Rapid start-up and stable operation of pilot scale denitrification-partial nitritation/anammox process for treating electroplating tail wastewater

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2024-10, Vol.409, p.131192, Article 131192
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yu, Li, Jiayi, Chen, Yongxing, Yang, Junfeng, Chen, Zhenguo, Wang, Xiaojun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Advantages; ammonia; ammonium; anaerobic ammonium oxidation; chemical oxygen demand; Continuous service; industrial wastewater; industry; Microbial community; nitrites; nitrogen; Nitrosomonas; pollution control; sustainable development; tail; technology; total nitrogen; Zeolite; zeolites
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131192

[Display omitted] •Pilot-scale process treating low ammonia nitrogen electroplating tail wastewater.•Partial nitritation reactor was successfully started up and NAR exceeding 90 %.•Anammox bacteria enriched from 5.83 % to 28.84 %.•Easily realizing advanced nitrogen removal with TNRE reached 80.2 ± 7.41 %. This study explored a novel economical and efficient process for treating actual low-ammonia nitrogen electroplating tail wastewater. A pilot scale system of denitrification-partial nitrification/anaerobic ammonium oxidation (DN-PN/A) was constructed and operated for 190 days. The partial nitrification (PN) reactor, filled with zeolite, increased free ammonia concentration beyond the nitrite oxidizing bacteria threshold and successfully supplied NO2−-N, with nitrite accumulation rate exceeding 90 %. Over 109 days, the total nitrogen removal rate achieved was 80.2 ± 7.41 %, and the chemical oxygen demand removal rate reached 79.68 ± 9.53 %. The dominant functional bacteria were Nitrosomonas (5.45 %) and Candidatus Anammoxoglobus (28.84 %) in PN reactor and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) reactor. This process, characterized by rapid start-up, strong shock resistance, and low cost, alleviates the pressure of ammonium pollution control, promotes the sustainable development of the electroplating industry and has the potential for application in the treatment of other industrial wastewater.