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Achieving single-stage autotrophic nitrogen removal by composite membrane aerated biofilm with gel under two microbial entrapping patterns: experimental and modeling aspects

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Abstract

Single-stage autotrophic nitrogen removal offers advantages of low energy and carbon consumptions. Based on previous work about a novel composite membrane aerated biofilm (CMAB), two microbial entrapping patterns (mixed and stratified patterns) were evaluated for their applicability to artificially regulate the spatial distribution of distinct microbial aggregates for single-stage autotrophic nitrogen removal. Experimental results showed that the stratified pattern caused little accumulation of NO2− and NO3−, which leads to a superior nitrogen removal performance compared with the mixed pattern. Candidatus Kuenenia was found to be the major anammox bacterium in the gel film of the mixed pattern and the outer film of the stratified pattern. In contrast, Nitrosomonas, as a representative genus of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, was substantially enriched in the inner film of the stratified pattern and the gel film of the mixed pattern. Finally, modeling results further confirmed the advantages of the stratified pattern with respect to the formation of rational microbial and nutrient profiles in gel films. The ratio of partial nitrification and anammox film thicknesses should remain below 3:2 to obtain a high fraction of anammox bacteria and to avoid NO2− accumulation. Increasing O2 surface loading does not affect microbial profiles, but can greatly promote the TN removal performance only in the stratified pattern. Overall, the stratified pattern should be employed to achieve optimal microbial profiles and nitrogen removal efficiency.

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Funding

This research was financially supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (21607114), Tianjin Agricultural Commission Program (201901260), Postgraduate Research and Innovation Project of Tianjin (2019YJSS035)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China

    Ming Zeng, Junfeng Yang, Zimeng Wu, Weiyi Wang, Luoyun Xu & Chang Wang

  2. College of Engineering and Technology, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin, 300384, China

    Nan Wu

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  1. Ming Zeng
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  2. Junfeng Yang
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  3. Zimeng Wu
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  4. Weiyi Wang
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  5. Luoyun Xu
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  6. Nan Wu
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  7. Chang Wang
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Correspondence to Nan Wu.

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Responsible Editor: Angeles Blanco

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The diagram of bioreactor and parameters of model in AQUASIM software were shown in supplementary information. If any reader is interested in the model program of CMAB, please contact the corresponding author.

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Zeng, M., Yang, J., Wu, Z. et al. Achieving single-stage autotrophic nitrogen removal by composite membrane aerated biofilm with gel under two microbial entrapping patterns: experimental and modeling aspects. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 35381–35391 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09660-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-09660-w

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