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PubMed2005

15N tracing model SimKIM to analyse the NO and N2O production during autotrophic, heterotrophic nitrification, and denitrification in soils.

An adjusted model was developed to analyse measured data of nitrous oxide and nitric oxide fluxes from an arable black earth soil. The existing models for kinetic isotope studies ignore N-trace gas fluxes. The novel model includes both N-gas production by heterotrophic and autotrophic nitrification and N-gas production and consumption by denitrification. Nitrous oxide and nitric oxide production through nitrification was simulated following the 'hole-in-the-pipe' model (4: M.K. Firestone et al. Microbiological basis of NO and N2O production and consumption in soil), N-gas production by denitrification was described with first-order kinetics. The model has been evaluated in a triplicate laboratory experiment, which involved three treatments (glycine, , or -pool labeled) to distinguish the different sources of N2O and NO. Heterotrophic nitrification was negligible, whereas autotrophic nitrification and denitrification occur simultaneously in soils. Nitrification was the main source of NO and N2O in the black earth soil by field capacity (water content: 0.22 g H2O g(-1) soil). The NO release was higher than the N2O release, the N2O/NO ratio was 0.05 in this soil.

Ecosystem↗

PubMed2004

A two-stage SBR process for removal of organic substrate and nitrogen via nitrite-type nitrification-denitrification.

A two-stage SBR process (TSSBR) was applied for the treatment of wastewater with high strength COD and nitrogen. Most of organic substrate was removed in the first stage SBR reactor (SBR1) under the aerobic condition. Subsequently the second stage SBR reactor (SBR2) firstly was operated under the aerobic condition for simultaneous nitrite-type nitrification and removal of a small amount of residual organic substrate. Nitrification was controlled to the nitrite-type nitrification. Then denitrification in which the wastewater was used as external carbon sources occurred in SBR2 under the anoxic condition. The experimental results indicated that two kinds of biomass with the different function were cultured in a TSSBR system, which was beneficial to increase the proportion of Nitrosomonas in the microorganism of SBR2. It avoided the inhibition of the high organic loading to nitrification and C/N was not the limiting factor affecting the nitrogen removal efficiency. The rate of COD degradation and nitrification was improved, 8 kg COD/kg MLSS/d and 0.25 kg NH4+-N/kg MLSS/d, respectively. The final effluent COD concentration further reduced because the organic substrate that was left in SBR1 effluent was removed in SBR2. Consequently, when compared to a single SBR process, a two-stage SBR (TSSBR) not only improved the treatment efficiency, but also saved the operational cost.

Bioreactors↗

PubMed2005

Comparative analysis of nitrifying bacteria in full-scale oxidation ditch and aerated nitrification biofilter by using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE).

In this study, nitrification performances and composition of nitrifying populations in a full-scale oxidation ditch and a high-rate submerged media nitrification biofilter were comparatively analyzed. In addition to different reactor configurations, effects of differing operational conditions on the nitrification efficiency and bacterial diversity were also explored and evaluated thoroughly. In microbial analysis of sludge samples fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) techniques were used complementary to each other. The extended aeration oxidation ditch subjected to the study is operated as a nitrogen and phosphorus removal system consisting of anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic zones. The high-rate submerged media aerated filter is operated as nitrification step following the conventional activated sludge unit and the nitrified wastewater is discharged to the sea without complete nitrogen removal. In situ hybridization results have indicated that Nitrosomonas-like ammonia oxidizing and Nitrospira-related nitrite oxidizing bacteria were intensively present in vigorous flocs in nitrification biofilter while carbonaceous bacteria belong to beta subclass of Proteobacteria were considerably dominant in oxidation ditch. Low quantities of nitrifiers in oxidation ditch were also confirmed by the dissimilarity in intensive bands between two systems obtained with DGGE analysis.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed2001

The influence of mineral fertilizer combined with a nitrification inhibitor on microbial populations and activities in calcareous Uzbekistanian soil under cotton cultivation.

