title: Operation of suspended-growth shortcut biological nitrogen removal (SSBNR) based on the minimum/maximum substrate concentration.
abstract: This study exploited the concept of the minimum/maximum substrate concentrations (MSC values) for identifying proper start-up conditions and achieving stable and low effluent total ammonium nitrogen (TAN) concentrations in suspended-growth short-cut biological nitrogen removal (SSBNR). Calculations based on the MSC concept indicated that S(Dmax), the TAN concentration above which ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are washed out, was around 450mgTAN/L at the given operating conditions of 2mg/L of dissolved oxygen and pH 8, while nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) should be washed out at around 40mgTAN/L. Therefore, the experimental research was focused on the optimal TAN-concentration range for SSBNR, between 50 and 100mg/L. Experimental results showed that a nitrification reactor with initial TAN concentration above 450mg/L did not give a successful start-up. However, two days of starvation, which decreased the TAN concentration in the reactor to 95mg/L, stabilized the reaction quickly, and stable SSBNR was sustained thereafter with 80mgTAN/L and 98% nitrite accumulation in the reactor. During stable SSBNR, the removal ratio of chemical oxygen demand per nitrite nitrogen (DeltaCOD/DeltaNO(2)-N) for denitrification was 1.94gCOD/gN, which is around 55% of that required for nitrate denitrification. Based on a clone library, Nitrosomonas occupied 14% of the total cells, while the sum of Nitrobacter and Nitrospira was less than the detection cut-off of 2%, confirming the NOB were washed out during SSBNR. A spiking test that doubled the influent ammonium loading caused the TAN concentration in the reactor to reach washout for AOB, which lasted until the loading was reduced. Thus, a loading increase should be controlled carefully such that the system does not exceed the washout range for AOB.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, 1001 South McAllister Avenue, Tempe, AZ 85287-5701, USA. seongjun.park@asu.edu
authors.forename: Seongjun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Wookeun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Bruce E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Rittmann
authors.forename: Seungjin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jinwook
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010802:Phylogeny; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D009584:Nitrogen