Find in Library
Search millions of books, articles, and more
Indexed Open Access Databases
Treatment of Anaerobic Digester Liquids via Membrane Biofilm Reactors: Simultaneous Aerobic Methanotrophy and Nitrogen Removal
oleh: Egidio F. Tentori, Nan Wang, Caroline J. Devin, Ruth E. Richardson
Format: | Article |
---|---|
Diterbitkan: | MDPI AG 2024-09-01 |
Deskripsi
Anaerobic digestion (AD) produces useful biogas and waste streams with high levels of dissolved methane (CH<sub>4</sub>) and ammonium (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>), among other nutrients. Membrane biofilm reactors (MBfRs), which support dissolved methane oxidation in the same reactor as simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (ME-SND), are a potential bubble-less treatment method. Here, we demonstrate ME-SND taking place in single-stage, AD digestate liquid-fed MBfRs, where oxygen (O<sub>2</sub>) and supplemental CH<sub>4</sub> were delivered via pressurized membranes. The effects of two O<sub>2</sub> pressures, leading to different O<sub>2</sub> fluxes, on CH<sub>4</sub> and N removal were examined. MBfRs achieved up to 98% and 67% CH<sub>4</sub> and N removal efficiencies, respectively. The maximum N removal rates ranged from 57 to 94 mg N L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>, with higher overall rates observed in reactors with lower O<sub>2</sub> pressures. The higher-O<sub>2</sub>-flux condition showed NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> as a partial nitrification endpoint, with a lower total N removal rate due to low N<sub>2</sub> gas production compared to lower-O<sub>2</sub>-pressure reactors, which favored complete nitrification and denitrification. Membrane biofilm 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed an abundance of aerobic methanotrophs (especially <i>Methylobacter</i>, <i>Methylomonas,</i> and <i>Methylotenera</i>) and enrichment of nitrifiers (especially <i>Nitrosomonas</i> and <i>Nitrospira</i>) and anammox bacteria (especially Ca. <i>Annamoxoglobus</i> and Ca. <i>Brocadia</i>) in high-O<sub>2</sub> and low-O<sub>2</sub> reactors, respectively. Supplementation of the influent with nitrite supported evidence that anammox bacteria in the low-O<sub>2</sub> condition were nitrite-limited. This work highlights coupling of aerobic methanotrophy and nitrogen removal in AD digestate-fed reactors, demonstrating the potential application of ME-SND in MBfRs for the treatment of AD’s residual liquids and wastewater. Sensor-based tuning of membrane O<sub>2</sub> pressure holds promise for the optimization of bubble-less treatment of excess CH<sub>4</sub> and NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> in wastewater.