Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Mainstream partial nitritation–anammox in municipal wastewater treatment: status, bottlenecks, and further studies

  • Mini-Review
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Driven by energy neutral/positive of wastewater treatment plants, significant efforts have been made on the research and development of mainstream partial nitritation and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) (PN/A) (deammonification) process since the early 2010s. To date, feasibility of mainstream PN/A process has been demonstrated and proven by experimental results at various scales although with the low loading rates and elevated nitrogen concentration in the effluent at low temperatures (15–10 °C). This review paper provides an overview of the current state of research and development of mainstream PN/A process and critically analyzes the bottlenecks for its full-scale application. The paper discusses the following: (i) the current status of research and development of mainstream PN/A process; (ii) the interactions among aerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria, aerobic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, anammox bacteria, and heterotrophic bacteria; (iii) the suppression of aerobic nitrite-oxidizing bacteria; (iv) process and bioreactors; and (v) suggested further studies including efficient and robust carbon concentrating pretreatment, deepening of understanding competition between autotrophic nitrogen-converting organisms, intensification of biofilm anammox activity, reactor design, and final polishing.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahn JH, Yu R, Chandran K (2008) Distinctive microbial ecology and biokinetics of autotrophic ammonia and nitrite oxidation in a partial nitrification bioreactor. Biotech Bioeng 100(6):1078–1087

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Omari A, Wett B, Nopens I, De Clippeleir H, Han M, Regmi P, Bott C, Murthy S (2015) Model-based evaluation of mechanisms and benefits of mainstream shortcut nitrogen removal processes. Wat. Sci Technol 71(6):840–847

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Anthonisen A, Loehr R, Prakasam T, Srinath G (1976) Inhibition of nitrification by ammonia and nitrous acid. Water Pollut Control Fed 48(5):835–852

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ATV (1997) Biologische und weitergehende Abwasserreinigung. Berlin

  • Beccari M, Dipinto AC, Ramadori R, Tomei MC (1992) Effects of dissolved oxygen and diffusion resistances on nitrification kinetics. Water Res 26:1099–1104

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bellucci M, Ofiteru ID, Graham DW, Head IM, Curtis TP (2011) Low-dissolved-oxygen nitrifying systems exploit ammonia-oxidizing bacteria with unusually high yields. Appl Environ Microbiol 77(21):7787–7796

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburne R, Yuan Z, Keller J (2008a) Partial nitrification to nitrite using low dissolved oxygen concentration as the main selection factor. Biodegradation 19(2):303–312

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blackburne R, Yuan Z, Keller J (2008b) Demonstration of nitrogen removal via nitrite in a sequencing batch reactor treating domestic wastewater. Wat Res 42:2166–2176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brockmann D, Rosenwinkel KH, Morgenroth E (2008) Practical identification of biokinetic parameters of a model describing two-step nitrification. Biotechnol Bioeng 103(3):497–514

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao YS, Kwok BH, Yong W H, Chua SC, Wah YL, Yahya ABD GHANI (2013) The main stream autotrophic nitrogen removal in the largest full scale activated sludge process in Singapore: process analysis. In: Proceedings of WEF/IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery 2013: Trends in Resource Recovery and Use, July 28–31, 2013, Vancouver

  • Cao YS, Kwok BH, Zhou Y, Lee Z, Liu Y, He JZ, van Loosdrecht MCM, Daigger GT, Lay W, Chua SC, Wah YL, Yahya AG (2014) Nitrogen removal activated sludge process from conventional to innovative process. In: Proceedings of IWA Specialist Conference on Global Challenges for Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery. 26–30, Oct. 2014. Kathmandu

  • Cao YS, Kwok BH, van Loosdrecht MCM, Daigger GT, Chua SC, Wah YL, Yahya AG (2016a) The occurrence of EPBR in mainstream partial nitritation and anammox at a 200 000 m3/day activated sludge process, Singapore. Wat Sci Technol. doi:10.2166/wst.2016.565

