Evaluating the effect of dissolved oxygen on ammonia-oxidizing bacterial communities in activated sludge

Achieving nitrogen removal via nitrite in a pilot-scale continuous pre-denitrification plant

Nitrogen removal via nitrite (the nitrite pathway) is beneficial for carbon-limited biological wastewater treatment plants. However, partial nitrification to nitrite has proven difficult in continuous processes treating domestic wastewater. The nitrite pathway is achieved in this study in a pilot-scale continuous pre-denitrification plant (V=300 L) treating domestic wastewater by controlling the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration at 0.4-0.7 mg/L. It is demonstrated that the nitrite pathway could be repeatedly and reliably achieved, with over 95% of the oxidized nitrogen compounds at the end of the aerobic zone being nitrite. The nitrite pathway improved the total nitrogen (TN) removal by about 20% in comparison to the nitrate pathway, and also reduced aeration costs by 24%. FISH analysis showed that the nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) population gradually reduced at low DO levels, and reached negligible levels when stable nitrite pathway was established. It is hypothesized that NOB was washed out due to its relatively lower affinity with oxygen. A lag phase was observed in the establishment of the nitrite pathway. Several sludge ages were required for the onset of the nitrite pathway after the application of low DO levels. However, nitrite accumulation increased rapidly after that. A similar lag phase was observed for the upset of the nitrite pathway when a DO concentration of 2-3 mg/L was applied. The nitrite pathway negatively impacted on the sludge settleability. A strong correlation between the sludge volume index and the degree of nitrite accumulation was observed.

Ammonia-oxidizing Crenarchaeota and nitrification inside the tissue of a colonial ascidian

Marine Crenarchaeota represent an abundant component of the oceanic microbiota that play an important role in the global nitrogen cycle. Here we report the association of the colonial ascidian Cystodytes dellechiajei with putative ammonia-oxidizing Crenarchaeota that could actively be involved in nitrification inside the animal tissue. As shown by 16S rRNA gene analysis, the ascidian-associated Crenarchaeota were phylogenetically related to Nitrosopumilus maritimus, the first marine archaeon isolated in pure culture that grows chemolithoautotrophically oxidizing ammonia to nitrite aerobically. Catalysed reporter deposition (CARD)-FISH revealed that the Crenarchaeota were specifically located inside the tunic tissue of the colony, where moreover the expression of amoA gene was detected. The amoA gene encodes the alpha-subunit of ammonia monooxygenase, which is involved in the first step of nitrification, the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite. Sequencing of amoA gene showed that they were phylogenetically related to amoA genes of N. maritimus and other putative ammonia-oxidizing marine Crenarchaeota. In order to track the suspected nitrification activity inside the ascidian colony under in vivo conditions, microsensor profiles were measured through the tunic tissue. Net NO(x) production was detected in the tunic layer 1200-1800 microm with rates of 58-90 nmol cm(-3) h(-1). Oxygen and pH microsensor profiles showed that the layer of net NO(x) production coincided with O(2) concentrations of 103-116 microM and pH value of 5.2. Together, molecular and microsensor data indicate that Crenarchaeota could oxidize ammonia to nitrite aerobically, and thus be involved in nitrification inside the ascidian tissue.

Presence and activity of ammonia-oxidising bacteria detected amongst the overall bacterial diversity along a physico-chemical gradient of a nitrifying wastewater treatment plant

We wished to discover if we could gain greater insights into how biological treatment plants function by contrasting the presence and activity of the most abundant Bacteria in plug flow and completely mixed activated sludge plants. Presence was assessed by amplifying 16S rRNA gene fragments (using PCR) and activity by amplifying native 16S rRNA, using reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), using Bacteria-specific primers. The amplified sequences were compared using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The plug flow plant exhibited a strong physico-chemical gradient with an initial anoxic zone, whilst the two completely mixed reactors did not. Similarities were observed between the profile of the banding pattern for presence and activity. However, in the plug flow reactor one prominent band was detected in the active population (16S rRNA) but was absent from the corresponding profile of the 16S rRNA gene. Sequencing of this band revealed its identity as a Nitrosomonas-like sequence. The intensity of the 16S rRNA sequenced varied along the physico-chemical gradient of the plug-flow reactor in a manner that coincided with the growth of ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) and the loss of ammonia. This band was also absent from the completely mixed reactors, although significant numbers of AOB were detected in all systems ( approximately 10(6)-10(8)cells ml(-1)) by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). An abundant and highly active AOB population was present in the anoxic zone of the plug-flow reactor where up to 60% of the total ammonia was removed. An examination of nitrogen removal/production rates, together with the above data, reveal that complex nitrogen removal processes occur in this system. These data also enabled the calculation of a specific in situ growth rate for the AOB as 0.12h(-1).

