Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shehani Sharadha Maheepala, Masashi Hatamoto, Yuki Mitsuishi, Takahiro Watari, Takashi Yamaguchi
Summary: The study aims to enhance denitrification by developing a low-cost down-flow hanging sponge (DHS). The DHS reactor was modified to maintain aerobic and anaerobic conditions by connecting with a syphon tube. This method allows simultaneous nitrification and denitrification without the need for extra pumping energy.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xue-Ping Wang, Qian Wu, Xin Wang, Nian-Si Fan, Ren-Cun Jin
Summary: Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is a low-carbon biological nitrogen removal process widely used for treating high-strength wastewater. However, the slow growth rate of anammox bacteria (AnAOB) limits the practical application of mainstream anammox treatment. This article provides a comprehensive review of the effects of environmental fluctuations on anammox systems and discusses potential strategies to enhance system stability.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hoang Phuc Trinh, Sang-Hoon Lee, Garam Jeong, Hyeokjun Yoon, Hee-Deung Park
Summary: Mainstream anammox processes face challenges such as difficulty in out-selection of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, high organic carbon to nitrogen ratio, retention of anammox bacteria, and influence of high concentrations of ammonia and nitrite compounds. Efficient strategies are necessary to manage high carbon to nitrogen ratios, improve performance in low-intensity wastewater, and retain anammox bacteria for widespread application in full-scale WWTPs. Key elements in the design, operation, and maintenance of mainstream anammox processes in full-scale WWTPs are also suggested.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Damian Hausherr, Robert Niederdorfer, Eberhard Morgenroth, Adriano Joss
Summary: The study demonstrates that anammox thrive under mainstream conditions and can withstand typical process disruptions, such as fluctuations in dissolved oxygen levels and temperature. Additionally, anammox activity showed good stability in response to changes in organic loading rate at bench scale and pilot scale experiments.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhiyao Wang, Min Zheng, Haoran Duan, Shihu Hu, Zhiguo Yuan
Summary: Sewage treatment with partial nitritation and anammox (PN/A) has gained attention for its potential to establish energy-neutral/positive sewage treatment plants. One key challenge for this process is the suppression of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). This study proposes a three-stage configuration comprising a PN/A reactor, an acidic PN reactor, and an anammox reactor to address this challenge. Simulation results indicate that the three-stage process can achieve stable and high-quality effluent with a nitrogen removal efficiency over 90%.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yangfan Xu, Jing Lu, Shanshan Huang, Jianwei Zhao
Summary: The study found that excess nitrogen pollution did not significantly affect the anammox and denitrifying bacteria in the rhizosphere of submerged plants. This indicates that aquatic plants can mitigate the impact of ammonium pollution on rhizosphere microorganisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Robert Niederdorfer, Damian Hausherr, Alejandro Palomo, Jing Wei, Paul Magyar, Barth F. Smets, Adriano Joss, Helmut Buergmann
Summary: The research found that anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria are highly sensitive to fluctuations in oxygen concentration and temperature under mainstream wastewater treatment conditions, leading to inhibition that affects the efficiency of nitrogen removal. Genomic analysis showed that changes in temperature and oxygen concentration resulted in alterations in gene expression levels within microbial communities, affecting the nitrogen removal process.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Parin Izadi, Parnian Izadi, Ahmed Eldyasti
Summary: Deammonification process, characterized by partial nitritation-anammox, is a favorable and innovative method for treating nitrogen-rich wastewater with reduced oxygen and carbon requirements at high nitrogen loadings. The process involves anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria in symbiosis with ammonium oxidizing bacteria, showing potential for sustainable and energy-neutral municipal wastewater treatment. However, further investigation is needed to assess the feasibility of applying deammonification in mainstream treatment processes.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hongying Yun, Tao Wang, Shuhang Wang, Hao Meng, Fanghua Xing
