Total nitrogen removal in an aerobic/anoxic membrane biofilm reactor system

J. Cowman; Cesar Torres; Bruce Rittmann

doi:10.2166/wst.2005.0189

Total nitrogen removal in an aerobic/anoxic membrane biofilm reactor system

J. Cowman, Cesar Torres, Bruce Rittmann

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) is effective for reducing nitrate-N to N₂ gas, but most wastewaters contain ammonium-N. Here, we document that an aerobic/anoxic MBfR system achieves nearly total N removal (< 2 mgN/L) when the influent N is ammonium. The aerobic/anoxic MBfR couples two MBfR modules. The aerobic MBfR is supplied O₂ and brings about nitrification of ammonium to nitrate or nitrite. The anoxic MBfR is supplied H₂ and brings about denitrification to N₂ gas. Total N removal is most strongly influenced by the O₂ pressure in the aerobic module: too low O₂ caused poor nitrification, while too high O₂ inhibited denitrification in the anoxic module. Hydrogen pressure does not strongly affect total-N removal, and the best total-N removal occurs when the H₂ and O₂ pressures are similar.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	115-120
Number of pages	6
Journal	Water Science and Technology
Volume	52
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0189
State	Published - 2005

Keywords

Biofilm
Denitrification
Membrane
Nitrification
Nitrogen removal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Environmental Engineering
Water Science and Technology

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10.2166/wst.2005.0189

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title = "Total nitrogen removal in an aerobic/anoxic membrane biofilm reactor system",

abstract = "The hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) is effective for reducing nitrate-N to N2 gas, but most wastewaters contain ammonium-N. Here, we document that an aerobic/anoxic MBfR system achieves nearly total N removal (< 2 mgN/L) when the influent N is ammonium. The aerobic/anoxic MBfR couples two MBfR modules. The aerobic MBfR is supplied O2 and brings about nitrification of ammonium to nitrate or nitrite. The anoxic MBfR is supplied H2 and brings about denitrification to N2 gas. Total N removal is most strongly influenced by the O2 pressure in the aerobic module: too low O2 caused poor nitrification, while too high O2 inhibited denitrification in the anoxic module. Hydrogen pressure does not strongly affect total-N removal, and the best total-N removal occurs when the H2 and O2 pressures are similar.",

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T1 - Total nitrogen removal in an aerobic/anoxic membrane biofilm reactor system

AU - Cowman, J.

AU - Torres, Cesar

AU - Rittmann, Bruce

PY - 2005

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N2 - The hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) is effective for reducing nitrate-N to N2 gas, but most wastewaters contain ammonium-N. Here, we document that an aerobic/anoxic MBfR system achieves nearly total N removal (< 2 mgN/L) when the influent N is ammonium. The aerobic/anoxic MBfR couples two MBfR modules. The aerobic MBfR is supplied O2 and brings about nitrification of ammonium to nitrate or nitrite. The anoxic MBfR is supplied H2 and brings about denitrification to N2 gas. Total N removal is most strongly influenced by the O2 pressure in the aerobic module: too low O2 caused poor nitrification, while too high O2 inhibited denitrification in the anoxic module. Hydrogen pressure does not strongly affect total-N removal, and the best total-N removal occurs when the H2 and O2 pressures are similar.

AB - The hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) is effective for reducing nitrate-N to N2 gas, but most wastewaters contain ammonium-N. Here, we document that an aerobic/anoxic MBfR system achieves nearly total N removal (< 2 mgN/L) when the influent N is ammonium. The aerobic/anoxic MBfR couples two MBfR modules. The aerobic MBfR is supplied O2 and brings about nitrification of ammonium to nitrate or nitrite. The anoxic MBfR is supplied H2 and brings about denitrification to N2 gas. Total N removal is most strongly influenced by the O2 pressure in the aerobic module: too low O2 caused poor nitrification, while too high O2 inhibited denitrification in the anoxic module. Hydrogen pressure does not strongly affect total-N removal, and the best total-N removal occurs when the H2 and O2 pressures are similar.

KW - Biofilm

KW - Denitrification

KW - Membrane

KW - Nitrification

KW - Nitrogen removal

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Total nitrogen removal in an aerobic/anoxic membrane biofilm reactor system

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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