The Influence of Atmospheric Pressure and Organic Loading on the Sustainability of Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification

Wei-Jia Yu, Ji Sun, Wei-Jia Zhang, Yue Chen, Jun-Ling Yang, Shu-Ping Li, Guang-Can Zhu and Yong-Ze Lu ()
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Wei-Jia Yu: School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
Ji Sun: School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
Wei-Jia Zhang: School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
Yue Chen: Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration of Xizang, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, China
Jun-Ling Yang: Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration of Xizang, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, China
Shu-Ping Li: Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration of Xizang, National Ethnic Affairs Commission, Xizang Minzu University, Xianyang 712082, China
Guang-Can Zhu: School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
Yong-Ze Lu: School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-13

Abstract: In high-altitude regions, a diminished atmospheric oxygen content significantly impairs the aeration efficiency of municipal wastewater, posing a challenge to sustainable wastewater management. Consequently, conventional biological wastewater treatment methods necessitate elevated energy consumption in high-altitude areas, rendering them economically and environmentally unsustainable. The simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) process, owing to its minimal oxygen requirements, emerges as a promising and sustainable solution in low-pressure environments. Additionally, owing to the unique lifestyle and natural conditions in plateau regions, the organic loading in municipal wastewater is often low. To comprehensively assess the impact of low pressure and organic loading on the SND process, three laboratory-scale reactors were implemented. This study revealed that low pressure and the introduction of organic matter enhanced both nitrogen removal performance and SND efficiency. The sludge volume index decreased by 93.5%, indicating a substantial improvement in the microbial aggregation ability and the formation of a more favorable SND sludge structure. 16S rRNA sequencing results demonstrated alterations in the microbial community structure due to low pressure and the addition of organic matter, leading to a substantial increase in the abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria. Furthermore, the prediction results of functional genes indicated the upregulation of genes related to the nitrification and denitrification processes with decreasing pressure and the addition of organic matter. This enhancement underlines the improved microbial nitrogen removal function. This study underscores the positive influence of low pressure and organic loading on the SND system, thereby substantially enhancing the economic and environmental sustainability of the SND process in plateau regions.

Keywords: wastewater treatment; simultaneous nitrification and denitrification; low atmospheric pressure; organic loading (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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