Optimization of mainstream partial denitrification-anammox (PdNA) under different process configurations

This study evaluates the challenges in achieving partial denitrification coupled with anammox (PdNA) under different process configurations. PdNA is a method of shortcut nitrogen removal that is being explored as an alternative to other shortcut nitrogen removal methods that require NOB outselection. The objective of this study was to determine what factors are important when designing a PdNA application for mainstream nitrogen removal. Two PdNA pilots are described in this study. In the first process configuration, centrate (fermentate based carbon) was used as an external carbon source to drive PdN (partial denitrification) and anammox was retained in a biofilm. It was thought that costs of external carbon for full denitrification could be eliminated if a recovered complex carbon source such as centrate could be used. Centrate was selected as a viable option for driving PdN because of its volatile fatty acid content (VFA). The use of centrate highlighted the importance of maintaining high specific nitrate removal rates in order to guarantee PdNA success when using an impure carbon. When operating with a high rate, the centrate study was able to achieve 35% PdN efficiency and 11 g/d TIN removed through PdNA. The second run implemented high nitrate removal rates with acetate as a carbon source and anammox suspended in granules, rather than retained in a biofilm. The bioaugmented scenario faced challenges in PdNA success because of the lack of anammox sink. Despite this, the acetate run was able to achieve PdN efficiencies of 64% and 7.1 g/d TIN removed through PdNA. This directly translates to methanol savings for full denitrification, and nitrogen removal can occur without outselection nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOBs).

Author

• Forney, Nicole Pauline

Language

• en

Keyword

• Nitrogen
• Anammox

Date created

• 2016

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Civil & Environmental Engineering

Degree

• M.S.

Advisor

• De Clippeleir, Haydee
• Riffat, Rumana

Committee Member(s)

• Liu, Xitong
• Shuai, Danmeng

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/r494vm03c