Sustainable Nitrogen Removal by Involving Anammox Process · Sustainable Nitrogen Removal by Involving Anammox Process March 23, 2017, Abingdon, VA Xiaojin (Jim) Li, Ph.D. Candidate

Sustainable Nitrogen Removal by Involving Anammox Process

March 23, 2017, Abingdon, VA

Xiaojin (Jim) Li, Ph.D. Candidate

Zhen (Jason) He, Associate Professor

Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Program

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

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AGENDA

AMX-anammox, BNR-biological nitrogen removal

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Overview-Background

Eutrophication GHG EmissionEnergy Consumption

http://blogs.bard.edu/cepblog/files/2012/11/FY2010-govt-co2e-emissions-by-sector.pnghttp://www.erc.uic.edu/energy-efficiency/illinois-energy-now-programs/waste-water-treatment-facilities-program

Anammox-based SustainableWastewater Treatment Technology

Wastewater Treatment Plant Water Resource Recovery Facility

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Overview-N-cycle

5Schreiber, et al., 2012. Frontiers in Microbiology 3(372).Comammox: Complete Ammonia Oxidation; DNRA: Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium

AMO, ammonia monooxygenase; HAO, hydroxylamine oxidoreductase; NXR, Nitrite oxidoreductase; NIR, nitrite reductase; NAR, nitrate reductase; NOR, nitric oxide reductase; N2OR, nitrous oxide reductase;HZS, Hydrazine synthesis; HZO, hydrazine dehydrogenase.

Overview-Pathways involved in BNR

Comammox

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AMX Bacteria-Discovery

• Prediction: Based on thermodynamics and evolution, Broda (1977)

predicted the existence of a "missing" chemolithoautotrophicorganism capable of oxidizing ammonia anaerobically.

• Discovery:Pilot denitrifying fluidized bed reactor in Gist-Brocades yeast

factory, Delft, Netherlands. “unexpected nitrogen loss”Arnold Mulder/Gijs Kuenen

Astrid vande Graaf, Mike Jetten, Marc Strous, Michael Wagner, Mark van Loosdrecht, Marcel Kuypers, Boran Kartal…..

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• Catabolism (Imprecise reaction): NH4

+ + NO2− → N2 + 2H2O ΔG = −357 kJ/mol Energy

generation

• The stoichiometry of metabolism: NH4

+ + 1.32 NO2- + 0.066 HCO3

- + 0.13H+ → 1.02 N2 + 0.256 NO3

- + 0.066CH2O0.5N0.15 + 2.03 H2O

• Anabolism (Carbon fixation): CO2 + 2 NO2

- + H2O → CH2O + 2 NO3-

• Isotopic labelling: N2 comes from NH4

+ and NO2-, N in biomass comes from NH4

+

CH2O0.5N0.15 vs. C5H7O2N

AMX Bacteria-Discovery

• Color: red

• Chemolitho-autotrophic organisms affiliated to phylum Planctomycetes, family Brocadiaceae.

• Identified species: ~20 species divided over 5 genera

• Unique components: o Anammoxosome: organelle-like cell compartment bound by a single curved

membrane

o Ladderane lipids: membrane lipids with either three or five cyclobutanerings

• Temperature: 30-35 ˚C; pH: neutral range

• Growth rate: very slowo Biomass yield: 0.05 kg VSS kg-1 N

o Conversion rate: 1 kg N kg-1 VSS d-1

o Doubling time: 7~11 days

o Specific growth rate (µm): 0.069 d-1 (nitrifiers µm= 0.85 d-1), requires long SRT (30-50+ days)

8van Niftrik, et. al. FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 2004.

AMX Bacteria-Characteristics

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AMX Bacteria-Metabolism

Strous, et al. Nature, 2006.

Previous model

A three-step process:

1. NO2- + 2H+ + e- → NO + H2O (E°= +0.38V) nitrite reductase (NIR)

2. NO + NH4+ + 2H+ + 3e- → N2H4 + H2O (E°= +0.06V) hydrazine synthase (HZS)

3. N2H4 → N2 + 4H+ + 4e- (E°= -0.75V) hydrazine dehydrogenase/oxidoreductase (HDH/HZO)

Confirmed model

10Modified from HRSD. 2012 VWEA Education Seminar

Evolution of BNR

11AOB, Ammonia Oxidizing Bacteria

BNR 1.0-Conventional BNR

Evolution of BNR

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BNR 2.0-Nitrite Shunt

Evolution of BNR

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Autotrophic Aerobic Autotrophic Anoxic

BNR 3.0-Nitritation-Anammox

Evolution of BNR

14Tommaso Lotti. CIE4485 Wastewater Treatment.