Application of fertilizers combined with nitrification inhibitors affects soil microbial biomass and activity. The objective of this research was to determine the effects of fertilizer application combined with the nitrification inhibitor potassium oxalate (PO) on soil microbial population and activities in nitrogen-poor soil under cotton cultivation in Uzbekistan. Fertilizer treatments were N as urea, P as ammophos, and K as potassium chloride. The nitrification inhibitor PO was added to urea and ammophos at the rate of 2%. Three treatments--N200 P140 K60 (T1), N200 PO P140 K60 (T2), and N200 P140 PO K60 (T3) mg kg(-1) soil--were applied for this study. The control (C) was without fertilizer and PO. The populations of oligotrophic bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, mineral assimilating bacteria, oligonitrophilic bacteria, and bacteria group Azotobacter were determined by the most probable number method. The treatments T2 and T3 increased the number of oligonitrophilic bacteria and utilization mineral forms of nitrogen on the background of reducing number of ammonifying bacteria. T2 and T3 also decreased the number of nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria, and net nitrification. In conclusion, our experiments showed that PO combined with mineral fertilizer is one of the most promising compounds for inhibiting nitrification rate, which was reflected in the increased availability and efficiency of fertilizer nitrogen to the cotton plants. PO combined with mineral fertilizer has no negative effects on nitrogen-fixing bacteria Azotobacter and oligo-nitrophilic bacteria.

Agriculture↗

PubMed1982

Apparent and measured rates of nitrification in the hypolimnion of a mesotrophic lake.

Three distinct phases were observed in the change of dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations in the hypolimnion of Grasmere. The second phase of decreasing ammonia and increasing nitrate concentrations was typical of the nitrification process. Observations on nitrate concentration gradients between surface sediments and the water column and experiments using the nitrification inhibitor N-Serve indicated the in situ activity of chemolithotrophic nitrifying organisms. Nitrification rates were estimated throughout the period of stratification by using the N-Serve and [C]bicarbonate uptake method. Comparison of the field nitrate concentrations with the predicted nitrate concentrations (from estimates of the nitrification rate) indicated that the method underestimated the true rate of nitrification. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1994

Estimation of nitrification and denitrification from microprofiles of oxygen and nitrate in model sediment systems.

The coupling between nitrification and denitrification and the regulation of these processes by oxygen were studied in freshwater sediment microcosms with O(2) and NO(3) microsensors. Depth profiles of nitrification (indicated as NO(3) production), denitrification (indicated as NO(3) consumption), and O(2) consumption activities within the sediment were calculated from the measured concentration profiles. From the concentration profiles, it was furthermore possible to distinguish between the rate of denitrification based on the diffusional supply of NO(3) from the overlying water and the rate based on NO(3) supplied by benthic nitrification (D(w) and D(n), respectively). An increase in O(2) concentration caused a deeper O(2) penetration while a decrease in D(w) and an increase in D(n) were observed. The relative importance for total denitrification of NO(3) produced by nitrification thus increased compared with NO(3) supplied from the water phase. The decrease in D(w) at high oxygen was due to an increase in diffusion path for NO(3) from the overlying water to the denitrifying layers in the anoxic sediment. At high O(2) concentrations, nitrifying activity was restricted to the lower part of the oxic zone where there was a continuous diffusional supply of NH(4) from deeper mineralization processes, and the long diffusion path from the nitrification zone to the overlying water compared with the path to the denitrifying layers led to a stimulation in D(n).

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Effect of pesticides on nitrification in aquatic sediment.

The aim of this work was to study the effect of the herbicides glyphosate, nonanoic acid, and dichlorprop-P and the insecticides potassium oil, malation and Pyretrin and their combinations on nitrification. Nitrification was measured in slurries from the eutrophic and shallow Brabrand Lake (Aarhus, Denmark), by inhibiting oxidation of nitrite to nitrate with chloride. All herbicides and insecticides influenced nitrification. The No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) was assessed to be 30 microg.L-1 for glyphosate and nonanoic acid and 1 microg.L-1 for dichlorprop-P. The NOEC for malation and Pyretrin on nitrification was assessed to be 3 microg.L-1. No accumulation effect on nitrification of the insecticides malation and Pyretrin, or of the studied herbicides, was observed, indicating that their environmental impact is low at reduced concentrations, even in combination. The procedure used in this study can provide a useful tool for obtaining concentration limits for pesticides or other chemicals in a short period of time.

