Effects of microorganisms on nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater

Abstract

Nitrogen and phosphorus are key to plant growth. The balance of nitrogen and phosphorus is crucial in nature. Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus content in wastewater has caused great harm to the environment. Traditional nitrogen and phosphorus removal methods can no longer meet the treatment standards for nitrogen and phosphorus. This article introduces the hazards of nitrogen and phosphorus, and points out the harm to nature and human beings if they are not up to standard in wastewater treatment plants. Through the analysis and discussion of several methods, the advantages of microbial nitrogen and phosphorus removal are explained. This article further summarizes several representative new microorganisms and microbial processes through the types and mechanisms of microbial nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Anammox bacteria can accept other electron pools to increase nitrogen removal efficiency. Denitrifying phosphorus-removing bacteria can achieve energy saving and carbon reducing effects through endogenous denitrification. Besides, the enhanced biological phosphorus removal process can allow denitrifying phosphorus accumulating bacteria to absorb phosphorus in an anaerobic, anoxic, aerobic alternating environment. The moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) abandons the disadvantages of the traditional biofilm method, while retaining the advantages of the traditional biofilm method such as shock load resistance and low sludge production. These new microorganisms and new microbial processes have become important applications in future nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes due to their advantages of high efficiency, low energy, and no secondary pollution. This article is conducive to the promotion of microbial-based wastewater treatment and can provide suggestions for the sustainable development of wastewater treatment.