Summary: This study successfully improved the start-up and operation performance of mainstream anammox by applying magnetic field enhancing technology under low temperature and substrate concentration conditions. It was found that magnetic field could change the morphological characteristics of AnAOB and strengthen sludge granulation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shuang Liu, Fan Wu, Mingzhu Guo, Ming Zeng, Wei Liu, Zhiqiang Wang, Nan Wu, Jingguo Cao
Summary: This study reveals the potential of innovative biological nitrogen removal (BNR) processes such as simultaneous nitritation, anammox and denitrification (SNAD), partial nitritation anammox (PNA), and partial denitrification anammox (PDA) in reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions compared to traditional processes through extensive big data statistical analysis. Machine learning models and correlation analysis further support these findings.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Fumin Zuo, Wenhui Yue, Shuanglin Gui, Qianwen Sui, Yuansong Wei
Summary: This review article discusses the key issues and bottlenecks in the implementation of mainstream anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), including startup, stable NO2--N supply, maintenance and dominance of AnAOB with high activity, prevention of NO3--N buildup, reduction of sludge loss, adaptation to seasonal temperature variations, and alleviation of COD impacts on AnAOB. In order to improve the startup, stable operation, and resilience of mainstream anammox, a combined biological nitrogen removal (CBNR) system based on conventional denitrification, shortcut nitrification-denitrification, partial nitritation, and partial denitrification combined with anammox (PANDA) process is proposed to adapt to the variations of seasonal temperature and pollutants in the influent.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhiyao Wang, Min Zheng, Zhetai Hu, Haoran Duan, Haydee De Clippeleir, Ahmed Al-Omari, Shihu Hu, Zhiguo Yuan
Summary: This study successfully controlled nitrite-oxidizing bacteria through the application of three consecutive suppression strategies, ultimately achieving significant improvement in nitrogen removal efficiency.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Songkai Qiu, Zebing Li, Yuansheng Hu, Lin Shi, Rui Liu, Lei Shi, Lujun Chen, Xinmin Zhan
Summary: The partial nitritation-anammox (PN-A) process offers a game-changing alternative for nitrogen removal in municipal wastewater treatment, with potential challenges including process instability, low nitrogen removal efficiency, and poor effluent quality at low temperatures, highlighting the importance of efficient anammox biomass retention for successful implementation.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Khalid Muzamil Gani, Oluyemi Olatunji Awolusi, Abid Ali Khan, Sheena Kumari, Faizal Bux
Summary: This review discusses the potential of integrating anammox process with anaerobic treatment technologies for carbon and nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment. It also highlights the challenges and solutions for anammox application in low-temperature municipal wastewater treatment, including nitrate production, organic carbon impact, low temperature effects, and nitrite competition. Additionally, the review emphasizes the importance of addressing micro pollutant removal and complex interactions of anammox with anaerobic effluent for successful mainstream application.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hyungmin Choi, Jinsu Kim, Jihun Park, Changsoo Lee
Summary: Even small fluctuations in wastewater's organic matter significantly affect the structure and function of anammox microbial communities. Continuous organic load at 30 mg COD/L improved nitrogen removal efficiency without compromising anammox performance. Higher levels of continuous organic load caused inhibition of anammox activity, while transient organic load's inhibitory effect was fully reversed within one day. Loading an appropriately low amount of organic matter can improve the nitrogen removal performance of anammox granular sludge without sacrificing anammox activity and granule stability under mainstream conditions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Wangwang Yan, Hui Xu, Dan Lu, Yan Zhou
Summary: Although thermal hydrolysis pretreatment can enhance organic solids hydrolysis and biogas productivity, it also leads to the formation of refractory compounds and inhibition effects in downstream processes. Limited research has been done on holistic solutions for tackling these issues, emphasizing the need for further exploration and development in this area.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tingting Qian, Wei Sern Ong, Dan Lu, Yan Zhou
