HYBRID BIOTECHNOLOGICAL PROCESS FOR AMMONIUM RICH WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Research contract: 32142/2008

Program 4: Partnership in Priority Domains

CONSORTIUM

Coordinator: National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology, Bucharest

PARTNERS:

• Politechnica University of Bucharest;
• Biology Institute of Romanian Academy;
• SC APA CANAL 2000 SA

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

Development of innovative biotechnological methods for advanced treatment of wastewater with high ammonium content (hudreads of mg/L). Identification of involved microorganisms by modern molecular techniques and assessment of their activity”

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• Elaboration of technical-scientifically documentation based on literature data in order to identify/assess biotechnological treatments methods for wastewater with high ammonium content and the possibilities of monitoring the diversity and microbial dynamics by molecular and enzymatic techniques.
• Elaboration of innovative biotechnological treatments methods based on a hybrid treatment process for wastewater with high ammonium content (laboratory scale) and identification of involved microorganisms by molecular techniques – extraction of bacterial DNA, PCR amplification, genes sequencing  and enzymatic methods;
• Design of experimental model – hybrid system installation. Elaboration of experimental model technology. Evaluation of diversity and microbial dynamics by molecular and enzymatic techniques.
• Experimental demonstration in a model installation of functionality and utility of proposed technological method. Evaluation of diversity and microbial dynamics by molecular and enzymatic techniques.
• Identification and assignation of the intellectual property rights. Dissemination of the results (scientific communications, scientific articles, web page, presentation handbook, workshops with potential beneficiaries – municipal wastewater treatment operators, industrial wastewater treatment operators) within scientific community and stakeholders (local authorities and environmental protection agencies).

RESULTS/INDICATORS

• Critical study for the identification/assessment of biotechnological processes used for ammonium rich wastewater treatment
• Identification/assessment of biotechnological processes used worldwide for ammonium rich wastewater treatment – conventional nitrification/denitrification, SHARON, ANAMMOX, combined SHARON-ANAMMOX, CANON, OLAND, DEAMOX – and comparative analysis of costs and performances of these technologies;
• Study of the mathematical models used for ammonium rich wastewater treatment through nitritation processes, anaerobic ammonium oxidation, Sharon process;
• Study on the microorganisms involved, biochemical processes, enzymatic measuring methods and taxonomic identification. Determination of microbial diversity and dynamics in the bioreactor using DNA extraction and PCR amplification protocols.
  • Experiments for ammonium rich wastewater treatment
  • Monitorization of the quality of effluent from sludge dewatering installation from municipal WWTPs of Pitesti and Focsani;
  • Identification of optimum operation parameters of nitritification and anammox reactors;
  • Ammonium partial oxidation process can be achieved in a mixed bioreactor without sludge retention with the following parameter control: temperature (30-40⁰C), hydraulic retention time (HRT=1-2 days), dissolved oxygen concentration (1-1.5 mg O₂/L), pH = 7-8.5, thus allowing the enrichment of ammonium oxidation bacteria and elimination of nitrite oxidation bacteria;
  • Anaerobic ammonium oxidation is the most economical way to remove the nitrogen-ammonia from ammonium rich wastewater flows. The autotrophic process is realized by anammox bacteria that are characterized by slow growth rate (biomass doubling time -15 days). This fact implies the need of an efficient biomass retention system (settler, filling material for biofilm formation) and a long period for inoculum formation and start up (up to one year).
    • Several experiments were performed for identification of optimum operational parameters for the nitritification bioreactor;
    • In a hybrid SBR bioreactor, the anammox specific inoculum  was obtained – novelty element which lead to successful achievement of project objectives;
    • Microorganisms identification through molecular techniques – bacteria DNA extraction (anammox process specific bacteria);
    • The viability and utility of the biotechnological solution for ammonium rich and low organic load wastewater treatment was experimentally proved.
    • Dissemination of project results by 5 scientific communication;

POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES:

• WWTPs
• Economical agents from zootechny  and chemical fertilizers industry