Abstract
Start-up of autotrophic ammonia oxidation process for removal of nitrogen from low C:ANN ratio (<1) wastewaters is complicated due to needs of specific inoculation material and strict process control. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) process was started up from zero at 26°C in moving bed biofilm reactor by using the reject water as a feed medium and source of anammox bacteria. Efficient nitrogen removal process was observed for 270 days (average total nitrogen [TN] removal rate 0.5 kgN/(m3d); TN removal efficiency 80%). The highest TN removal rate of 1 kgN/(m3d) was obtained with a hydraulic retention time of 0.75 days and the influent NO2−:NH4+ molar ratio of 1.2. Polymerase chain reaction detected uncultured Planctomycetales bacterium clone P4 from the biofilm. Scanning electron microscopy observations indicated that the biofilm was dominated by cocci-like and spherical bacteria while filamentous bacteria were lacking. The start-up method studied could be used in wastewater treatment system for removal of ammonia from anaerobic digester effluent.
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