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PubMed2002

The impact of sea water flushing on biological nitrification-denitrification activated sludge sewage treatment process.

The process performance of the two largest activated sludge processes in Hong Kong, the Sha Tin and the Tai Po Sewage Treatment Works (STW), deteriorated in the initial period after the introduction of seawater flushing in 1995 and 1996, respectively. High effluent ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N) and total suspended solids (TSS) in excess of the discharge standards resulted from incomplete nitrification and changes in floc characteristics. A desktop study on the inhibitory effects of salinity, particularly on nitrification, was subsequently conducted using the Tai Po STW operating data. To assist the upgrade of the Sha Tin STW a five-month extensive bench-scale investigation on a simple but flexible modified Ludzack-Ettinger configuration with bio-selector was conducted to quantify the inhibitory effects due to the saline concentration. The Sha Tin STW upgrade consists of restoration of its original design capacity (conventional process) of 205,000 m3/day from its currently much reduced capacity as a Bardenpho process. Only the volume of the existing biological process and clarifier is to be utilized. The saline concentration ranges from 3,500 up to 6,500 mg Cl-/L, both daily and seasonally. High and greatly fluctuating saline concentrations have been known to inhibit nitrification. Design consideration should also be given to the peak daily and seasonal TKN loading of up to three times the average. Although the nitrifiers maximum specific growth rate was significantly reduced to a low 0.25 day(-1), the inhibition was considered to be tolerable with effluent NH4-N and NO3-N consistently at < 1 and < 6 mg/L. The bio-selector was demonstrated to be efficient in control of sludge foaming and bulking with SVI consistently < or = 125 mL/g. Results from the IAWO Model No. 1 and the hydraulic model of the secondary clarifiers allowed overall process capacity maximization. With an anoxic mass fraction of 25-30%, operating sludge age of 9-14 days and SVI < or = 125 mL/g, both the design requirements and the effluent discharge standards could be met. Without these investigations, an unnecessarily large reaction basin and secondary clarifier volume, and hence capital investment, would have resulted.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2003

Tertiary nitrification in a new dual-medium aerated filter.

In an effort to develop an aerated filter with high nitrification capabilities, we formulated a new filter with 2 layers: the upper layer is filled with a plastic medium, and the lower with anthracite. We tested the filter in a pilot-scale apparatus on secondary-treated sewage, and in a small-scale apparatus on secondary-treated sewage and on artificial sewage. We evaluated the nitrification characteristics under various conditions of water velocity, air velocity, temperature, and pH. We designed a tertiary plant to treat 20,000 m3/day of secondary-treated sewage, using the new filter or a conventional filter. From these comparisons, it appeared that the dual-medium aerated filter had high nitrification capabilities and was an effective device for tertiary sewage treatment.

Air Movements↗

PubMed2003

Rapid automated detection of nitrification kinetics using respirometry.

There is no doubt that respirometry is a useful measurement principle in the field of wastewater treatment. Although a large variety of methods and case studies have been published, respirometry has become neither a standard tool for control nor for assessment and optimisation of treatment plants. drawback of the conventional method for determining nitrification kinetics is the long experimental time. This disadvantage can be avoided by "turning over" the experiment. Starting with low ammonia concentrations the steep slope of the Monod curve is measured first. The low concentration branch of the Monod curve is also the part where e.g. inhibition can be detected. Therefore the proposed procedure allows us to speed up the measurement of nitrification kinetics and to measure nitrification inhibition on-line.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2003

Partial nitrification in a high-load activated sludge system by biofilter backwash water recirculation.

