Engineered stable partial nitrification/endogenous partial denitrification-anammox process for enhanced nitrogen removal from low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio wastewater

Abstract

Addressing the intractable challenges of nitrite instability and slow start-up in anammox for low carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio wastewater treatment, a one-stage partial nitrification/endogenous partial denitrification-anammox (PN/EPD-A) process in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor was proposed. By synergistically coupling PN and EPD, self-sustained nitrite supply for anammox was achieved. Concurrently, a layered biofilm structure, engineered through tailored aeration and carrier addition, facilitated the rapid enrichment of anammox bacteria. The results demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving a total nitrogen removal efficiency of 83.3 %, with anammox consistently contributing 75.8 % of the nitrogen removed. Microbial community analysis further indicated the stable coexistence of anammox bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, and glycogen-accumulating organisms, with their relative abundance reaching 1.36 %, 2.19 % and 9.80 %, respectively. These findings unveiled a robust and efficient strategy to overcome the limitations of anammox technology in low C/N wastewater treatment, paving the way for its broader application in nitrogen removal.