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Influence of Low Air Pressure on the Partial Denitrification-Anammox (PD/A) Process

Author

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  • Wen Dai

    (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China)

  • Zhenpeng Han

    (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China)

  • Yongze Lu

    (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China)

  • Shuping Li

    (Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration of Xizang, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, China
    Information Engineer College, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, China)

  • Gangyin Yan

    (Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration of Xizang, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, China
    Information Engineer College, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, China)

  • Guangcan Zhu

    (Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
    Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration of Xizang, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, China)

Abstract

Low air pressure is a feature of high-altitude regions. Domestic wastewater from such regions typically has a low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N ratio). These factors combine to make traditional biological nitrogen removal in high-altitude regions inefficient and more energy-intensive. The partial denitrification-anaerobic ammonium oxidation (PD/A) process was reported to remove ammonia nitrogen from municipal sewage, consuming fewer carbon sources and requiring no aeration supply. In this study, we set up laboratory-scale reactors in simulated high-altitude environmental conditions, and studied the effect of air pressure on the PD/A process. We found that low pressure promotes nitrogen removal efficiency ( NRE ), achieving 93.0 ± 0.3% at 65 kPa, and the contribution rate of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) to nitrogen removal increased to 77.7%. Lower dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations caused by lower air pressure were the reason for higher nitrite accumulation efficiency ( NAE ) in a partial denitrification (PD) system, with measured values of 78.4 ± 2.8% at 65 kPa. The anammox process was promoted by low air pressure, mainly because the low air pressure resulted in higher anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria activity, with specific anammox activity ( SAA ) reaching 26.3 mg·N/(g·VSS·d). Although the relative abundance of partial-denitrifying bacteria declined slightly, at 65 kPa compared with 96 kPa, they were still the dominant genus of the PD/A sludge, and continued to generate nitrite nitrogen steadily, even at low air pressures. The anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacterial abundance remained relatively stable, but their activity was increased, which aided the PD/A process. This study demonstrates how low pressure promotes the PD/A process, indicating the possibility of sustainable improved nitrogen removal in high-altitude regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Wen Dai & Zhenpeng Han & Yongze Lu & Shuping Li & Gangyin Yan & Guangcan Zhu, 2023. "Influence of Low Air Pressure on the Partial Denitrification-Anammox (PD/A) Process," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-14, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:9907-:d:1176264
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hongjun Zhao & Yan Guo & Qunhui Wang & Ze Zhang & Chuanfu Wu & Ming Gao & Feng Liu, 2022. "The Summary of Nitritation Process in Mainstream Wastewater Treatment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.
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