The South-Budapest Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBWWTP) based on the high-load activated sludge process (AS) was upgraded into nutrient removal in 1998-1999 in Hungary. Biofor type nitrifying (NP) and denitrifying (DN) biofilters were implemented for nitrogen removal downstream of the (AS) stage in order to meet the required effluent standards characterized by 50 mgCOD l(-1), 10 mgBOI5 l(-1), 10 mgTN l(-1), 1 mgTP l(-1) and 35 mgTSS l(-1). Phosphorus removal is obtained by chemical addition. The study presented sums up the performance of the upgraded plant throughout 25 months. Besides the efficient pre-denitrification obtained in the AS basin, significant ammonium oxidation was observed in the aerated zone, upon the introduction of recirculation of nitrate rich water and backwash water. The introduction of biofilter backwash water, containing nitrifying biomass, has generated significant ammonium conversion in the aerated basins, where nitrification was observed previously to a very limited extent. Process parameters of the AS stage were: aerobic sludge age of 1.5-2.0 days, 1.5 hours hydraulic retention time, specific sludge load of 1.1 kgCOD kgMLSS(-1) d(-1). The nitrification in the AS tank has significantly reduced below 16 degrees C, however, denitrification efficiency was not as highly dependent upon temperature during the investigated period. The paper investigates the nitrogen balance of the plant in two aspects: (i) the effects of seeding on nitrification in the high load AS reactor and (ii) pre-denitrification potential in the anoxic zone of the AS tank of the pre-settled wastewater.

Biomass↗

PubMed2003

Nitrification and autotrophic denitrification of source-separated urine.

In laboratory experiments, source-separated urine was stabilised with nitrification and denitrified via nitritation and anaerobic ammonium oxidation. The highest total ammonia concentration in the influent was 7,300 gN/m3, the maximum pH 9.2. In a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) with Kaldnes biofilm carriers, we stabilised urine as a 1:1 ammonium nitrate solution. The maximum nitrification rate was 380 gN/m3/d corresponding to 1.7 gN/m2(biofilm)/d. Nitrite ammonium solutions were produced in a continuous flow stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with 4.8 days sludge retention time (SRT) at 30 degrees C and in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with more than 30 days SRT. Nitrate build-up was negligible in both reactors. Nitritation rates were 780 gN/m3/d in the CSTR and 280 gN/m3/d in the SBR, respectively. However, shortening the cycles would increase nitritation in the SBR. High concentrations of nitrous acid, salts, and presumably hydroxylamine suppressed nitrite oxidation in the nitritation reactors. In all three nitrification reactors, maximally 50% of the influent total ammonia was oxidised without pH control. None of the common inhibition or limitation approaches could explain why ammonia oxidation always stopped at pH values around 6. In a batch experiment, we showed that source-separated urine can be denitrified autotrophically by anammox bacteria.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2003

Effects of lignin on nitrification in soil.

The effects of two lignins isolated from black liquor from pulping process on nitrification in soils after addition of urea, (NH4)2SO4 and (NH4)2HPO4 were investigated by incubation at 20 or 30 degrees C for 7 or 14 d. The effects of lignin on nitrous oxide emissions from soil were also determined. Results showed that both lignins were more effective for inhibiting nitrification of NH4(+)-N as (NH4)2SO4 or (NH4)2HPO4 as compared to urea-N. The effectiveness of lignin on nitrification was markedly affected by different soil type and temperature. Nitrous oxide emissions from soil declined when lignin was used. Urea plus 20 and 50 g/kg lignin reduced N2O emissions by about 83% and 96%. respectively, while (NH4)2HPO4 plus 20 and 50 g/kg lignin respectively reduced emissions by 83% and 93%. Because of its low cost and nonhazardous characteristics, lignin has potential value as a fertilizer amendment to improve N fertilizer efficiency.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗

PubMed2003

[Effects of colloidal organic substrate on nitrification in biofilms].

The effects of colloidal and soluble organic substrates on nitrification in biofilms were investigated in biological aerated filters. The results showed that the hydrolysis process of colloidal organic matter took place rapidly, which could not be the limiting step of its oxidation in the biofilm. Some 70% organic matter oxidation was accomplished at the 40 cm at the bottom of the both filters, while the increase of organic matter in the influent resulted in the displacement of nitrification from the bottom to the upper part of filter bed. It was observed that the greater reduction on nitrification was caused by colloidal organic matter than by soluble organics at the same COD concentration.

