Organic carbon quantity and quality jointly triggered the switch between dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and denitrification in biofilters

Feng Sun; Qinghui Deng; Xiaowen Li; Mengjuan Tang; Xufa Ma; Xiuyun Cao; Yiyong Zhou; Chunlei Song

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130917

Organic carbon quantity and quality jointly triggered the switch between dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and denitrification in biofilters

Chemosphere. 2021 Oct:280:130917. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130917. Epub 2021 May 17.

Authors

Feng Sun¹, Qinghui Deng², Xiaowen Li³, Mengjuan Tang⁴, Xufa Ma⁵, Xiuyun Cao⁶, Yiyong Zhou⁷, Chunlei Song⁸

Affiliations

¹ College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China. Electronic address: sunfeng@webmail.hzau.edu.cn.
² State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, PR China. Electronic address: dengqinghui@ihb.ac.cn.
³ State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100039, PR China. Electronic address: lixw@ihb.an.cn.
⁴ Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, PR China. Electronic address: ttangmj@163.com.
⁵ College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China. Electronic address: xufama@mail.hzau.edu.cn.
⁶ State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, PR China. Electronic address: caoxy@ihb.ac.cn.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, PR China. Electronic address: zhouyy@ihb.ac.cn.
⁸ State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, PR China. Electronic address: clsong@ihb.ac.cn.

PMID: 34162105
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130917

Abstract

The effect of organic carbon (OC) quality and quantity on switch between dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) and denitrification (DEN) was studied in biofilter systems. High OC in matrix could promote significantly nitrate (NO₃^--N) removal due to the reinforce of DEN. Sodium acetate (SA) addition in influent further fueled NO₃^--N removal in groups with low OC in matrix but increased ammonium (NH₄⁺-N) and nitrite (NO₂^--N) accumulation in groups with high OC in matrix. This indicated that high OC combined different species, facilitated the DNRA over DEN. Compared to bagasse, corncob was the better suitable OC source in matrix for DEN due to slow and continuous release of OC. Hence, in order to promote NO₃^--N removal and decline NH₄⁺-N accumulation in biofilters, it is very important to screen suitable OC source (mixed utilization of multiple C sources is recommended) and regulate its dosage (below 80 mg L^-1).

Keywords: Biofilters; Denitrification; Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA); Nitrogen removal; Organic carbon.

MeSH terms

Ammonium Compounds*
Carbon
Denitrification
Nitrates*
Nitrogen
Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

Ammonium Compounds
Nitrates
Carbon
Nitrogen