides emission from a nitrifying culture. Environmental Science & Technology, 2008, 42(2): 429-435

[15] ZengR J, LemaireR, YuanZ, KellerJ.A novel wastewater treatment process: simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal. Water Science &Technology, 2004, 50(10): 163-170

[16] LemaireR, MeyerR, TaskeA, CrocettiG R, KellerJ, YuanZ. Identifying causes for N₂O accumulation in a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor performing simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal. Journal of Biotechnology, 2006, 122(1): 62-72

[17] American Public Health Association (APHA). Standard Methods for the Examination for Water and Wastewater, 20th ed. Washington, D C: American Public Health Association, 1998

[18] HenzeM, GujerW, MinoT, van LoosdrechtM C M. Activated Sludge Models ASM1, ASM2, ASM2d and ASM3. IWA Scientific and Technical Report No.9. London: IWA Publishing, 2000

[19] YangQ, LiuX, PengC Y, WangS, SunH, PengY. N₂O production during nitrogen removal via nitrite from domestic wastewater: main sources and control method. Environmental Science & Technology, 2009, 43(24): 9400-9406

[20] AhnJ H, KwanT, ChandranK. Comparison of partial and full nitrification processes applied for treating high-strength nitrogen wastewaters: microbial ecology through nitrous oxide production. Environmental Science & Technology, 2011, 45(7): 2734-2740

[21] ColliverB B, StephensonT. Production of nitrogen oxide and dinitrogen oxide by autotrophic nitrifiers. Biotechnology Advances, 2000, 18(3): 219-232

[22] WrageN, VeltholG L, van BeausichemM L, OenemaO. Role of nitrifier denitrification in the production of nitrous oxide. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 2001, 33(12-13): 1723-1732

[23] KampschreurM J, van der StarW R L, WieldersH A, MulderJ W, JettenM S M, van LoosdrechtM C M. Dynamics of nitric oxide and nitrous oxide emission during full-scale reject water treatment. Water Research, 2008, 42(3): 812-826

[24] WichtH. A model for predicting nitrous oxide production during denitrification in activated sludge. Water Science & Technology, 1996, 34(5-6): 99-106

[25] TallecG, GarnierJ, BillenG, GousaillesM. Nitrous oxide emissions from denitrifying activated sludge of urban wastewater treatment plants, under anoxia and low oxygenation. Bioresource Technology, 2008, 99(7): 2200-2209

[26] NelsonL M, KnowlesR. Effect of oxygen and nitrate on nitrogen fixation and denitrification by Azospirillum brasilense grown in continuous culture. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 1978, 24(11): 1395-1403

[27] SacksL E, BarkerH A. The influence of oxygen on nitrate and nitrite reduction. Journal of Bacteriology, 1949, 58(1): 11-22

[28] OtteS, GrobbenN G, RobertsonL A, JettenM S M, KuenenJ G. Nitrous oxide production by Alcaligenes faecalis under transient and dynamic aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 1996, 62(7): 2421-2426

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Key Technologies R & D Program of Hebei, China (No.12273611) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51008005).

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg