Simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal through an integrated partial-denitrification/anammox process in a single UAFB system

With the aim of obtaining enhanced nitrogen removal and phosphate recovery in mainstream sewage, we examined an integrated partial-denitrification/anaerobic ammonia oxidation (PD/A) process over a period of 189 days to accomplish this goal. An up-flow anaerobic fixed-bed reactor (UAFB) used in the integrated PD/A process was started up with anammox sludge inoculated and the influent composition controlled. Results showed that the system achieved a phosphorus removal efficiency of 82% when the influent concentration reached 12.0 mg/L. Batch tests demonstrated that stable and efficient removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, and phosphorus was achieved at a COD/NO3−-N ratio of 3.5. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that hydroxyapatite was the main crystal in the biofilm. Furthermore, substrate variation along the axial length of UAFB indicated that partial denitrification and anammox primarily took place near the reactor's bottom. According to a microbiological examination, 0.4% of the PD/A process's microorganisms were anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB). Ca. Brocadia, Ca. Kuenenia, and Ca. Jettenia served as the principal AnAOB generals in the system. Thauera, Candidatus Accumulibacter, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter, which together accounted for 27% of the denitrifying and phosphorus-accumulating bacteria, were helpful in advanced nutrient removal. Therefore, the combined PD/A process can be a different option in the future for sewage treatment to achieve contemporaneous nutrient removal.