Comparative kinetic behavior of nitrifiers with different growth environments

A batch feed study using nitrifiers that had been continuously acclimated under a low-ammonia environment showed that a sudden change of ammonia concentration resulted in sluggish physiological adaptation and biochemical reaction of nitrifiers (i.e., indicated by the parameter specific oxygen utilization rate). When the one-stage continuous-stirred tank reactor (CSTR) system was maintained at a short microbial cell residence time and a high volumetric loading rate, an accumulation of nitrite occurred. Under such circumstances, ammonia and nitrite oxidation both limit overall nitrification at different stages of the process. Batch studies with biomass respectively removed from the front and rear reactors (i.e., high-ammonia and low-ammonia growth environments) of a two-stage CSTR system showed that the estimated kinetic parameters for nitrifiers with the low-ammonia growth environment were 0.3-0.8-fold lower than those for nitrifiers with the high-ammonia growth environment, possibly leading to inaccurate model simulation results. Accordingly, biomass removed from a CSTR system that had been operated continuously to grow bacteria under a high-substrate environment should be loaded into the batch reactor if the batch reactor method is to be used to estimate kinetic parameters.

Nitrifying genera in activated sludge may influence nitrification rates

Sequencing batch reactors were acclimated under aerobic and alternating anoxic/aerobic conditions. Greater nitrification rates in the alternating reactor were investigated by comparing environmental conditions. In the alternating reactor, pH, alkalinity, oxygen, and nitrite were higher at the onset of aerobic nitrification. Kinetic studies and batch tests, with biomass developed under aerobic and alternating conditions, revealed that these factors were insufficient to explain the divergent nitrification rates. Nitrifying genera vary in nitrification kinetics and sensitivity to environmental conditions. Nitrosospira and Nitrospira spp. could dominate in aerobic reactors, as they are adapted to low nitrite and oxygen conditions. Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter spp. are better competitors with abundant substrates and have higher nitrite tolerance, so they could excel under alternating conditions. This theoretical explanation is consistent with the kinetics and environmental conditions in these reactors and argues for using alternating treatment, because the harsh conditions select for populations with inherently faster nitrification rates.

Influence of mixed liquor recycle ratio and dissolved oxygen on performance of pre-denitrification submerged membrane bioreactors

The conflicting influence of mixed liquor recycle ratio and dissolved oxygen on nitrogen removal and membrane fouling of a pre-denitrification submerged MBR was investigated in this study. It was found that a high aeration rate of 10 L air/min was able to minimize membrane fouling as compared with lower aeration rates of 5 and 2.5L air/min in this study. Faster fouling at lower aeration rate was due to the decrease in cross-flow velocity across the membrane surface. However, high DO concentration (average of 5.1+/-0.5mg O2/L) present in the recycle mixed liquor at an aeration rate of 10 L air/min deteriorated the TN removal efficiency when operating at a recycle ratio of more than 3. A lower aeration rate of 5L air/min, resulting in an average DO concentration of 3.4+/-0.7 mg O2/L in the recycle mixed liquor, led to an improvement in TN removal efficiency: 63%, 80%, 84% and 89% for mixed liquor recycle ratio of 1, 3, 5 and 10, respectively. Further decrease in aeration rate to 2.5L air/min, resulting in an average DO concentration of 1.9+/-0.8 mg O2/L, did not improve the TN removal efficiency. Using a newly developed simplified nitrification-denitrification model, it was calculated that the COD/NO3(-)-N required for denitrification at 10 L air/min aeration rate was higher than those associated with 5 and 2.5L air/min aeration rates. The model also revealed that denitrification at an aeration rate of 10 L air/min was limited by COD concentration present in the wastewater when operating at a mixed liquor recycle ratio of 3 and higher.

Characterization of two ammonia-oxidizing bacteria isolated from reactors operated with low dissolved oxygen concentrations

AIMS

To obtain ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) strains inhabiting low dissolved oxygen (DO) environments and to characterize them to better understand their function and ecology.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using a serial dilution method, two AOB strains (ML1 and NL7) were isolated from chemostat reactors operated with low DO concentrations (0.12-0.24 mg l(-1)). Phylogenetically, strains ML1 and NL7 are affiliated to AOB within the Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrosomonas oligotropha lineages, respectively. Kinetically, strain ML1 had high affinity for oxygen (0.24 +/- 0.13 mg l(-1)) and low affinity for ammonia (1.62 +/- 0.97 mg N l(-1)), while strain NL7 had high affinity for ammonia (0.48 +/- 0.35 mg l(-1)), but a surprisingly low affinity for oxygen (1.22 +/- 0.43 mg l(-1)). A co-culture experiment was used to iteratively estimate decay constants for both strains.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicated that AOB without high affinity for oxygen may have other mechanisms to persist in low DO environments, with high affinity for ammonia being important.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study provides a method to determine AOB growth kinetic parameters without assuming or neglecting decay constant. And, this is the first report on oxygen affinity constant of a N. oligotropha strain.

