Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of alkalinity on bio-zeolite regeneration in treating cold low-strength ammonium wastewater via adsorption and enhanced regeneration

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Low temperature severely inhibits microbial activity, making biological method inefficient for ammonium removal from wastewater. A zeolite biological fixed-bed (ZBFB) was successfully established for 6.0–8.0 °C low-strength ammonium wastewater treatment via adsorption-regeneration. Ion exchange was a remarkable alternative and zeolite was mostly applied. Nevertheless, insufficient zeolite bio-regeneration rate was the key obstacle for economically sustainable utilization. By adsorption, effluent NH4+-N was around 1.5–2.5 mg/L. About 26% regeneration rate was obtained. With a ceramsite biological aerobic filter (CBAF) operated with ZBFB in series at the regeneration stage, the regeneration rate reached 95%, 3.5 times higher. Studies of alkalinity effects on bio-zeolite regeneration process indicated that Na2CO3 worked better than NaHCO3. Greater amount and one dose mode of alkalinity addition, higher regeneration rate could be obtained. The bio-zeolite regeneration process followed pseudo first-order kinetics with K = 0.0629 h−1. High-throughput sequencing analysis indicated the enriched nitrifying microorganisms in CBAF fully oxidized NH4+-N in regeneration solution, which accelerated desorption and conversion of NH4+-N by the circulation of regeneration solution between ZBFB and CBAF. The dynamic adsorption experiment proved that ZBFB-CBAF was feasible for cold low-strength ammonium wastewater treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Blackburne R, Vadivelu VM, Yuan Z, Keller J (2007) Kinetic characterisation of an enriched Nitrospira culture with comparison to Nitrobacter. Water Res 41(14):3033–3042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z, Wang X, Yang Y, Jounar MWM, Yuan Y (2016) Partial nitrification and denitrification of mature landfill leachate using a pilot-scale continuous activated sludge process at low dissolved oxygen. Bioresour Technol 218:580–588

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z, Wang X, Chen X, Chen J, Feng X, Peng X (2018) Nitrogen removal via nitritation pathway for low-strength ammonium wastewater by adsorption, biological desorption and denitrification. Bioresour Technol 267:541–549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • China EPA (2002) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater, 4th edn. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Daims H, Lebedeva EV, Pjevac P, Han P, Herbold C, Albertsen M, Jehmlich N, Palatinszky M, Vierheilig J, Bulaev A (2015) Complete nitrification by Nitrospira bacteria. Nature 528(7583):504–509

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng Q, Dhar BR, Elbeshbishy E, Lee HS (2014) Ammonium nitrogen removal from the permeates of anaerobic membrane bioreactors: economic regeneration of exhausted zeolite. Environ Technol 35(16):2008–2017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Erdoğan BC, Ülkü S (2011) Ammonium sorption by Gördes clinoptilolite rich mineral specimen. Appl Clay Sci 54(3-4):217–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fumasoli A, Bürgmann H, Weissbrodt DG, Wells GF, Beck K, Mohn J, Morgenroth E, Kai MU (2017) Growth of Nitrosococcus-related ammonia oxidizing bacteria coincides with extremely low pH values in wastewater with high ammonia content. Environ Sci Technol 51(12):6857–6866

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert EM, Agrawal S, Karst SM, Horn H, Nielsen PH, Lackner S (2014) Low temperature partial nitritation/anammox in a moving bed biofilm reactor treating low strength wastewater. Environ Sci Technol 48(15):8784–8792

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gorjiara M (2008) Ammonia removal from aqueous solutions by Iranian natural zeolite. Sep Sci Technol 43(4):960–978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green M, Mels A, Lahav O (1996) Biological-ion exchange process for ammonium removal from secondary effluent. Water Sci Technol 34(1–2):449–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang H, Xiao X, Yan B, Yang L (2010) Ammonium removal from aqueous solutions by using natural Chinese (Chende) zeolite as adsorbent. J Hazard Mater 175(1):247–252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen TC, Weatherley LR (2003) Ammonia removal from wastewater by ion exchange in the presence of organic contaminants. Water Res 37(8):1723–1728

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jung JY, Chung YC, Shin HS, Son DH (2004) Enhanced ammonia nitrogen removal using consistent biological regeneration and ammonium exchange of zeolite in modified SBR process. Water Res 38(2):347–354

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Karadag D, Koc Y, Turan M, Ozturk M (2007) A comparative study of linear and non-linear regression analysis for ammonium exchange by clinoptilolite zeolite. J Hazard Mater 144(1):432–437

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koon JH, Kaufman WJ (1975) Ammonia removal from municipal wastewaters by ion exchange. Journal 47(3):448–465