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao YS, Kwok BH, van Loosdrecht MCM, Daigger GT, Png HY, Chua SC, Wah YL, Yahya AG (2016b) Mainstream partial nitritation and anammox in a 200 000 m3/day activated sludge process in Singapore: scale-down by using laboratory fed-batch reactor. Wat Sci Technol. doi:10.2166/wst.2016.116

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbalá-Robles L, Picioreanu C, van Loosdrecht MCM, Pérez J (2016) Analysing the effects of the aeration pattern and residual ammonium concentration in a partial nitritation-anammox process. Environ Technol 37(6):694–702

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daigger GT (2014) Oxygen and carbon requirements for biological nitrogen removal processes accomplishing nitrification, nitritation, and anammox. Wat Environ Res 86(2):204–209

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daigger GT, Littleton H (2013) Simultaneous biological nutrient removal: a state-of-the art review. In: Proceedings of WEFTEC. 2013.5–9 Oct 2013, Chicago

  • Daigger GT, Nicholson GA, Koh CLY, Moh WH, Young JC, Ghani YA, Yong WH (2008) Start-up and initial operation of Singapore’s 800,000 m3/day Changi Water Reclamation Plant. In: Proceedings of IWA--PUB Water Convention Conference, SIWW, 23–27, June 2008, Singapore

  • Daims H, Purkhold U, Bjerrum L, Arnold E, Wilderer PA (2001) Nitrification in sequencing biofilm batch reactors: lessons from molecular approaches. Wat Sci Technol 43:9–18

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Clippeleir H, Yan XG, Verstraete W, Vlaeminck SE (2011) OLAND is feasible to treat sewage-like nitrogen concentrations at low hydraulic residence times. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 90:1537–1545

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Clippeleir H, Vlaeminck SE, de Wilde F, Daeninck K, Mosquera M, Boeckx P, Verstraete W, Boon N (2013) One-stage partial nitritation/anammox at 15 °C on pretreated sewage: feasibility demonstration at lab-scale. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97(23):10199–10210

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Desloover J, De Clippeleir H, Boeckx P, Du LG, Colsen J, Verstraete W, Vlaeminck SE (2011) Floc-based sequential partial nitritation and anammox at full scale with contrasting N2O emissions. Wat Res. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.02.028

    Google Scholar 

  • Dosta J, Fernández I, Vázquez-Padín JR, Mosquera-Corral A, Camposb JL, Mata-Álvarez J, Méndez R (2008) Short- and long-term effects of temperature on the anammox process. J Hazard Mater 154:688–693

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dytczak M, Londry KL, Oleszkiewicz JA (2008) Activated sludge operational regime has significant impact on the type of nitrifying community and its nitrification rates. Wat Res 42(8–9):2320–2328

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald CM, Camejo J, Oshlag Z, Noguera DR (2015) Ammonia-oxidizing microbial communities in reactors with efficient nitrification at low-dissolved oxygen. Wat Res 70:38–51

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao D-W, Huang X-L, Tao Y, Cong Y, Wang X-L (2015) Sewage treatment by an UAFB–EGSB biosystem with energy recovery and autotrophic nitrogen removal under different temperatures. Bioresour Technol 181:26–31

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Geilvoet SP, Hendrickx T (2015) Latest development of mainstream anammox granular sludge process in Rotterdam-Dokhaven. Presented in the Workshop Mainstream Anammox. Amsterdam International Water Conference, 2–6 November 2015

  • Geilvoet SP, Van Erp Taalman Kip CS, Hendrickx TLG, Hoekstra M (2015) Mainstream deammonification at WWTP Rotterdam-Dokhaven. In: Proceedings of IWA Specialist Conference Nutrient Removal and Recovery: moving innovation into practice. 18–21 May, 2015 Gdańsk, Poland

  • Gilbert EM, Agrawal S, Karst SM, Horn H, Nielsen PH, Lackner S (2014a) Low temperature partial nitritation/anammox in a moving bed biofilm reactor treating low strength wastewater. Environ Sci Technol. doi:10.1021/es501649m

