title: Synergic Adsorption-Biodegradation by an Advanced Carrier for Enhanced Removal of High-Strength Nitrogen and Refractory Organics.
abstract: Coking wastewater contains not only high-strength nitrogen but also toxic biorefractory organics. This study presents simultaneous removal of high-strength quinoline, carbon, and ammonium in coking wastewater by immobilized bacterial communities composed of a heterotrophic strain Pseudomonas sp. QG6 (hereafter referred as QG6), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria (anammox). The bacterial immobilization was implemented with the help of a self-designed porous cubic carrier that created structured microenvironments including an inner layer adapted for anaerobic bacteria, a middle layer suitable for coaggregation of certain aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, and an outer layer for heterotrophic bacteria. By coating functional polyurethane foam (FPUF) with iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), the biocarrier (IONPs-FPUF) could provide a good outer-layer barrier for absorption and selective treatment of aromatic compounds by QG6, offer a conducive environment for anammox in the inner layer, and provide a mutualistic environment for AOB in the middle layer. Consequently, simultaneous nitrification and denitrification were reached with the significant removal of up to 322 mg L-1(98%) NH4, 311 mg L-1(99%) NO2, and 633 mg L-1(97%) total nitrogen (8 mg L-1averaged NO3concentration was recorded in the effluent), accompanied by an efficient removal of chemical oxygen demand by 3286 mg L-1(98%) and 350 mg L-1(100%) quinoline. This study provides an alternative way to promote synergic adsorption and biodegradation with the help of a modified biocarrier that has great potential for treatment of wastewater containing high-strength carbon, toxic organic pollutants, and nitrogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Sitong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of the Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovative Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University , Tianjin 300072, China.
authors.forename: Nasir
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8340-1058
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, South University of Sciences and Technology , Shenzhen 518055, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: Resources and Environmental Research Academy, North China Electric Power University , Beijing 102206, China.
authors.forename: Maosheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Peking University , Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Jinren
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9114-8347
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D058465:Nitrification; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D062065:Wastewater
chemical_list: D064751:Ammonium Compounds; D009584:Nitrogen; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: adsorption−biodegradation; anammox−AOB; coking wastewater; iron oxide; quinoline