Oxygen-limited autotrophic nitrification-denitrification (OLAND) in a rotating biological contactor treating high-salinity wastewater.
A lab-scale rotating biological contactor (RBC) reactor operated under OLAND conditions was slowly adapted during 178 days to increasing salt concentrations going up to 30 g NaCl L(-1). The reactor performed well during this experimental period. However, the removal capacity of the reactor was lower under high-salinity conditions. A removal efficiency of 84% was achieved at a N loading rate of 725 mg N L(-1) d(-1) and a salt concentration of 30 g L(-1). The effect of salt shock loading and adaptation to 30 g NaCl L(-1) on the specific nitritation and anammox activity of the biomass was investigated in short-term batch experiments. A salt shock loading of 30 g L(-1) caused a 43% decrease in specific nitritation activity and 96% loss of specific anammox activity compared to reference biomass (not exposed to salt). The salt-adapted biomass (3-4 weeks) showed a specific nitritation activity that was 23% lower, and a specific anammox activity that was 58% lower, compared to the reference biomass. Overall, these results demonstrate that the OLAND process can have the potential to treat ammonium-rich brines after adaptation to high salinity.
Windey
Kim
K
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
De Bo
Inge
I
Verstraete
Willy
W
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
D012965:Sodium Chloride; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen