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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
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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
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• 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
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10Modified from HRSD. 2012 VWEA Education Seminar
Evolution of BNR
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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
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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.
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17Single reactor High activity Ammonia Removal Over Nitrite)
Abbreviations
Evolution-BNR 3.0
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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
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20Modified from handouts by Tommaso Lotti. CIE4485 Wastewater Treatment.
Evolution-BNR 3.0
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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
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23Lackner, et al. Water Research, 2014.
NRR Achieved in Reactor with Various Biomass Types
Evolution-BNR 3.0
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24Beverley Stinson, AECOM
Biomass Types
Evolution-BNR 3.0
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25Beverley Stinson, AECOM
BNR 3.0-Sidestream Application
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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
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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.
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Thank you!
Questions?
[email protected]
cPhoto by Xiaojin Li , 2011 @ Waller Mill Park, Williamsburg, VA