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert EM, Agrawal S, Brunner F, Schwartz T, Horn H, Lackner S (2014b) Response of different Nitrospira species to anoxic periods depends on operational DO. Environ Sci Technol 48:2934–2941

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert EM, Agrawal S, Schwartz T, Horn H, Lackner S (2015) Comparing different reactor configurations for partial Nitritation/anammox at low temperatures. Wat. Res. 81:92–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guillén JAS, Yimman Y, Vazquez CML, Brdjanovic D, van Lier JB (2014) Effects of organic carbon source, chemical oxygen demand/N ratio and temperature on autotrophic nitrogen removal. Wat Sci Technol 69(10):2079–2086

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guillén JAS, Guardado PRC, Vazquez CML, de Oliveira Cruz CM, Brdjanovic D, van Lier JB (2015) Anammox cultivation in a closed sponge-bed trickling filter. Bioresour Biotech 186:252–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guisasola A, Jubany I, Baeza JA, Carrera J, Lafuente J (2005) Respirometric estimation of the oxygen affinity constants for biological ammonium and nitrite oxidation. J Chem Technol Biotech 80:388–396

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gustavsson DJI, Persson F, Jansen JLC (2014) Manammox—mainstream anammox at Sjölunda WWTP. In: Proceedings of IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition. Lisbon, September 22, 2014

  • Gustavsson DJI, Okhravi A, Persson F, Alvarez NL, Jansen JLC (2015) Experiences of repression of nitrate production in nitritation-anammox on municipal wastewater. In: Proceedings of IWA Specialist Conference Nutrient Removal and Recovery: moving innovation into practice. 18–21 May, 2015 Gdańsk, Poland

  • Han M, De Clippeleir H, Al-Omari A, Stewart H, Keswani H, Wett B, Vlaeminck SE, Bott C, Murthy S (2015) Robustness evaluation for NOB out-selection in mainstream deammonification. In: Proceedings of IWA Specialist Conference Nutrient Removal and Recovery: moving innovation into practice. 18–21 May, 2015 Gdańsk, Poland. Conference Proceedings, 712–714

  • Han M, De Clippeleir H, Al-Omari A, Wett B, Vlaeminck SE, Bott C, Murthy S (2016) Impact of carbon to nitrogen ratio and aeration regime on mainstream deammonification. Wat Sci Tech. doi:10.2166/wst.2016.202

    Google Scholar 

  • Hao XD, Heijnen JJ, van Loosdrecht MCM (2002) Sensitivity analysis of a biofilm model describing a one-stage completely autotrophic nitrogen removal (CANON) process. Biotechnol Bioeng 77(3):266–277

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hellinga C, Schellen AAJC, Mulder JW, van Loosdrecht MCM, Heijen JJ (1998) The SHARON process: an innovative method for nitrogen removal from ammonium rich waste water. Wat Sci Technol 37:135–142

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrickx TLG, Wang Y, Kampman C, Zeeman G, Temmink H, Buisman CJN (2012) Autotrophic nitrogen removal from low strength waste water at low temperature. Wat Res 46:2187–2193

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hendrickx TLG, Kampmana C, Zeeman G, Temmink H, Hu Z, Kartal B, Buisman CJN (2014) High specific activity for anammox bacteria enriched from activated sludge at 10 °C. Bioresour Technol 163:214–221

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holger D, Lebedeva EV, Pjevac P, Han P, Herbold C, Albertsen M, Jehmlich N, Palatinszky M, Vierheilig J, Bulaev A, Kirkegaard RH, von Bergen M, Rattei T, Bendinger B, Nielsen PH, Wagner M (2015) Complete nitrification by Nitrospira bacteria. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature16461

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu Z, Lotti T, Kreuk MD, Kleerebezem R, van Loosdrecht MSM, Kruit J, Jetten MSM, Kartala B (2013) Nitrogen removal by a nitritation-anammox bioreactor at low temperature. Appl Environ Microb 79(8):2807–2812