The impact of temperature and gas-phase oxygen on kinetics of in situ ammonia removal in bioreactor landfill leachate

Microcosm experiments aimed at defining a rate equation that describes how different environmental conditions (i.e., gas-phase oxygen concentrations, temperature and ammonia concentration) may impact in situ ammonia removal were conducted. Results indicate that ammonia removal can readily occur at various gas-phase oxygen levels (between 0.7% and 100%) and over a range of temperatures (22, 35 and 45 degrees C). Slowest rates occurred with lower gas-phase oxygen concentrations. All rate data, except at 45 degrees C and 5% oxygen, fit well (r2=0.75) to a multiplicative Monod equation with terms describing the impact of oxygen, pH, temperature and ammonia concentration. All ammonia half-saturation values are relatively high when compared to those generally found in wastewater treatment, suggesting that the rate may be affected by the mass transfer of oxygen and/or ammonia. Additionally, as the temperature increases, the ammonia half-saturation value also increases. The multiplicative Monod model developed can be used to aid in designing and operating field-scale studies.

Diversity study of nitrifying bacteria in full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants

We hypothesize that activated-sludge processes having stable and complete nitrification have significant and similar diversity and functional redundancy among its ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, despite differences in temperature, solids retention time (SRT), and other operating conditions. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined the diversity of nitrifying bacterial communities in all seven water-reclamation plants (WRPs) operated by Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC). These plants vary in types of influent waste stream, plant size, water temperature, and SRT. We used terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) targeting the 16S rRNA gene and group-specific ammonia-monooxygenase functional gene (amoA) to investigate these hard-to-culture nitrifying bacteria in the full-scale WRPs. We demonstrate that nitrifying bacteria carrying out the same metabolism coexist in all WRPs studied. We found ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) belonging to the Nitrosomonas europaea/eutropha, Nitrosomonas oligotropha, Nitrosomonas communis, and Nitrosospira lineages in all plants. We also observed coexisting Nitrobacter and Nitrospira genera for nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Among the factors that varied among the WRPs, only the seasonal temperature variation seemed to change the nitrifying community, especially the balance between Nitrosospira and Nitrosomonas, although both coexisted in winter and summer samples. The coexistence of various nitrifiers in all WRPs is evidence of functional redundancy, a feature that may help maintain the stability of the system for nitrification.

Investigation of total bacterial and ammonia-oxidizing bacterial community composition in a full-scale aerated submerged biofilm reactor for drinking water pretreatment in China

The community composition of total bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in a full-scale aerated submerged biofilm reactor for drinking water pretreatment was characterized by analysis of 16S rRNA gene and the functional gene amoA, respectively. Sampling was performed in February and in July. 16S rRNA gene clone libraries revealed 13 bacterial divisions. At both sampling dates, the majority of clone sequences were related to the Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria. A minor proportion belonged to the following groups: Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Nitrospira, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes and the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides group. Some sequences related to bacteria owning high potential metabolic capacities were detected in both samples, such as Rhodobacter-like rRNA gene sequences. Surveys of cloned amoA genes from the two biofilm samples revealed ammonia-oxidizing bacterial sequences affiliated with the Nitrosomonas oligotropha lineage, Nitrosomonas communis lineage. An unknown Nitrosomonas group of amoA gene sequences was also detected.

Characteristics of a twice-fed sequencing batch reactor treating swine wastewater under control of aeration intensity

The changes of nitrogen (NH4+-N, NO2- -N, and NO3- -N), chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved phosphorus (DP), dissolved oxygen (DO), oxidization and reduction potential (ORP), and pH were tracked in a twice-fed sequencing batch reactor (SBR) treating swine wastewater at aeration intensities of 2.1, 4.2, and 6.3 L/m3 x s, with two alternating non-aeration/aeration phases. The SBR was fed at the beginning of each non-aeration phase with a volume ratio of 3:1. The results show that aeration intensity has positive effects on DO breakthrough and the maximum DO concentration during aeration. Additionally, nitrification, proceeding in an aerated environment with non-detectable DO, can be accelerated when aeration intensity increases from 2.1 to 4.2 L/m3 x s, while the COD and DP removals increase at the end of the aeration phase for higher aeration intensities (4.2 and 6.3 L/m3 x s). Online monitoring results indicate that pH is more sensitive than ORP in revealing the nitrification termination with non-detectable DO, whereas minimal ORP in the non-aeration phase has potential to be used as a control parameter for feeding.