Summary: This study comprehensively investigates the form and transformation of released phosphorus from EBPR sludge biochar pyrolyzed at different temperatures. High-temperature EBPR sludge biochar containing a high proportion of Poly-P could be an ideal P fertilizer.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Catarina Rangel, Gilda Carvalho, Adrian Oehmen, Nicola Frison, Nidia D. Lourenco, Maria A. M. Reis
Summary: The study focused on PHA production using fermented confectionary industry wastewater as feedstock. A mixed microbial culture with a high PHA content of up to 59.1 wt% was successfully enriched by operating a culture selection reactor at an organic loading rate of 150 Cmmol·L-1·d-1. Ethanol concentration was found to have an inhibitory effect on PHA production rate and yield. The produced polymer was poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) with a molecular weight of 4.3 x 105 Da and a polydispersity index of 1.88.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Liang Zhang, Xiuping Wang, Yun Chen, Baorui Zhang, Hui Xu, Chenchen Li, Yan Zhou
Summary: In this study, the production of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA) from mixed sludge without additional electron donors (EDs) was investigated. The anaerobic fermentation of mixed sludge without thermal hydrolysis process (THP) pretreatment generated 0.5 g COD/L of MCFAs with the in situ generated ethanol serving as the EDs. The addition of ethanol improved MCFA yield and caproiciproducens was the dominant chain-elongating bacteria.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
V. C. F. Carvalho, J. C. Fradinho, A. Oehmen, M. A. M. Reis
Summary: The utilization of non-aerated microalgae-bacterial consortia for phototrophic biological nutrient removal (photo-BNR) has emerged as an alternative to conventional wastewater treatment. This study evaluated the long-term operation and operational parameters of a photo-BNR system to understand its limitations and performance. The results showed that light availability had a greater impact on oxygen production than CO2 concentration, and the system achieved efficient nutrient removal without internal polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) limitation. The photo-BNR system demonstrated a good settling capacity and the potential for aeration-free wastewater treatment.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pengfei Zhang, Yan Zhou, Xinlei Pan, Junguo He, Xiang Zou, Yijie Zhong, Jie Zhang, Qiupeng Cai
Summary: In this study, the combination of lysozyme and sodium citrate pretreatment was used to stabilize aluminum and enhance the production of VFAs in anaerobic fermentation of aluminum-rich waste activated sludge (WAS). The results showed that citrate efficiently complexed and stabilized aluminum, alleviating its inhibition on lysozymes and other extracellular hydro lases. The lysozyme, protease, and alpha-glucosidase activities increased by 1.86, 1.72, and 1.15 times, respectively, after the pretreatment. The total VFAs produced from the Al-rich WAS after six-day anaerobic fermentation following the lysozyme and sodium citrate pretreatment were 7.3 times higher than the control group. This study presents a novel approach to enhance VFA production in anaerobic fermentation and mitigate the risk of aluminum pollution from aluminum-rich WAS.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hui Xu, Liang Zhang, Chunhong Yao, Bo Yang, Yan Zhou
Summary: This study developed a core-shell structured Fe@C composite to demonstrate its long-term feasibility for enhancing azo dye biodegradation, compared to a mixture of NZVI and carbon powder (Fe+C). The results showed that Fe@C had better performance, durability, and stability than Fe+C, possibly due to the carbon layer's ability to form a stable buffer to regulate NZVI dissolution. The microbial community analysis revealed that Fe@C promoted the growth of azo dye degraders, and metatranscriptomic analysis further revealed the substantial stimulation of genes involved in the extracellular degradation of azo dye by Fe@C. This study provides novel insights into the bioaugmentation of Fe@C for refractory wastewater treatment.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qi Li, Yifeng Xu, Chuanzhou Liang, Lai Peng, Yan Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the nitrogen transformation pathways and nitrous oxide (N2O) reduction potential of an algal-bacterial consortium in different types of reactors. The results showed that the algal-bacterial consortium had superior efficiency in removing ammonium, achieving a removal rate of 7.34 mg N g MLSS-1 h-1 in the open reactor with glucose. The consortium achieved enhanced total nitrogen removal through mixotrophic algal assimilation and bacterial denitrification. Additionally, the consortium significantly reduced N2O production through autotrophic and mixotrophic pathways, thanks to the synergistic effects between algae and bacteria.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