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Huang ZH, Gedalang PB, Asvapathanagul P, Olson BH (2010) Influence of physicochemical and operational parameters on Nitrobacter and Nitrospira communities in an aerobic activated sludge bioreactor. Wat Res. 44:4351–4358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hubaux N, Wells G, Morgenroth E (2015) Impact of coexistence of flocs and biofilm on performance of combined nitritation-anammox granular sludge reactors. Wat. Res. 68:127–139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hunik JH (1993). Engineering aspects of nitrification with immobilized cells. Ph.D. thesis, Wageningen UR, Wageningen

  • Isanta E, Reino C, Carrera J, Pérez J (2015) Stable partial nitritation for low-strength wastewater at low temperature in an aerobic granular reactor. Wat. Res. 80:149–158. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2015.04.028

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jetten MSM, Horn SJ, van Loosdrecht MCM (1997) Towards a more sustainable municipal wastewater treatment system. Wat Sci Tech 35(9):171–180

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jetten MSM, Wagner M, Fuerst J, van Loosdrecht MCM, Kuenen G, Strous M (2001) Microbiology and application of the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (‘anammox’) process. Curr Opin Biotechnol 12:283–288

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jimenez J, Wise G, Burger G, Du WW, Dold P (2014) Mainstream nitrite-shunt with biological phosphorus removal at the city of ST Petersburg Southwest. In: Proceedings of WEFTEC 2014 September 28–October 1, 2014. New Orleans, USA

  • Jimenez J, Miller M, Bott C, Murthy S, De Clippeleir H, Wett B (2015) High-rate activated sludge system for carbon management evaluation of crucial process mechanisms and design parameters. Wat Res. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2015.07.032

    Google Scholar 

  • Kampschreur MJ, Temmink H, Kleerebezem R, Jetten MSM, van Loosdrecht MCM (2009) Review nitrous oxide emission during wastewater treatment. Wat Res 43:4093–4103

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kartal B, Kuypers MMM, Lavik G, Schalk J, Op den Camp HJM, Jetten MSM, Strous M (2007) Anammox bacteria disguised as denitrifiers: nitrate reduction to dinitrogen gas via nitrite and ammonium. Environ Microbiol 9:635–642

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kartal B, Kuenen JG, van Loosdrecht MCM (2010) Sewage treatment with anammox. Science 328(5979):702–703. doi:10.1126/science.1185941

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kartal, B, van Niftrik L, Keltjens JT, Op den Camp HJM, Jetten MSM (2012) Anammox—growth physiology, cell biology, and metabolism, In: Advances in microbial physiology (Edited by: Robert Poole), 60:212–262. ISSN: 0065–2911.DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-398264-3.00003-6

  • Kessel V, Maartje AHJ, Speth DR, Albertsen M, Nielsen PH, den Camp HJM O, Kartal B, Jetten MSM, Lücker S (2015) Complete nitrification by a single microorganism. Nature 528:555–559. doi:10.1038/nature16459

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kim D-J, Kim S-H (2006) Effect of nitrite concentration on the distribution and competition of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in nitratation reactor systems and their kinetic characteristics. Wat Res 40:887–894

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kindaichi T, Ito T, Okabe S (2004) Ecophysiological interaction between nitrifying bacteria and heterotrophic bacteria in autotrophic nitrifying biofilms as determined by MAR-FISH. Appl Environ Microbial 70(3):1641–1650

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kindaichi T, Tsushima I, Ogasawara Y, Shimokawa M, Ozaki N, Satoh H, Okabe S (2007) In situ activity and spatial organization of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria in biofilms. Appl Environ Microbial 70(3):4931–4939

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kornaros M, Dokianakis SN, Lyberatos G (2010) Partial nitrification/denitrification can be attributed to the slow response of nitrite oxidizing bacteria to periodic anoxic disturbances. Environ Sci Technol 44(19):7245–7253

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kroiss H, Cao YS (2014) Energy considerations. In: Wanner J, Jenkins D (eds) Activated sludge—100 years and counting. IWA Publishing, London ISBN: 9781780404936. 424 pages

