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Partial Nitrification Algal-Bacterial Granule System Cultivation: Performance, Lipid Production and Biological Community

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Abstract

In this study, partial nitrification algal-bacterial granular sludge system was cultivated when treating ammonium-rich wastewater. With 200 mg/L influent NH4-N concentration, the effluent NH4-N, NO2-N and NO3-N concentrations were maintained at 62.3 mg/L, 67.1 mg/L, and 7.8 mg/L, making it as an ideal influent for anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox). The combined stress of algae growth and free nitrous acid (FNA) should be responsible for partial nitrification in algal-bacterial granular sludge system. The concentration of N-acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs, quorum sensing molecule) in the effluent of RL was up to 772.5 ng/L, much higher than that (592.8 ng/L) in the effluent of control without light irradiation (RC), leading to enhanced EPS production and granulation in the partial nitrification algal-bacterial granular sludge system. Because of the growth of algae (Chlorella, Scenedesmus, and Navicula), the lipid content in the algal-bacterial granules was 57.4 mg/g-SS, which was about 1.7 times higher than that in the granules from RC, making the algal-bacterial granule a value-added biomass. The relative abundance of Nitrosomonadaceae (AOB) slightly decreased from 5.4% in RC to 3.8% in RL, while Nitrospiraceae (NOB) was completely inhibited in algal-bacterial granules.

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Funding

This work was supported by financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51708301) and 2017 Science and Technology Demonstration Project of Industrial Integration and Development, Tianjin, China (17ZXYENC00100).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil Engineering, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang, 050043, China

    Shaoxiong Zhang & Huanchen Huo

  2. School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin, 300384, China

    Fansheng Meng

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  1. Shaoxiong Zhang
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  2. Huanchen Huo
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  3. Fansheng Meng
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Correspondence to Fansheng Meng.

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Zhang, S., Huo, H. & Meng, F. Partial Nitrification Algal-Bacterial Granule System Cultivation: Performance, Lipid Production and Biological Community. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 236 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04626-7

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