Nitrite pathway in A2/O WWTPs

Deciding whether the implementation of the nitrite pathway is useful for the treatment of a given wastewater depends on several criteria such as organic matter availability, N and P removal, N2O emissions and operational costs. This work is a simulation-based study with a conventional Anaerobic/Anox...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Gaona Soler, Àlex|||0000-0002-6912-5333, Solis Duran, Borja|||0000-0003-0305-6168, Guerrero, Javier|||0000-0003-2902-4893, Guisasola, Albert|||0000-0002-3012-7964, Baeza, Juan Antonio|||0000-0003-1290-1669
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2023
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:281235
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/281235
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137453
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Denitritation
Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR)
NO emissions
Nitritation
Nitrite pathway
Wastewater
Descripción
Sumario:Deciding whether the implementation of the nitrite pathway is useful for the treatment of a given wastewater depends on several criteria such as organic matter availability, N and P removal, N2O emissions and operational costs. This work is a simulation-based study with a conventional Anaerobic/Anoxic/Oxic (A2/O) WWTP where the nitrite pathway can be implemented. The outcomes are general correlations to calculate the minimum COD requirements for a certain influent and a practical decision tree on the opportunities of nitrite pathway in A2/O WWTPs as a function of the influent wastewater composition (for P and N concentrations in the ranges 3-11 mgPO4 -3-P·L-1 and 20-60 mg NH4 +-N·L-1). This study shows that the implementation of the nitrite pathway reduces the COD requirements (depending on the influent, between 9 and 68%). It also can lead to a reduction in aeration costs. For an equivalent COD in the influent, the implementation of the nitrite pathway compared to the nitrate pathway results in a reduction of 41-47% in aeration costs and similar sludge production, leading to a reduction in the operational cost index of 10-16%. However, it is essential to note that this strategy can also lead to increased N2O emissions, with an emission factor for the nitrite pathway in the range of 2.5-17 times that of the nitrate pathway.