Fresh Water↗

PubMed2006

Insitu bioaugmentation of nitrification in the regeneration zone: practical application and experiences at full-scale plants.

Nitrification is the rate-limiting process in the design of activated sludge process. It is especially unstable during the winter season (when the temperature of activated sludge mixed liquor drops below 13 degrees C). It is therefore difficult to meet the ammonia effluent standards in winter. The common way to compensate for low nitrification rates at low temperatures is to increase sludge retention time (SRT). However, the increase of SRT is accompanied by negative factors such as elevated sludge concentration, higher sludge loading of secondary clarifiers, formation of unsettleable microflocs, etc. The low performance of nitrification at low temperatures can also be compensated for by enhancing the nitrification population in activated sludge. This paper describes such a method called bioaugmentation of nitrification in situ. This procedure takes place in a so-called regeneration tank, which is situated in the return activated sludge stream. The results of the operation of two wastewater treatment plants with regeneration zones are described in this paper, together with some economic evaluation of the bioaugmentation method.

Czech Republic↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of denitrification and nitrification in a step-feed alternating anoxic-oxic sequencing batch reactor.

This study was conducted to characterize the denitrification and nitrification in a bench-scale sequencing batch reactor operating with a three-stage, alternating anoxic-oxic sequence and step feed (SAOSBR) for treating synthetic wastewater. The results of long-term operation and dynamic studies showed that the SAOSBR increased the availability of organic matter in wastewater for exogenous denitrification in anoxic periods, and subsequently allowed nitrification to occur under a lower organic loading in oxic periods. Comparatively high kinetic rates of 1.2 to 6.6 mg nitrate/g mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) x h for denitrification and 1.0 to 2.8 mg nitrogen/g MLSS x h for nitrification were found in dynamic studies. With sufficient influent organics and alkalinity, complete denitrification and full nitrification could be achieved sequentially in the alternating anoxic and oxic periods, resulting in an average total nitrogen removal efficiency up to approximately 90%. Alkalinity recovery because of exogenous denitrification was experienced, and a minimum influent alkalinity to total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) ratio of 2.4 was required to reach complete TKN removal. The pH value would be a better parameter other than oxidation-reduction potential or dissolved oxgyen to determine the completeness of nitrification and denitrification in the SAOSBR.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed2001

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in biofilters with real time aeration control.

The aim of this article is to present a new biological aerated filter (BAF) for nitrogen removal based on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Contrary to the systems which integrate both an aerated and a non-aerated zone to allow complete nitrogen removal in one compact or two different units (pre-denitrification and nitrification), this upflow BAF system is based on the principle of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification since the filter is completely aerated. The denitrification process is possible due to the diffusion effect which dominates biofilm processes. The real time aeration control allows us to maintain a low dissolved oxygen value (0.5 to 3 mg O2/l). In this case, the biofilm will not be fully (or less) penetrated with oxygen and denitrification will be carried out in a large part of the biofilm. Therefore, nitrification and denitrification is running simultaneously in different depths of the biofilm. By using 50% less air this BAF gave the same results (less than 20 mg TN/l) on pilot plant as a classical nitrification and denitrification BAF (Toettrup et al., 1994). Less recirculation was necessary to achieve the same denitrification.

Biofilms↗

PubMed2002

Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in a single reactor using bio-electrochemical process.

Feasibility of a bio-electrochemical process for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in a single reactor was experimentally investigated. The reactor consisted of anodic and cathodic electrodes, on which nitrifying and denitrifying biofilms, respectively, were fixed. Effects of the applied electric current and DO concentration in the bulk solution were examined. The TN removal could be achieved through the occurrence of nitrification and denitrification in anodic and cathodic biofilms, respectively. Both nitrification and denitrification rates increased with an increase in the applied electric current. Even at low DO concentration in the bulk solution, nitrification proceeded at a high rate by utilizing oxygen generated on the anode. Denitrification rate remained relatively high at high DO concentration due to supplying hydrogen gas to the inner side of the cathodic biofilm. The higher TN removal rate tended to be obtained at lower DO concentration and higher current density. From these results, it was concluded that the bio-electrochemical process was applicable to simultaneous nitrification and denitrification due to stable formation of aerobic and anoxic regions in the single reactor.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗

PubMed2003

[Oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification and denitrification--a novel technology for biological nitrogen removal].

Oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification and denitrification (OLAND) is a biological nitrogen removal process coupled with partial nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation. In our study, the nitrification was blocked at nitrite stage by controlling the dissolved oxygen concentration at 0.1-0.3 mg.L-1, and then, the denitrification proceeded, with the residual ammonium at the partial nitrification stage as electron donor. As a completely autotrophic nitrification-denitrification process, the OLAND was of many advantages (e.g., low energy consumption, high nitrogen removal rate and small footprint of system), and suitable in particular for treating low COD/NH4(+)-N ratio wastewater. It has become one of the most prosperous and practicable biological nitrogen removal technologies. The recent research of OLAND was reviewed, and its microbial mechanism as well as its applicable prospect was remarked in this paper.

Ammonia↗

PubMed2004

N2:O emissions from a cultivated Andisol after application of nitrogen fertilizers with or without nitrification inhibitor under soil moisture regime.

The aim of this work was to examine the emission of N2O from soils following addition of nitrogen fertilizer with a nitrification inhibitor (+inh) or without the nitrification inhibitor(-inh) at different soil water regime. Higher soil moisture contents increased the total N2O emissions in all treatments with total emissions being 7 times larger for the CK and > 20 times larger for the fertilizer treatments at 85% WFPS (soil water filled pore space) than at 40% WFPS. The rates of N2O emissions at 40% WFPS under all treatments were small. The maximum emission rate at 55% WFPS without the nitrification inhibitor (-inh) occurred later (day 11) than those of 70% WFPS (-inh) samples (day 8). The inhibition period was 4-22 d for 55% WFPS and 1-15 d for 70% WFPS comparing the rates of N2O emissions treated (+inh) with (-inh). The maximum emission rates at 85% WFPS were higher than those at the other levels of soil water content for all treatments. The samples (+inh) released less N2O than (-inh) samples at the early stage. Nevertheless, N2O emissions from (+inh) samples lasted longer than in the (-inh) treatment. Changes in mineral N at 55%, 70% and 85% WFPS followed the same pattern. NH4(+) -N concentrations decreased while NO3(-) -N concentrations increased from the beginning of incubation. NH4(+) -N concentrations from 40% WFPS treatment declined more slowly than those of the other three levels of soil water content. Nitrification was faster in the (-inh) samples with 100% NH4(+) -N nitrified after 22 d (50% WFPS) and 15 d (70% and 85% WFPS). N2O emissions increased with soil water content. Adding N-fertilizer increased emissions of N2O. The application of the nitrification inhibitor significantly reduced total N2O emissions from 30.5% (at 85% WFPS) to 43.6% (at 55% WFPS).

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed2005

The effect of temperature and sludge age on COD removal and nitrification in a moving bed sequencing batch biofilm reactor.

This study investigates the effect of temperature and the sludge age on the performance of a moving bed sequencing batch biofilm reactor (MBSBBR) for COD removal and nitrification. The experiments are conducted in a lab-scale MBSBBR operated at three different temperatures (20, 15 and 10 degrees C) with a synthetic feed simulating domestic sewage characteristics. Evaluation of the results revealed that removal of organic matter at high rates and with efficiencies over 90% was secured at all operation conditions applied. The nitrification rate was significantly influenced by changes in temperature but complete nitrification occurred at each temperature. The nitrification rates observed at 20 and 15 degrees C were very close (0.241 mg NO(x)-N/m2d, 0.252 mg NO(x)-N/m2 d, respectively), but at 10 degrees C, it decreased to 0.178 mg NO(x)-N/m2d. On the other hand, the biomass concentration and sludge age increased while the VSS/TSS ratios that can be accepted as an indicator of active biomass fraction decreased with time. It is considered that, increasing biofilm thickness and diffusion limitation affected the treatment efficiency, especially nitrification rate, negatively.

