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Kinetic analysis on the two-step processes of AOB and NOB in aerobic nitrifying granules

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Abstract

Complete granulation of nitrifying sludge was achieved in a sequencing batch reactor. For the granular sludge, batch experiments were conducted to characterize the kinetic features of ammonia oxidizers (AOB) and nitrite oxidizers (NOB) in the granules using the respirometric method. A two-step nitrification model was established to determine the kinetic parameters of both AOB and NOB. In addition to nitrification reactions, the new model also took into account biomass maintenance and mass transfer through the granules. The yield coefficient, maximum specific growth rate, and affinity constant for ammonium for AOB were 0.21 g chemical oxygen demand (COD) g−1 N, 0.09 h−1, and 9.1 mg N L−1, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for NOB were 0.05 g COD g−1 N, 0.11 h−1, and 4.85 mg N L−1, respectively. The model developed in this study performed well in simulating the oxygen uptake rate and nitrogen conversion kinetics and in predicting the oxygen consumption of the AOB and NOB in aerobic granules.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the NSFC (50625825 and 50738006), the National Key Project for Water Pollution Control (2008ZX07103-001 and 2008ZX07316-003), and the Anhui R&D Key Project (07010301022 and 08010302109) for the partial support of this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China

    Fang Fang, Bing-Jie Ni, Guo-Ping Sheng & Han-Qing Yu

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China

    Xiao-Yan Li

Authors
  1. Fang Fang
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  2. Bing-Jie Ni
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  3. Xiao-Yan Li
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  4. Guo-Ping Sheng
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  5. Han-Qing Yu
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Correspondence to Han-Qing Yu.

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Fang, F., Ni, BJ., Li, XY. et al. Kinetic analysis on the two-step processes of AOB and NOB in aerobic nitrifying granules. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 83, 1159–1169 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2011-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-009-2011-y

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