N 2 -fixation can sustain wastewater treatment performance of photogranules under nitrogen-limiting conditions

Wastewater characteristics can vary significantly, and in some municipal wastewaters the N:P ratio is as low as 5 resulting in nitrogen-limiting conditions. In this study, the microbial community, function, and morphology of photogranules under nitrogen-replete (N+) and limiting (N-) conditions was...

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Published in:Biotechnology and bioengineering 2023-05, Vol.120 (5), p.1303-1315
Main Authors: Trebuch, Lukas M, Schoofs, Kobe, Vaessen, Stijn M F, Neu, Thomas R, Janssen, Marcel, Wijffels, René H, Vet, Louise E M, Fernandes, Tânia V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biomass
Bioreactors
Cyanobacteria
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Sewage
Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods
Wastewater
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Summary:Wastewater characteristics can vary significantly, and in some municipal wastewaters the N:P ratio is as low as 5 resulting in nitrogen-limiting conditions. In this study, the microbial community, function, and morphology of photogranules under nitrogen-replete (N+) and limiting (N-) conditions was assessed in sequencing batch reactors. Photogranules under N- condition were nitrogen deprived 2/3 of a batch cycle duration. Surprisingly, this nitrogen limitation had no adverse effect on biomass productivity. Moreover, phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand removal were similar to their removal under N+ conditions. Although performance was similar, the difference in granule morphology was obvious. While N+ photogranules were dense and structurally confined, N- photogranules showed loose structures with occasional voids. Microbial community analysis revealed high abundance of cyanobacteria capable of N -fixation. These were higher at N- (38%) than N+ (29%) treatments, showing that photogranules could adjust and maintain treatment performance and high biomass productivity by means of N -fixation.
ISSN:0006-3592
1097-0290
DOI:10.1002/bit.28349