Biofilms↗

PubMed2006

[Study progress on the mechanism of heterotrophic nitrification].

Nitrification plays an important role in the nitrogen cycle. Autotrophic bacteria have traditionally been regarded as the nitrifying agents. However, research in last few decades has established that a lot of heterotrophic microorganisms also make contribution to nitrification. Heterotrophic nitrification has become an issue for scientific research and environment management. In this overview, both the location of heterotrophic microorganisms and the methods of detection and isolation which take the polyphyletic nature of heterotrophic bacteria into account are briefly presented. The study on the mechanism which focuses on the enzymes, functional genes, electron transfer and metabolism pathway of heterotrophic nitrification are mainly reviewed. In the end, the problems lying in the research of the mechanism of the heterotrophic nitrification are proposed and future research directions are suggested.

Bacteria↗

PubMed2003

Experimental investigation of the external nitrification biological nutrient removal activated sludge (ENBNRAS) system.

A systematic lab-scale experimental investigation is reported for the external nitrification (EN) biological nutrient removal (BNR) activated sludge (ENBNRAS) system, which is a combined fixed and suspended medium system. The ENBNRAS system was proposed to intensify the treatment capacity of BNR-activated sludge (BNRAS) systems by addressing two difficulties often encountered in practice: (a) the long sludge age for nitrification requirement; and (b) sludge bulking. In the ENBNRAS system, nitrification is transferred from the aerobic reactor in the suspended medium activated sludge system to a fixed medium nitrification system. Thus, the sludge age of the suspended medium activated sludge system can be reduced from 20 to 25 days to 8 to 10 days, resulting in a decrease in reactor volume per ML wastewater treated of about 30%. Furthermore, the aerobic mass fraction can also be reduced from 50% to 60% to <30% and concommitantly the anoxic mass fraction can be increased from 25% to 35% to >55% (if the anaerobic mass fraction is 15%), and thus complete denitrification in the anoxic reactors becomes possible. Research indicates that both the short sludge age and complete denitrification could ameliorate anoxic aerobic (AA) or low food/microorganism (F/M) ratio filamentous bulking, and hence reduce the surface area of secondary settling tanks or increase the treatment capacity of existing systems. The lab-scale experimental investigations indicate that the ENBNRAS system can obtain: (i) very good chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, even with an aerobic mass fraction as low as 20%; (ii) high nitrogen removal, even for a wastewater with a high total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN)/COD ratio, up to 0.14; (iii) adequate settling sludge (diluted sludge volume index [DSVI] <100 mL/g); and (iv) a significant reduction in oxygen demand.

Bacteria↗

PubMed1990

Combined heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification in Thiosphaera pantotropha and other bacteria.

Reports of the simultaneous use of oxygen and denitrification by different species of bacteria have become more common over the past few years. Research with some strains (e.g. Thiosphaera pantotropha) has indicated that there might be a link between this 'aerobic denitrification' and a form of nitrification which requires rather than generates energy and is therefore known as heterotrophic nitrification. This paper reviews recent research into heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification, and presents a preliminary model which, if verified, will provide at least a partial explanation for the simultaneous occurrence of nitrification and denitrification in some bacteria.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed1980

Effect of montmorillonite and kaolinite on nitrification in soil.

A soil not naturally containing montmorillonite (M) was amended with approximately 5, 10 or 20% M or kaolinite (K), maintained in a greenhouse under periodic cultivating and alternate wetting and drying of more than two years, and then used in perfusion studies. The incorporation of M enhanced the rate of both heterotrophic degradation of glycine and subsequent autotrophic nitrification in direct relation to the amounts of M added. In soil amended with K, neither degradation nor nitrification was stimulated. The addition of M shortened the lag phase before nitrification was initiated, increased the pH of both the soil and the perfusates, and increased the rate, but not the extent, of oxidation of ammonium to nitrite and nitrate. The addition of CaCO2 or MgCO3, but not of CaSO4, also enhanced the rate of nitrification. The effects observed may have resulted from the influence of M on the pH, buffering capacity, and other soil conditions necessary for maximum activity of nitrifying microorganisms.

Bentonite↗