Hongwei Sun

N2O production during nitrogen removal via nitrite from domestic wastewater: main sources and control method.

Nitrite has been commonly recognized as an important factor causing N(2)O production, which weakened the advantages of nitrogen removal via nitrite. To reduce and control N(2)O production from wastewater treatment plants, both long-term and batch tests were carried out to investigate main sources and pathways of N(2)O production during nitrogen removal via nitrite from real domestic wastewater. The obtained results showed that N(2)O production during nitrogen removal via nitrite was 1.5 times as much as that during nitrogen removal via nitrate. It was further demonstrated that ammonia oxidization were main source of N(2)O production during nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater; whereas, almost no N(2)O was produced during nitrite oxidization and anoxic denitrification. N(2)O production during nitrogen removal via nitrite decreased about 50% by applying the step-feed SBR, due to the effective control of nitrite and ammonia, the precursors of N(2)O production. Therefore, the step-feed system is recommended as an effective method to reduce N(2)O production during nitrogen removal via nitrite from domestic wastewater.

Advanced landfill leachate treatment using a two-stage UASB-SBR system at low temperature

A two-stage upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system was introduced to treat landfill leachate for advanced removal of COD and nitrogen at low temperature. In order to improve the total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency and to reduce the COD requirement for denitrification, the raw leachate with recycled SBR nitrification supernatant was pumped into the first-stage UASB (UASB1) to achieve simultaneous denitrification and methanogenesis. The results showed that UASB1 played an important role in COD removal and UASB2 and SBR further enhanced the nutrient removal efficiency. When the organic loading rates of UASB1, UASB2 and SBR were 11.95, 1.63 and 1.29 kg COD/(m3 x day), respectively, the total COD removal efficiency of the whole system reached 96.7%. The SBR acted as the real undertaker for NH4+-N removal due to aerobic nitrification. The system obtained about 99.7% of NH4+-N removal efficiency at relatively low temperature (14.9-10.9 degrees C). More than 98.3% TN was removed through complete denitrification in UASB1 and SBR. In addition, temperature had a significant effect on the rates of nitrification and denitrification rather than the removal of TN and NH4+-N once the complete nitrification and denitrification were achieved.

Nitrite Accumulation during the Denitrification Process in SBR for the Treatment of Pre-treated Landfill Leachate

Abstract The nitrite accumulation in the denitrification process is investigated with sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating pre-treated landfill leachate in anoxic/anaerobic up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB). Nitrite accumulates obviously at different initial nitrate concentrations (64.9,54.8,49.3 and 29.5 mg·L−1) and low temperatures, and the two break points on the oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) profile indicate the completion of nitrate and nitrite reduction. Usually, the nitrate reduction rate is used as the sole parameter to characterize the denitrification rate, and nitrite is not even measured. For accuracy, the total oxidized nitrogen (nitrate + nitrite) is used as a measure, though details characterizing the process may be overlooked. Additionally, batch tests are conducted to investigate the effects of C/N ratios and types of carbon sources on the nitrite accumulation during the denitrification. It is observed that carbon source is sufficient for the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, but for further reduction of nitrite to nitrogen gas, is deficient when C/N is below the theoretical critical level of 3.75 based on the stoichiometry of denitrification. Five carbon sources used in this work, except for glucose, may cause the nitrite accumulation. From experimental results and cited literature, it is concluded that Alcaligene species may be contained in the SBR activated-sludge system.

Advanced treatment of landfill leachate using anaerobic-aerobic process: organic removal by simultaneous denitritation and methanogenesis and nitrogen removal via nitrite.

