Analysis and Optimization of Simultaneous Nitrification, Denitrification, and Phosphorus Removal in Sequencing Batch Reactors for Sewage Treatment at High-Altitude Areas
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 148, Issue 11
Abstract
The biological treatment process in high-altitude areas faces the problems of low biological activities, high aeration energy consumption, and low treatment efficiency due to the low atmosphere pressure and consequently low oxygen content. As a new type of simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal process, simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) has the advantages of high efficiency, low operation cost, and low aeration energy. Compared with the traditional sewage biological treatment process, SNDPR needs less dissolved oxygen (DO) and can save carbon source, so it may be suitable for solving the problems in high-altitude areas caused by low pressure and low oxygen. In this study, SNDPR system reactors were operated under different atmosphere pressures, one at 100 kPa and three at 72 kPa, with different anaerobic/aeration time. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total phosphate (TP) removal performance remained the same efficiency, while the nitrogen-removal rate increased slightly at 72 kPa. The low atmosphere pressure enhanced the phosphorus-accumulating organisms but inhibited ammonia-oxidizing bacteria based on the cycle study results. Studies on the activities of enzymes related to nitrogen removal showed that the processes of and were enhanced, while the processes of and were restrained as the atmosphere pressure declined. Under the condition of 72 kPa, the SNDPR systems were optimized by prolonging the anaerobic time and reducing the aeration time. The residual ammonium concentration increased predictably () as the aeration time decreased, while the nitrogen-removal efficiency improved. The aeration energy consumption at 72 kPa by a shorter aeration time was 89% of that at 100 kPa. The further study on the microbial community analysis showed that the abundance of Dechloromonas [identified as denitrifying phosphorus-accumulating organisms (DPAOs)] increased from 0.126% at 100 kPa to 5.499% at 72 kPa, which explained the nitrogen removal and phosphate uptake under the low atmosphere pressure.
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Data Availability Statement
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.
Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the Key Research and Development Program of Xizang (XZ202001ZY0052G) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (52160004).
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Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 148 • Issue 11 • November 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Mar 28, 2022
Accepted: May 26, 2022
Published online: Aug 27, 2022
Published in print: Nov 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jan 27, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Aeration
- Biological processes
- Chemical compounds
- Chemical elements
- Chemical processes
- Chemicals
- Chemistry
- Denitrification
- Energy consumption
- Energy engineering
- Entrainment
- Environmental engineering
- Hydraulic engineering
- Municipal wastes
- Nitrogen
- Nutrient pollution
- Phosphorus
- Pollutants
- Pollution
- Sewage
- Waste management
- Wastes
- Water and water resources
- Water pollution
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