Variation of functional bacteria during start-up and operation of partial nitrification process

Abstract:

[Objective] Partial nitrification-anammox is considered as the shortest?process for biological nitrogen removal and partial nitrification is the important part of this process. [Methods] The variation of functional bacteria during start-up and stable operation of partial nitrification process was investigated in a SBR bioreactor in this study. [Results] The results indicated that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) population was expanded significantly and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) population was inhibited when DO concentration was controlled lower than 1 mg/L and ammonia loading of the influent increased gradually. As a result, start-up and stable operation of partial nitrification process was realized. When ammonia volumetric loading of the influent was 0.055 kg/(m3·d), the average ammonia removal volumetric loading and sludge loading were 0.043 kg/(m3·d) and 0.16?kg/(kg·d), respectively. In addition, the average nitrite accumulation rate was 83.4% at this time. AOB population density and relative abundance increased from 4.5×104 CFU/mL to 1.5×107CFU/mL and from 0.18% to 7.25%, respectively, during start-up and stable operation of partial nitrification process. At the same time, NOB population density and relative abundance decreased from 2.0×105 CFU/mL to 1.5×104 CFU/mL?and from 5.51% to 2.14%, respectively. [Conclusion] The expansion of AOB population was responsible for realization of partial nitrification and ammonia removal. High ammonia concentration and loading?also caused the activity inhibition of partial nitrification.