A novel biological system coupling an UASB and a SBR was established to treat landfill leachate. In order to enhance organics and nitrogen removal, simultaneous denitritation and methanogenesis (SDM) was performed in the UASB. Free ammonia (FA) inhibition on nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and process control was used to achieve nitrite pathway in the SBR. Results over 623 days showed that the maximum organic removal rate in the UASB and the maximum ammonium oxidization rate in the SBR was 12.7 kgCOD/m(3) d and 0.96 kgN/m(3) d, respectively. The system achieved COD, TN, and NH4(+)-N removal efficiencies of 93.5%, 99.5%, and 99.1%, respectively. By using FA inhibition coupled with process control, the nitrite pathway was started-up in the SBR at low temperatures (14.0-18.2°C) and was maintained for 142 days at temperatures below 15°C (the lowest level was 9.0°C). The predominant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) explains essentially stable nitritation obtained.

Achieving nitritation at low temperatures using free ammonia inhibition on Nitrobacter and real-time control in an SBR treating landfill leachate

Free ammonia (FA) inhibition on nitrite-oxidized bacteria (NOB) and real-time control are used to achieve nitrogen removal from landfill leachate via nitrite pathway at low temperatures in sequencing batch reactor. The inhibition of FA on NOB activity during the aerobic period was prolonged using real-time control. The degree of nitrite accumulation was monitored along with variations of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and NOB population using fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques. It is demonstrated that the end-point of ammonia oxidization is detected from the on-line measured dissolved oxygen, oxidization-reduction potential, and pH signals, which could avoid the loss the FA inhibition on NOB caused by excess aeration. At low temperature (13.0-17.6°C), the level of nitrite pathway rapidly increased from 19.8% to 90%, suggesting that nitritation was successfully started up at low temperature by applying syntrophic association of the FA inhibition and real-time control, and then this high level of nitrite pathway was stably maintained for as long as 233 days. Mechanism analysis shows that the establishment of nitritation was primarily the result of predominant ammonia-oxidizing bacteria developed in the nitrifying bacteria population compared to NOB. This was mainly due to a gradual reduction of nitrite amount that is available to provide energy for the growth of NOB, eventually leading to the elimination of NOB from the bacterial clusters in sequencing batch reactor sludge system.

Achieving nitrogen removal via nitrite pathway from urban landfill leachate using the synergetic inhibition of free ammonia and free nitrous acid on nitrifying bacteria activity.

In this study, a biological system consisting of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) and anoxic-oxic (A/O) reactor was established for the advanced treatment of high ammonium urban landfill leachate. The inhibitory effect of free ammonia (FA) and free nitrous acid (FNA) on the nitrifying bacterial activity was used to achieve stable nitritation in the A/O reactor. The results demonstrated that the biological system achieved chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN) and NH(4)(+)-N removal efficiencies of 95.3, 84.6 and 99.2%, respectively at a low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio of 3:1. Simultaneous denitritation and methanogenesis in the UASB could improve the removal of COD and TN. Nitritation with above 90% nitrite accumulation was successfully achieved in the A/O reactor by synergetic inhibition of FA and FNA on the activity of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed that ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was dominant and was considered to be responsible for the satisfactory nitritation performance.

Advanced nitrogen removal via nitrite from municipal wastewater in a pilot-plant sequencing batch reactor

To obtain economically sustainable wastewater treatment, advanced nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater and the feasibility of achieving and stabilizing short-cut nitrification and denitrification were investigated in a pilot-plant sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with a working volume of 54 m(3). Advanced nitrogen removal, from summer to winter, with effluent TN lower than 3 mg/L and nitrogen removal efficiency above 98% was successfully achieved in pulsed-feed SBR. Through long-term application of process control in pulsed-feed SBR, nitrite accumulation reached above 95% at normal temperature of 25 degrees C. Even in winter, at the lowest temperature of 13 degrees C, nitrite was still the end production of nitrification and nitrite accumulation was higher than 90%. On the basis of achieving advanced nitrogen removal, short-cut nitrification and denitrification was also successfully achieved. Compare to the pulse-feed SBR with fixed time control, the dosage of carbon source and energy consumption in pulsed-feed SBR with process control were saved about 30% and 15% respectively. In pulsed-feed SBR with process control, nitrogen removal efficiency was greatly improved. Moreover, consumption of power and carbon source was further saved.