Biofilms↗

PubMed2004

Model-based evaluation of COD influence on a partial nitrification-Anammox biofilm (CANON) process.

A model evaluating COD influence on a partial nitrification-Anammox biofilm process is integrated on the basis of heterotrophic growth as described in ASM3, combined with a previously published model for the CANON process. This integrated model can simulate the activities of heterotrophs and autotrophs involved in a biofilm, and interactions between COD oxidation, denitrification, nitrification and Anammox can be evaluated. Simulations indicate that COD in the influent has no important influence on the trends in the partial nitrification-Anammox biofilm process. Besides full COD removal, a total nitrogen removal efficiency of about 90% can be expected for stable biofilm systems. Furthermore, Anammox is a major contributor to the total nitrogen removal in stable biofilm systems and conventional denitrification only takes a share of <20% in the total nitrogen removal.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2004

A novel wastewater treatment process: simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal.

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) via the nitrite pathway and anaerobic-anoxic enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) are two processes that can significantly reduce the COD demand for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The combination of these two processes has the potential of achieving simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal with a minimal requirement for COD. A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated in alternating anaerobic-aerobic mode with a low dissolved oxygen concentration (DO, 0.5 mg/L) during the aerobic period, and was demonstrated to accomplish nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal. Under anaerobic conditions, COD was taken up and converted to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), accompanied with phosphorus release. In the subsequent aerobic stage, PHA was oxidized and phosphorus was taken up to less than 0.5 mg/L at the end of the cycle. Ammonia was also oxidised during the aerobic period, but without accumulation of nitrite or nitrate in the system, indicating the occurrence of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. However, off-gas analysis found that the final denitrification product was mainly nitrous oxide (N2O) not N2. Further experimental results demonstrated that nitrogen removal was via nitrite, not nitrate. These experiments also showed that denitrifying glycogen-accumulating organisms rather than denitrifying polyphosphate-accumulating organisms were responsible for the denitrification activity.

Acetates↗

PubMed2005

Cultivation of aerobic granules for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification by seeding different inoculated sludge.

Cultivation of aerobic granules for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in two sequencing batch airlift bioreactors was studied. Conventional activated floc and anaerobic granules served as main two inoculated sludge in the systems. Morphological variations of sludge in the reactors were observed. It was found that the cultivation of aerobic granules was closely associated with the kind of inoculated sludge. Round and regular aerobic granules were prevailed in both reactors, and the physical characteristics of the aerobic granules in terms of settling ability, specific gravity, and ratio of water containing were distinct when the inoculate sludge was different. Aerobic granules formed by seeding activated floc are more excellent in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification than that by aerobic granules formed from anaerobic granules. It was concluded that inoculated sludge plays a crucial role in the cultivation of aerobic granules for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗

PubMed2005

Dinitrogen oxide detection for nitrification failure early warning systems.

Experiments were conducted in order to establish whether N2O could be used to predict nitrification failure (through non-invasive means). Previous research had shown a strong correlation between N2O gas and NH3 in the effluent, giving rise to the possibility N2O can be used as an indicator for failure in the nitrification process. Two pilot-scale activated sludge plants were used, each with two lanes. The smaller consisted of a 601 aeration tank and a 201 clarifier; the larger pilot plant had an aeration tank of 3151 and a clarifier of 1001. The small pilot plant experiments showed that N2O gas was given off almost immediately from O2 deprivation/NH3 shock loads, but did not follow the expected trend of the time lag of NH3 in the effluent. This led to further investigation in the hydrodynamics and mixing characteristics of aeration basins, where a second larger pilot plant was used. Further experiments were conducted of high NH3 loadings and O2 deprivation, showed that work of was reproducible. However, it was also shown that with partial nitrification failure, a different N2O response of a continual rise was observed.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2006

[Effect of osmotic pressure on nitrification].