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lahav O, Green M (1998) Ammonium removal using ion exchange and biological regeneration. Water Res 32(7):2019–2028

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lei X, Li M, Zhang Z, Feng C, Bai W, Sugiura N (2009) Electrochemical regeneration of zeolites and the removal of ammonia. J Hazard Mater 169(1):746–750

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li M, Zhu X, Zhu F, Ren G, Cao G, Song L (2011) Application of modified zeolite for ammonium removal from drinking water. Desalination 271(1-3):295–300

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin L, Lei Z, Wang L, Liu X, Zhang Y, Wan C, Lee DJ, Tay JH (2013) Adsorption mechanisms of high-levels of ammonium onto natural and NaCl-modified zeolites. Sep Purif Technol 103:15), 15–15), 20

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazloomi F, Jalali M (2016) Ammonium removal from aqueous solutions by natural Iranian zeolite in the presence of organic acids, cations and anions. J Environ Chem Eng 4(1):240–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milán Z, Montalvo S, De LPC, Monroy O, Sánchez E, Borja R (2011) The effects of hydraulic loading and NaCl concentrations on the regeneration of exhausted homoionic natural zeolite. Environ Lett 46(6):596–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Montràs A, Pycke B, Boon N, Gòdia F, Mergeay M, Hendrickx L, Pérez J (2008) Distribution of Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrobacter winogradskyi in an autotrophic nitrifying biofilm reactor as depicted by molecular analyses and mathematical modelling. Water Res 42(6):1700–1714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moussavi G, Talebi S, Farrokhi M, Sabouti RM (2011) The investigation of mechanism, kinetic and isotherm of ammonia and humic acid co-adsorption onto natural zeolite. Chem Eng J 171(3):1159–1169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguezcaballero A, Hallin S, Påhlson C, Odlare M, Dahlquist E (2012) Ammonia oxidizing bacterial community composition and process performance in wastewater treatment plants under low temperature conditions. Water Sci Technol 65(2):197–204

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt I, Sliekers O, Schmid M, Bock E, Fuerst J, Kuenen JG, Jetten MS, Strous M (2003) New concepts of microbial treatment processes for the nitrogen removal in wastewater. FEMS Microbiol Rev 27(4):481–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shanahan JW, Semmens MJ (2015) Alkalinity and pH effects on nitrification in a membrane aerated bioreactor: an experimental and model analysis. Water Res 74:10–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taddeo R, Prajapati S, Lepistö R (2017) Optimizing ammonium adsorption on natural zeolite for wastewaters with high loads of ammonium and solids. J Porous Mater 24(6):1545–1554

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weatherley L, Miladinovic N, Lopez-Ruiz J (2003) Introduction of some new materials for combined biological and ion-exchange wastewater treatment for ammonia removal. Water Pollu VII, 251–259

  • Wei YX, Ye ZF, Wang YL, Ma MG, Li YF (2011) Enhanced ammonia nitrogen removal using consistent ammonium exchange of modified zeolite and biological regeneration in a sequencing batch reactor process. Environ Technol 32(12):1337–1343

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wen D, Ho YS, Tang X (2006) Comparative sorption kinetic studies of ammonium onto zeolite. J Hazard Mater 133(1):252–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wu Z, An Y, Wang Z, Yang S, Chen H, Zhou Z, Mai S (2008) Study on zeolite enhanced contact-adsorption regeneration-stabilization process for nitrogen removal. J Hazard Mater 156(1):317–326

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yu X, Zuo J, Li R, Gan LL, Li ZX, Zhang F (2014) A combined evaluation of the characteristics and acute toxicity of antibiotic wastewater. Ecotoxicol Environmen Saf 106:40–45

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was financially supported by the Specialized Applied Science and Technology Research, Development and Major Transformation Project of Guangdong Province in 2017 (2017B020236004).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Higher Education Mega Center, Panyu District, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Jing Chen, Xiaojun Wang, Songwei Zhou & Zhenguo Chen

  2. The Key Lab of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China

    Jing Chen, Xiaojun Wang, Songwei Zhou & Zhenguo Chen

  3. Hua An Biotech Co. Ltd., Foshan, 528300, China

    Songwei Zhou & Zhenguo Chen

Authors
  1. Jing Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiaojun Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Songwei Zhou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhenguo Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiaojun Wang.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Tito Roberto Cadaval Jr

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 1020 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, J., Wang, X., Zhou, S. et al. Effect of alkalinity on bio-zeolite regeneration in treating cold low-strength ammonium wastewater via adsorption and enhanced regeneration. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 28040–28051 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06034-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06034-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation