Anammox start-up in sequencing batch biofilm reactors using different inoculating sludge

Abstract

In this study, anammox bacteria were rapidly enriched in sequencing batch biofilm reactors (SBBRs) with different inoculations. The activated sludge taken from a sequencing batch reactor was used and inoculated to SBBR1, while SBBR2 was seeded with stored anaerobic sludge from an upflow anaerobic fixed bed (2-year stored at 5-15 °C). Nitrogen removal performance, anammox activity, biofilm characteristics and variation of the microbial community were evaluated. The maximum total nitrogen loading rate (NLR) of SBBR1 gradually reached to 1.62 kgN/(m³/day) with a removal efficiency higher than 88% and the NLR of SBBR2 reached to 1.43 kgN/(m³/day) with a removal efficiency of 86%. SBBR2 was more stable compared to SBBR1. These results, combined with molecular techniques such as scanning electron microscope, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism, indicated that different genera of anammox bacteria became dominant. This research also demonstrates that SBBR is a promising bioreactor for starting up and enriching anammox bacteria.

Effect of extended famine conditions on aerobic granular sludge stability in the treatment of brewery wastewater

“…Other authors indicated that to achieve granulation on actual industrial wastewater a longer time is required(Wagner et al, 2015).The granules formation in the present study may have been enhanced by the biofilm detachment present in the effluent of the anaerobic pre-treatment system(Yu et al, 2013). The inactive cells and particulate material in suspension could have acted as aggregation nuclei for granular structure development.Aerobic granules were characterized by a yellow-brownish appearance with a regular and smooth surface.…”

Anammox cultivation in a closed sponge-bed trickling filter

“…Also biofilm systems have been applied, using different configurations, for instance, fixed film bioreactors with plastic carrier material and rotating biological contactors (Pynaert et al, 2004), reactors based on hydrophilic net-type acryl fiber biomass carrier (Furukawa et al, 2006), membrane-aerated biofilm reactors (Pellicer-Nacher et al, 2010), moving-bed biofilm reactors (Lackner and Horn, 2013), and sequencing batch biofilm reactors (Yu et al, 2012).…”

Sustainable Agro-Food Industrial Wastewater Treatment Using High Rate Anaerobic Process

“…Few researchers [36,37] reported that anammox bacteria have slow growth rate kinetics, and hence, they are vulnerable to external conditions, such as low temperature, high dissolved oxygen and some inhibitors. Although this technique faces some complications in full-scale applications, such as long start-up and instability, anammox is still an innovative technological development in reducing ammonia from wastewater [35,38]. …”

“…In order to remove ammonia nitrogen, Yu et al [35] attempted to enrich anammox bacteria in sequencing batch biofilm reactors (SBBRs) with different inoculations. The maximum total nitrogen loading rate of SBBR gradually reached 1.62 kg N m…”

“…Other materials that have been utilized for the adhesion of biomass included brick ballasts [44], Raschig rings (1.2 cm diameter ×1.2 cm) [45], low and high-density polyethylene media [3,22,35,41], polypropylene pall rings [46], non-woven disks [47], porous polyurethane foam [48] and modified porphyritic andesite (WRS) as ammonium adsorbent and bed material [49]. Rajagopal [1] suggested the unclogging procedures with fluidization by gas re-circulation or using liquid, which can be applied whenever clogging occurs.…”