Effective partial nitrification to nitrite by down-flow hanging sponge reactor under limited oxygen condition

Combining the processes of partial nitrification and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) is an attractive wastewater-treatment technology for nitrogen removal. In this study we investigated partial nitrification by implementing a closed down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor operated at controlled oxygen concentrations. Basic concept of DHS process is similar to that of trickling filter, in which oxygen concentration can be easily manipulated by controlling airflow to the reactor. The closed reactor was fed with artificial wastewater containing NH(4)Cl and operated with an HRT of 1.5h at 30 degrees C. Oxygen inside the reactor was maintained below 3% (1.2mgDO x L(-1)) (DO-dissolved oxygen) except during the startup periods. Five months of continuous operation showed that there was a strong relationship between oxygen concentration and nitrite production. The ratio of nitrite produced relative to ammonium oxidized increased by decreasing oxygen concentration. Partial nitrification was satisfactorily accomplished under oxygen limitation at around 0.5% in the gas phase (0.2mgDOL(-1)). The system showed a high ammonium-removal rate, at a maximum of 1.46kg NH(4)(+)-Nm(-3)day(-1), even at limited oxygen concentration. We also found that oxygen concentration played an important role in the production of nitrous oxide, which increased with decreasing oxygen concentration.

Evaluation of municipal wastewater treatment plants with different technologies at Las Rozas, Madrid (Spain)

Eight small-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants were evaluated over a period of 19 months in the suburb of Las Rozas in Madrid (Spain). Four plants used compact extended aeration, two used conventional activated sludge, two used conventional extended aeration, one used a rotary biodisc reactor and the other used a peat bed reactor. The best results were obtained from the plants that used conventional technologies and the biodisc. Conventional activated sludge and extended aeration had higher removal efficiencies for ammonia, TSS, COD and BOD(5) and produced good quality final effluents for final disposal in accordance with the discharge standard. Empirical equations that correlated the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the effluents with the efficiencies of TSS, ammonia, COD and BOD(5) removals for all plants evaluated were obtained. The performance of the plants using compact extended aeration was affected more than those using conventional technologies or rotary biodisc when the capacity exceeded that of its initial design.

Strategies of aerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria for coping with nutrient and oxygen fluctuations

In most natural environments as well as in engineered environments, such as wastewater treatment plants, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) experience fluctuating substrate concentrations. Several physiological traits, such as low maintenance energy demand and decay rate, cell-to-cell communication, cell mobility, stable enzymes and RNAs, could allow AOB to maintain themselves under unfavourable circumstances. This review examines whether AOB possess such traits and how these traits might offer advantages over competing organisms such as heterotrophic bacteria during periods of starvation. In addition, within the AOB groups, differences exist in adaptation to and competitiveness under conditions of high or low ammonia or oxygen concentrations. Because these findings are of importance with regard to the ecology and activity of AOB in natural and engineered environments, concluding remarks are directed towards future research objectives that may clarify unanswered questions, thereby contributing to the general knowledge of the ecology and activity of ammonia oxidizers.

Occurrence of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in wastewater treatment plant bioreactors

We report molecular evidence that ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) occur in activated sludge bioreactors used to remove ammonia from wastewater. Using PCR primers targeting archaeal ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes, we retrieved and compared 75 sequences from five wastewater treatment plants operating with low dissolved oxygen levels and long retention times. All of these sequences showed similarity to sequences previously found in soil and sediments, and they were distributed primarily in four major phylogenetic clusters. One of these clusters contained virtually identical amoA sequences obtained from all five activated sludge samples (from Oregon, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey) and accounted for 67% of all the sequences, suggesting that this AOA phylotype may be widespread in nitrifying bioreactors.

In situ ammonia removal in bioreactor landfill leachate

Although bioreactor landfills have many advantages associated with them, challenges remain, including the persistence of NH(3)-N in the leachate. Because NH(3)-N is both persistent and toxic, it will likely influence when the landfill is biologically stable and when post-closure monitoring may end. An in situ nitrogen removal technique would be advantageous. Recent studies have shown the efficacy of such processes; however, they are lacking the data required to enable adequate implementation at field-scale bioreactor landfills. Research was conducted to evaluate the kinetics of in situ ammonia removal in both acclimated and unacclimated wastes to aid in developing guidance for field-scale implementation. Results demonstrate that in situ nitrification is feasible in an aerated solid waste environment and that the potential for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (even under low biodegradable C:N conditions) in field-scale bioreactor landfills is significant due to the presence of both aerobic and anoxic areas. All rate data fit well to Monod kinetics, with specific rates of removal of 0.196 and 0.117 mgN/day-g dry waste and half-saturation constants of 59.6 and 147 mgN/L for acclimated and unacclimated wastes, respectively. Although specific rates of ammonia removal in the unacclimated waste are lower than in the acclimated waste, a relatively quick start-up of ammonia removal was observed in the unacclimated waste. Using the removal rate expressions developed will allow for estimation of the treatment times and volumes necessary to remove NH(3)-N from recirculated landfill leachate.