Ammonium Removal and Potential Microbial Interactions under Oxygen-Limited Conditions
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 4
Abstract
Some microorganisms with the nitrification function can carry out nitrogen conversion under oxygen-limited conditions. In this study, a continuous-flow biofilm reactor was operated to investigate the removal of ammonium nitrogen () under microaerobic or anoxic conditions. After more than 100 days of long-term operation, the removal rate and removal percentage reached 2.92 and 72.3%, respectively. In the batch experiments, removal was achieved regardless of the presence or absence of nitrite. The main microorganisms relating to nitrogen metabolism in the system were Nitrospira, Nitrosomonas, Candidatus Kuenenia, and denitrifying bacteria. The metagenomics analysis indicated that these functional microorganisms constituted the main nitrogen metabolic network in the system, and microorganisms such as Rhodanobacter, Nitrosomonas, Defluvii, and Cyanobacteria had the possible capacity for oxygen production. Without organic carbon in the synthetic wastewater, heterotrophs including denitrifying bacteria might utilize organic carbon such as extracellular polymeric substances produced by autotrophs. The removal of under oxygen-limited conditions might be achieved through interactions among nitrifying bacteria, anammox bacteria, and heterotrophs, which deserves further investigation.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
Dr. Guangxue Wu appreciates the support from the Galway University Foundation.
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Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 4 • April 2022
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© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jul 27, 2021
Accepted: Oct 22, 2021
Published online: Feb 9, 2022
Published in print: Apr 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jul 9, 2022
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