    Google Scholar 

  • Lackner S, Agrawal S (2015) Process fundamentals-microbiology, stoichiometry, kinetics, and inhibition. In: WEF/WERF (2015) Shortcut nitrogen removal—nitrite shunt and deammonification. Publisher: Water Environment Federation. ISBN: 978-1-57278-313-3

  • Lackner S, Terada A, Smets BF (2008) Heterotrophic activity compromises autotrophic nitrogen removal in membrane-aerated biofilms: results of a modelling study. Wat Res 42:1102–1112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lackner S, Gilbert EM, Vlaeminck SE, Joss A, Horn H, van Loosdrecht MCM (2014) Full-scale partial nitritation/anammox experiences—an application survey. Wat. Res. 55:292–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lackner S, Welker S, Gilbert EM, Horn H (2015) Influence of seasonal temperature fluctuations on two different partial nitritation-anammox reactors treating mainstream municipal wastewater. Wat Sci Technol 72(8):1358–1365

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laureni M, Weissbrodt DG, Szivak I, Robin O, Nielsen JL, Morgenroth E, Joss A (2015) Activity and growth of anammox biomass on aerobically pre-treated municipal wastewater. Wat Res 80:325–336

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Laureni M, Falås P, Robin O, Wick A, Weissbrodt DG, Nielsen JL, Ternes TA, Morgenroth E, Joss A (2016) Mainstream partial nitritation and anammox: long-term process stability and effluent quality at low temperatures. Wat Res. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2016.05.005

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemaire R, Thomson C, Christensson M, Zhao H, Thesing G (2013) Mainstream deammonification using ANITA™Mox process W15: mainstream deammonification and shortcut TN removal—innovation and implementation. In: Proceedings of WEFTEC 2013, October 6th, Chicago

  • Li XJ, Sun S, Badgley BD, Sung SH, Zhang HS, He Z (2016) Nitrogen removal by granular nitritation/anammox in an upflow membrane-aerated biofilm reactor. Wat Res 94:23–31

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang YH, Li D, Zhang XJ, Zeng HP, Yang Z, Zhang J (2014) Microbial characteristics and nitrogen removal of simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox and denitrification (SNAD) process treating low C/N ratio sewage. Bioresour Biotech 194:103–109

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu YW, Ni BJ (2015) Appropriate Fe (II) addition significantly enhances anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) activity through improving the bacterial growth rate. Sci Rep 5:8204. doi:10.1038/srep08204

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Liu GQ, Wang JM (2013) Long-term low DO enriches and shifts nitrifier community in activated sludge. Environ Sci Technol 47:5109–5117

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lotti T, Kleerebezem R, Hu Z, Kartal B, Jetten MSM, van Loosdrecht MCM (2014a) Simultaneous partial nitritation and anammox at low temperature with granular sludge. Wat Res 66:111–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lotti T, Kleerebezem R, Hub Z, Kartal B, de Kreuk MK, van Erp Taalman Kip C, Kruit J, Hendrickx TLG, van Loosdrecht MCM (2014b) Pilot-scale evaluation of anammox based main-stream nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater. Environ Technol 36(9):1167–1177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lotti T, Kleerebezem R, Abelleira-Pereira J, Abbas B, van Loosdrecht MCM (2015a) Faster through training: the anammox case. Wat. Res. 81:261–268

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lotti T, Kleerebezem R, van Loosdrecht MCM (2015b) Effect of temperature change on anammox activity. Biotechnol Bioeng 112(1):98–103

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ma B, Peng YZ, Zhang SJ, Wang JM, Gan YP, Chang J, Wang S, Wang SY, Zhu GB (2013) Performance of anammox UASB reactor treating low strength wastewater under moderate and low temperatures. Bioresour Technol 129:606–611

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ma B, Wang SY, Cao SB, Miao YY, Jia FX, Du R, Peng YZ (2015a) Review biological nitrogen removal from sewage via anammox: recent advances. Bioresour Technol. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.10.074