The effect of osmotic pressure on nitrification was investigated in the internal-loop air-lift nitrifying reactor. When influent ammonia concentration is kept at 420mg x L(-1) and influent osmotic pressure is increased from 4.3 to 18.8 x 10(5) Pa, the ammonia conversion of the nitrifying bioreactor is maintained between 93% and 100%. After influent osmotic pressure is further increased to 19.2 x 10(5)Pa, the ammonia conversion goes down to 69.2%. The influence of osmotic pressure on nitrification takes place without any alarm and the critical osmotic pressure is between 18.8 x 10(5) and 19.2 x 10(5) Pa. During osmotic stress, the nitrifying bacterial populations in the activated sludge become simplified, the cell size becomes smaller, the inner membrane becomes less and some unknown inclusion particles are formed. The cell structure is restored as soon as the osmotic pressure is removed. Addition of potassium is able to relieve the effect of osmotic pressure on nitrification. The nitrifying activity of the activated sludge is stimulated by the osmotic stress, and the specific ammonia conversion is increased from 0.083 kg x kg(-1) x d(-1) to 0.509 kg x kg(-1) x d(-1) and 2.569 kg x kg(-1) x d(-1), respectively.

Bioreactors↗

PubMed1981

Nitrification of industrial waste-waters with high nitrogen concentration in aerated packed-bed reactors.

The use of a two-step aerated packed-bed reactor yielded 99% nitrification of inorganic nitrogenous wastes carrying 800 to 1,300 mg N/l (COD of the wastes 55 mg O2/1). The beds were aerated with air enriched in CO2 pH values between the units were routinely adjusted. The efficiency of nitrification was 33 mg N/l/h. A change of the composition of the wastes to nitrogenous-organic (COD 1,200 mg O2/l) caused a drop in the efficiency of nitrification to 24 mg N/l/h and the subsequent introduction of a three-step system. Concomitant COD reduction was 85% with 73% reduction occurring in the first bed. The number of auto- and heterotropic bacteria in the nitrogenous-organic wastes and effluents from the separate beds were determined.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1962

Nitrification by Aspergillus flavus.

Marshall, K. C. (Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.) and M. Alexander. Nitrification by Aspergillus flavus. J. Bacteriol. 83:572-578. 1962.-Aspergillus flavus has been shown to produce bound hydroxylamine, nitrite, and nitrate when grown in peptone, amino acid, or buffered ammonium media. Free hydroxylamine was not detected in these cultures, but it was found in an unbuffered ammonium medium in which neither nitrite nor nitrate was formed. Evidence was obtained for the presence of beta-nitropropionic acid in the filtrate of an actively nitrifying culture. Alumina treatment of an ammonium medium prevented the formation by growing cultures of nitrite and nitrate but not bound hydroxylamine. The effect of alumina treatment was reversed by the addition of 10(-3)m CeCl(3) to the medium. Extracts of the fungus contained peroxidase and an enzyme capable of catalyzing the production of nitrite from beta-nitropropionic acid. The nitrite-forming enzyme is apparently specific for beta-nitropropionate; no activity was found with nitromethane, nitroethane, and nitropropane as substrates. Nitrate was not reduced to nitrite nor was nitrite oxidized to nitrate by the hyphal extracts. The significance of these observations in nitrification by A. flavus is discussed.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1980

Heterotrophic nitrification by intestinal microorganisms.

From studies of nitrate balance in man and analyses of fecal and ileostomy samples, the possibility that nitrite and nitrate are formed de novo in the intestine, possibly by heterotrophic nitrification has emerged. This proposition significantly alters our previous conceptions of man's exposure to nitrite and suggests that nitrite may play a role in the cause of intestinal cancer. Heterotrophic nitrification has been demonstrated in various microorganisms. Our work has shown that intestinal heterotrophic microbial isolates from man are able to oxidize nitrogenous compounds to nitrite. These isolates include both procaryotes and eucaryotes.

Actinomyces↗

PubMed2006

Development and calibration of a nitrification PDE model based on experimental data issued from biofilter treating drinking water.

To remove ammonia for production of drinking water, nitrification can be performed in a bio-filter. At least 1 month is necessary to capture from the groundwater and then grow a sufficient amount of nitrifying bacteria to reach the desired removal efficiency. Improving start-up of bio-filters at low substrate concentration is therefore a major challenge. In this connection, it is important to develop appropriate models for designing, monitoring or analysing biofilm systems during start-up or following disinfection events. This study discusses the development and calibration of a nitrification PDE model which reflects the compromise between the complexity associated with the description of the full physical and biochemical mechanisms and the search for a simplified model with identifiable parameters. This model takes only the relevant phenomena (considering the full operating range) into account. The validity of the calibrated model has been evaluated through experiments under very different operational conditions, at the laboratory and under real industrial conditions, involving the full upstream chain of water treatment (iron oxidation and sand filter).

Ammonia↗

PubMed2006

Modeling the partial nitrification in sequencing batch reactor for biomass adapted to high ammonia concentrations.

Partial nitrification has proven to be an economic way for treatment of industrial N-rich effluent, reducing oxygen and external COD requirements during nitrification/denitrification process. One of the key issues of this system is the intermediate nitrite accumulation stability. This work presents a control strategy and a modeling tool for maintaining nitrite build-up. Partial nitrification process has been carried out in a sequencing batch reactor at 30 degrees C, maintaining strong changing ammonia concentration in the reactor (sequencing feed). Stable nitrite accumulation has been obtained with the help of an on-line oxygen uptake rate (OUR)-based control system, with removal rate of 2 kg NH4 (+)-N x m(-3)/day and 90%-95% of conversion of ammonium into nitrite. A mathematical model, identified through the occurring biological reactions, is proposed to optimize the process (preventing nitrate production). Most of the kinetic parameters have been estimated from specific respirometric tests on biomass and validated on pilot-scale experiments of one-cycle duration. Comparison of dynamic data at different pH confirms that NH3 and NO2- should be considered as the true substrate of nitritation and nitratation, respectively. The proposed model represents major features: the inhibition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria by its substrate (NH3) and product (HNO2), the inhibition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria by free ammonia (NH3), the INFluence of pH. It appears that the model correctly describes the short-term dynamics of nitrogenous compounds in SBR, when both ammonia oxidizers and nitrite oxidizers are present and active in the reactor. The model proposed represents a useful tool for process design and optimization.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2004

Is the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide an indicator for its origin from nitrification or denitrification? A theoretical approach from referred data and microbiological and enzyme kinetic aspects.

Literature data on the isotopic composition of nitrous oxide indicate a general predominance of the alpha-15N-isotopomer and a parallel 18O-enrichment in N2O from nitrification and denitrification, respectively. As the kinetic isotope effects on any individual reactions of the two processes lead to depletions of the heavy isotopes of nitrogen and oxygen in the products, the observed enrichments could mainly be caused by enzymatic reduction of NO, provided it occurs via a symmetric intermediate like hyponitrite; infrared data are in favour of large differences between the binding constants of the isotopomers and isotopologues of this compound. As a matter of fact one of the mechanisms discussed for the nitric oxide reductase from certain microorganisms implies the parallel binding of two NO molecules and the formation of a symmetrical intermediate, while that of the enzyme from other microorganisms reduces NO in a sequential mechanism. In addition, isotope effects on the reduction of N2O to N2 must contribute to the observed isotope characteristics of N2O, especially in context with denitrification. Therefore, the known enzymatic reaction pathways suggest that the alpha-15N-isotopomer preference and the 18O-signature of the produced N2O is not essentially characteristic for its origin from nitrification or denitrification, respectively, but rather from the involved population of microorganisms and the type of their nitric oxide reductases. This has to be confirmed experimentally.

Bacteria↗