Comparison between BNR 1.0 & 3.0

Evolution of BNR

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4 2 3 2 20.85 0.13 0.435 1.4 1.3NH O NO N H H O Total

Metabolic Pathways

Evolution-BNR 3.0

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Evolution-BNR 3.0

Two-stage:

• Nitritation and AMX step can be optimized individually

• Lower risk for anammox to be outcompeted by heterotrophs

• Smaller inoculum needed

• No risk for oxygen inhibition on AMX

Single-stage:

• Investment costs are significantly lower

• Process control is less complicated

• Lower risk for nitrite inhibition

• Less N2O emissions: 0.4-1.3 vs 2.3-6.6% of N-load

Configuration Selection

Tommaso Lotti. CIE4485 Wastewater Treatment.

17Single reactor High activity Ammonia Removal Over Nitrite)

Abbreviations

Evolution-BNR 3.0

18Bev Stinson, M&E, WERF 3/9/06 workshop

Installation Start-up Loading

(lbs/day)

Utrecht 1997 1,980

Rotterdam 1999 1,870

Zwolle 2003 900

Beverwijk 2003 2,640

Groningen 2005 5,280

The Haque 2005 2,860

New York City 2007 14,500

Evolution-BNR 3.0

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• Single reactor

• AOB convert NH4+ to NO2

- with O2 as the electron acceptor (nitritation)

• AMX bacteria subsequently oxidize NH4+ with NO2

- as the electron acceptor.

• NH4+ + 0.85 O2 → 0.435 N2 + 0.13 NO3

- + H2O + 1.4 H+

• Developed at University of Nijmegen

• Single reactor

• NH4+ is autotrophically oxidized to N2 with NO2

- as electron acceptor under oxygen-limiting conditions

• Both bacteria groups (AOB, AMX) are present in biofilm.

• Developed at Ghent University

Evolution-BNR 3.0

20Modified from handouts by Tommaso Lotti. CIE4485 Wastewater Treatment.

Evolution-BNR 3.0

21Lackner, et al. Water Research, 2014.

Evolution-BNR 3.0

Celebrity Effect

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Ammonium-rich sidestream such as sludge dewatering or digester supernatant

Lackner, et al. Water Research, 2014.

Distribution of Current Applications

Evolution-BNR 3.0

23Lackner, et al. Water Research, 2014.

NRR Achieved in Reactor with Various Biomass Types

Evolution-BNR 3.0

24Beverley Stinson, AECOM

Biomass Types

Evolution-BNR 3.0

25Beverley Stinson, AECOM

BNR 3.0-Sidestream Application

26Beverley Stinson, AECOM

Anammox Retention

BNR 3.0-Sidestream Application

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BNR 3.0-Sidestream Application

NOB Repression

Control

• Elevated NH3-N concentrations

• Elevated temperature (30-35 ℃)

• Low SRT (1-2 days)

• Low DO (~0.5 mg/L)

Repression Mechanisms

• Free NH4-N inhibition: NOB > AOB

• Nitrous acid inhibition: NOB > AOB

• Max growth rate: AOB > NOB at high temp

• DO affinity: AOB > NOB (high temp.?)

Beverley Stinson, AECOM

28HRSD

• SBR + Hydrocyclone Granular Sludge (DEMON)

– Strass, Austria + ~20 others

– Demon GmbH (formly Cyklar-Stulz) – World Water Works, Inc.

• Upflow Granular Sludge (CANON/ANAMMOX)

– Olburgen, Netherlands + ~7 others

– Paques (NL)

• Biofilm process (MBBR-style)

– ANITA Mox – Malmo, Sweeden

AnoxKaldnes – Kruger - Veolia

– DeAmmon -- Hattingen, Germany & Stockholm

Purac

BNR 3.0-Sidestream Application

Commercial Technology Examples

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BNR 3.X-Mainstream Development

Barriers/challenges: • High COD/N ratio• Lower temperature (activities, growth rate)• Relatively low ammonium concentrations

Limitations of Mainstream Conditions

Sustainable and Efficient Nitrogen Management

A-Stage: Maximize carbon capture/energy recovery

B-Stage: Minimize carbon & energy demand for N & P removal

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COD capture

Wan et. al. Scientific Reports 6, 2016.

BNR 3.X-Mainstream Development

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BNR 3.X-Mainstream Development

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Take-home Message

• A fully developed technology, and currently mainly applied in sidestream/industrial wastewater treatment.

• Commercial products are available from several suppliers.

• Mainstream nitritation-anammox is promising but its application could take a while.

Thank you!

Questions?

xjli@vt.edu

cPhoto by Xiaojin Li , 2011 @ Waller Mill Park, Williamsburg, VA