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma B, Bao P, Wei Y, Zhu GB, Yuan ZH, Peng YZ (2015b) Suppressing nitrite-oxidizing bacteria growth to achieve nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater via anammox using intermittent aeration with low dissolved oxygen. Sci Rep 5:13048. doi:10.1038/srep13048

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ma B, Zhang S, Zhang L, Yi P, Wang J, Wang S, Peng Y (2011) The feasibility of using a two-stage autotrophic nitrogen removal process to treat sewage. Bioresour Technol 102(17):8331–8334

  • Malovanyy A, Yang JJ, Trela J, Plaza E (2015) Combination of up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and partial nitritation/anammox moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) for municipal wastewater treatment. Bioresour Technol 180:144–153

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Metcalf and Eddy (2003) Wastewater engineering treatment and reuse. 4th Edition, McGraw Hill

  • Mulder A (1989) Anoxic Ammonium Oxidation, Patent EP 0327184 A1

  • Nogueira R, Melo LF (2006) Competition between Nitrospira spp. and Nitrobacter spp. in nitrite-oxidizing bioreactors. Biotech Bioeng. doi:10.1002/bit. 21004

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowka B, Daims H, Spieck E (2015) Comparison of oxidation kinetics of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Appl Environ Microbiol 81:745–753

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Okabe S, Oshiki M, Takahashi Y, Satoh H (2011) Development of long-term stable partial nitrification and subsequent anammox process. Bioresour Technol 102:6801–6807

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park H-D, Noguera DR (2004) Evaluating the effect of dissolved oxygen on ammonia-oxidizing bacterial communities in activated sludge. Wat Res. 38:3275–3286

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park H-D, Noguera DR (2007) Characterization of two ammonia-oxidizing bacteria isolated from reactors operated with low dissolved oxygen concentrations. J Appl Microb 102(5):1401–1417

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Park H-D, Noguera DR (2008) Nitrospira community composition in nitrifying reactors operated with two different dissolved oxygen levels. J Microbiol Biotechnol 18(8):1470–1474

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Park H-D, Wells GF, Bae H, Criddle CS, Francis CA (2006) Occurrence of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in wastewater treatment plant bioreactors. Appl Environ Microbiol 72(8):5643–5647

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez J, Lotti T, Kleerebezem R, Picioreanu C, van Loosdrecht MCM (2014) Outcompeting nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in single stage nitrogen removal in sewage treatment plants: a model-based study. Wat Res 66:208–218

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Persson F, Sultana R, Suarez M, Hermansson M, Plaza E, Wilén B-M (2014) Structure and composition of biofilm communities in a moving bed biofilm reactor for nitritation–anammox at low temperatures. Bioresour Technol 154:267–273

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Picioreanu C, Pérez J, van Loosdrecht MCM (2016) Impact of cell cluster size on apparent half-saturation coefficients for oxygen in nitrifying sludge and biofilms. Wat. Res. 106:371–382

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Piculell M, Christensson M, Jönsson K, Welander T (2016) Partial nitrification in MBBRs for mainstream deammonification with thin biofilms and alternating feed supply. Wat Sci Technol 73(6):1253–1260

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Poot V, Hoekstra M, Geleijnse MAA, van Loosdrecht MCM, Pérez J (2016) Effects of the residual ammonium concentration on NOB repression during partial nitritation with granular sludge. Wat Res 106:518–530

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prosser JI (1989) Autotrophic nitrification in bacteria. Adv Microb Physiol 30:125–181

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Regmi P, Miller MW, Holgate B, Bunce R, Park H, Chandran K, Wett B, Murthy S, Bott C (2014a) Control of aeration, aerobic SRT and COD input for mainstream nitritation/denitritation. Wat Res 57:162–171

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Regmi P, Holgate B, Fredericks D, Miller MW, Wett B, Murthy S, Bott C (2014b) A pilot-scale mainstream nitritation-denitritation process followed by an anammox MBBR operated within wide range of operating conditions., In: Proceedings of IWA World Water Congress, 21–26 Sept. 2014, Lisbon