P. Y. Nguyen, Ricardo Marques, Hongmin Wang, Maria A. M. Reis, Gilda Carvalho, Adrian Oehmen
Summary: Members of the genus Tetrasphaera, potential polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), have been found to be more abundant than Accumulibacter in full-scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) wastewater treatment plants worldwide. Previous studies have primarily focused on the response of Accumulibacter to pH changes, while this study examines the effect of pH on a Tetrasphaera PAO enriched culture. The results show that pH has a significant impact on the P release and uptake kinetics of PAOs and that high pH levels can benefit the performance of EBPR.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Congcong Zhang, Albert Guisasola, Adrian Oehmen, Juan Antonio Baeza
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of incorporating a side-stream sludge fermenter (SSSF) into an anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A2O) configuration for P/N/COD removal under a limited influent COD condition. The results show that the S2EBPR configuration improves P removal but also increases P-release, leading to higher effluent P concentration.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yi-Kun Geng, Jun Gu, Xiaoyuan Zhang, Zhuan Khai Lim, Yishuai Jiang, Meng Zhang, Yan Zhou, Yu Liu
Summary: This study developed an innovative A-B process for carbon-neutral wastewater treatment by combining an anaerobic biofilm reactor (AnBR) as the A stage for energy recovery and a step-feed membrane bioreactor (MBR) as the B stage for mainstream deammonification. A multi-parameter control-based operation strategy was developed to address the challenge of selectively retaining ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) over nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Results showed that this process configuration achieved high removal rates of COD, ammonium-N, and total nitrogen, while promoting the growth and enrichment of anammox bacteria.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rui Wang, Zijing An, Lu Fan, Yan Zhou, Xiaomei Su, Junjie Zhu, Qian Zhang, Chongjun Chen, Hongjun Lin, Faqian Sun
Summary: Quorum quenching (QQ) is a novel technique for controlling biofouling in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) by disrupting quorum sensing (QS) and inhibiting biofilm formation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the QQ strain Brucella sp. ZJ1, encapsulated in alginate beads, in mitigating biofouling. The results showed that MBR with QQ beads extended operation time by 2-3 times without affecting pollutant degradation, and these beads maintained approximately 50% QQ activity even after 50 days of operation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wangwang Yan, Mengsha Song, Yan Zhou
Summary: This study developed a hierarchical scheme to identify the key factors contributing to the elevation of free PFOA during the thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) process. The relative abundance of PFOA in the liquid phase increased during THP, while changes in pH, zeta potential, ionic condition, and specific surface area had negligible impact on PFOA redistribution. The study provides valuable insights into how sludge transformations regulate the distribution of PFCs and guide the selection of treatment processes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
J. R. Almeida, E. Serrano Leon, E. Lara Corona, J. C. Fradinho, A. Oehmen, M. A. M. Reis
Summary: This research evaluates the impact of ammonia on the selection of PHA accumulating PPB and found that the best PHA accumulation performance was obtained with selection under permanent presence of ammonia.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Jianyuan Zhen, Adrian Oehmen, Wei Wei, Shou-Qing Ni, Bing-Jie Ni
Summary: The recently proposed GAOs-driven EPDA process shows promise as an alternative method for supplying NO2- to anammox bacteria without external carbon source addition. This process demonstrates superior nitrogen elimination efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and operational stability in low C/N wastewater treatment, while also mitigating greenhouse gas releases. Future research should focus on balancing the competitiveness between functional consortia and addressing the effects of adverse conditions on nutrient removal performance in the EPDA-based processes.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
