Zeolite powder based polyurethane sponges as biocarriers in moving bed biofilm reactor for improving nitrogen removal of municipal wastewater

Zi Song; Xinbo Zhang; Huu Hao Ngo; Wenshan Guo; Pengfei Song; Yongchao Zhang; Haitao Wen; Jianbo Guo

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.173

Zeolite powder based polyurethane sponges as biocarriers in moving bed biofilm reactor for improving nitrogen removal of municipal wastewater

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Feb 15;651(Pt 1):1078-1086. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.173. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Authors

Zi Song¹, Xinbo Zhang², Huu Hao Ngo³, Wenshan Guo⁴, Pengfei Song⁵, Yongchao Zhang¹, Haitao Wen¹, Jianbo Guo¹

Affiliations

¹ Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, China and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, Tianjin Chengjian University, Jinjing Road 26, Tianjin 300384, China.
² Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, China and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, Tianjin Chengjian University, Jinjing Road 26, Tianjin 300384, China. Electronic address: zxbcj2006@126.com.
³ Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, China and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: ngohuuhao121@gmail.com.
⁴ Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, China and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Australia; Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
⁵ School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.

PMID: 30360241
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.173

Abstract

This study aims to enhance nitrogen removal efficiency of a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) by developing a new MBBR with zeolite powder-based polyurethane sponges as biocarriers (Z-MBBR). Results indicated the total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency and simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) performance in Z-MBBR were nearly 10% higher than those in the conventional MBBR with sponges as biocarriers (S-MBBR). About 84.2 ± 4.8% of TN was removed in Z-MBBR compared to 75.1 ± 6.8% in S-MBBR. Correspondingly, the SND performance in Z-MBBR and S-MBBR was 90.7 ± 4.1% and 81.7 ± 6.5%, respectively. The amount of biofilm attached to new biocarriers (0.470 ± 0.131 g/g carrier) was 1.3 times more than that of sponge carriers (0.355 ± 0.099 g/g carrier). Based on the microelectrode measurements and microbial community analysis, more denitrifying bacteria existed in the Z-MBBR system, and this can improve the SND performance. Consequently, this new Z-MBBR can be a promising option for a hybrid treatment system to better nitrogen removal from wastewater.

Keywords: Bioreactor; Microbial community; Microelectrode; Modification of polyurethane sponge; Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND).

MeSH terms

Bacterial Physiological Phenomena*
Biofilms*
Bioreactors*
Cities
Nitrogen / analysis*
Polyurethanes / chemistry
Powders
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
Wastewater / analysis*
Zeolites / chemistry*

Substances

Polyurethanes
Powders
Waste Water
Zeolites
Nitrogen