  • Rittmann BE, McCarty PL (2001) Environmental biotechnology: principles and applications. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Roest K, Daamen B, de Graaff MS, Hartog L, Zandvoort MH, Uijterlinde CA, Dilven S, van Lierg JB, van Loosdrecht MCM (2012) Energy production from wastewater—dynamic filtration of activated sludge. In: Proceedings of IWA Water Congress, 15–20, September, 2012, Busan, Korea

  • Schramm A, de Beer D, van den Heuvel JC, Ottengraf S, Amann R (1999) Microscale distribution of populations and activities of Nitrosospira and Nitrospira spp. along a macroscale gradient in a nitrifying bioreactor: quantification by in situ hybridization and the use of microsensors. Appl Environ Microbiol 65(8):3690–3696

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Seuntjen D, Vlaeminck S E, Bundervoet B, Mollen H, Wypkema E, Colsen J. (2016) Measures to influence partial nitritation/anammox. WEF-IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery (NRR) Conference. 16–20 July 2016. Denver, USA

  • Siegrist H, Salzgeber D, Eugster J, Joss A (2008) Anammox brings WWTP closer to energy autarky due to increased biogas production and reduced aeration energy for N-removal. Water Sci Technol 57:383–388

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Siripong S, Rittmann B (2007) Diversity study of nitrifying bacteria in full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants. Wat Res 41(5):1110–1120

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sliekers A, Haaijer S, Stafsnes M, Kuenen J, Jetten MSM (2005) Competition and coexistence of aerobic ammonium- and nitrite oxidizing bacteria at low oxygen concentrations. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 68(6):808–817

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Speth DR, Guerrero-Cruz S, Dutilh BE, Jetten MS (2016) Genome-based microbial ecology of anammox granules in a full-scale wastewater treatment system. Nature Communications Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/ncomms11172

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stein LY (2011) Heterotrophic nitrification and nitrifier denitrification. In: Nitrification (ed by Ward B. B. et al.) IWA Publishing ISBN-13: 978-1-55581-481-6

  • Stinson B, Murthy S, Bott C, Wett B, Al-Omari A, Bowden G, Mokhyerie Y, De Clippeleir H (2013) Roadmap toward energy neutrality & chemical optimization at enhanced nutrient removal facilities. In: Proceedings of WEF/IWA Nutrient Removal and Recovery 2013: Trends in Resource Recovery and Use, July 28–31, 2013, Vancouver

  • Strous M, Kuenen JG, Jetten MSM (1999) Key physiology of anaerobic ammonium. Appl Environ Microbiol 65(7):3248–3250

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Trojanowicz K, Plaza E, Trela J (2016) Pilot scale studies on nitritation-anammox process for mainstream wastewater at low temperature. Wat Sci Technol 73(4):761–768

    Google Scholar 

  • Vadivelu VM, Yuan ZG, Fux C, Keller J (2006) The inhibitory effects of free nitrous acid on the energy generation and growth processes of an enriched Nitrobacter culture. Environ Sci Technol 40(14):4442–4448

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Star WRL, Abma WR, Blommers D, Mulder JW, Tokutomid T, Strouse M, Picioreanua C, van Loosdrecht MCM (2008) Startup of reactors for anoxic ammonium oxidation: experiences from the first full-scale anammox reactor in Rotterdam. Wat Res 41:4149–4163

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Loosdrecht MCM (2008) Innovative biological nitrogen removal. In Biological wastewater treatment principle, modelling and design, (edited by: Henze and van Loosdrecht et al.). IWA Publishing. ISBN: 1843391880

  • Van Loosdrecht MCM, Seah H, Wah YL, Cao YS (2014) The next 100 years. In: Activated sludge—100 years and counting (Editors: Jiri Wanner and David Jenkins) IWA Publishing, London, ISBN: 9781780404936. 424 pages

  • Vangsgaard AK (2013) Modeling, experimentation, and control of autotrophic nitrogen removal in granular sludge systems. Technical University of Denmark. PhD Thesis

  • Vangsgaard AK, Mauricio-Iglesias M, Gernaey KV, Smets BF, Sin G (2012) Sensitivity analysis of autotrophic N removal by a granule based bioreactor: influence of mass transfer versus microbial kinetics. Bioresour Technol 123:230–241

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vazquez J (2016) Mainstream ELAN® process WWTP. The 13th IWA Leading Edge Conference on Water and Wastewater Technology. Workshop: the future is here: experiences in the full-scale implementation of mainstream deammonification for leading edge nitrogen control. 13–16 June 2016. Jerez de la Frontera, Spain

  • Vela JD, Stadler LB, Martin KJ, Raskin L, Bott CB, Love NG (2015) Prospects for biological nitrogen removal from anaerobic effluents during mainstream wastewater treatment. Environ Sci Technol Lett 2(9):234–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Veuillet F, Zozor P, Stefansdottir D, Christensson M, Skonieczny T, Ochoa J, Lemaire R (2015) Mainstream deammonification using ANITA™Mox process. In: Proceedings of IWA Specialist Conference Nutrient Removal and Recovery: moving innovation into practice. 18–21 May, 2015 Gdańsk, Poland

  • Vlaeminck SE, Terada A, Smets BF, De Clippeleir H, Schaubroeck T, Bolca S, Demeestere L, Mast J, Boon N, Carballa M, Verstraete W (2010) Aggregate size and architecture determine microbial activity balance for one-stage partial nitritation and anammox. Appl Environ Microbiol 76(3):900. doi:10.1128/AEM.02337-09

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vlaeminck SE, Clippeleir HD, Verstraete W (2012) Microbial resource management of one-stage partial nitritation/anammox. Microb Biotechnol 5(3):433–448

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Volcke EIP, Picioreanu C, De Baets B, van Loosdrecht MCM (2010) Effect of granule size on autotrophic nitrogen removal in a granular sludge reactor. Environ Technol 31(11):1271–1280

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Jiang G, Ye L, Hu S, Yuan ZG (2014) Side-stream sludge treatment using free nitrous acid selectively eliminates nitrite oxidizing bacteria and achieves the nitrite pathway. Water Res 55:245–255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wang DG, Wang QL, Laloo A, YF X, Bond PL, Yuan ZG (2016) Achieving stable nitritation for mainstream deammonification by combining free nitrous acid-based sludge treatment and oxygen limitation. Sci Rep 6:25547. doi:10.1038/srep25547

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ward B (2008) Nitrification. In: Sven Erik Jørgensen, Brian D. Fath (Editor-in-Chief). Ecological processes. Vol. [3] of Encyclopedia of ecology, 5 vols. 2511–2518. Oxford: Elsevier

  • Watson, S.W., Bock, E., Harms, H., Koops, H.-P., Hoper, A.B (1989) Nitrifying bacteria. In: Staley, J.T., Bryant, M.P., Pfenning, N. (Eds.), Bergey’s manual of systematic bacteriology. Williams and Wilkins Publication, Baltimore, pp. 1808–1834

  • WEF/WERF (2015) Shortcut nitrogen removal—nitrite shunt and deammonification. Publisher: Water Environment Federation. ISBN: 978-1-57278-313-3

  • Welker S, Horn H, Lackner S (2016) Substrate contentment: influence of residual ammonium and dissolved oxygen concentrations on autotrophic nitrogen removal. WEF/IWA NRR, 10–13 July 2016. Denver USA

  • Wett B (2007) Development and implementation of a robust deammonification process. Wat. Sci Technol 56(7):81–88

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wett B, Omari A, Podmirseg SM, Han M, Akintayo O, Brandón MG, Murthy S, Bott C, Hell M, Takács I, Nyhuis G, O’Shaughnessy M (2013) Going for mainstream deammonification from bench- to full-scale for maximized resource efficiency. Wat Sci Technol 58(6):1155–1171

    Google Scholar 

  • Wett B, Podmirseg SM, Gómez-Brandón M, Hell M, Nyhuis G, Bott C, Murthy S (2015) Expanding DEMON sidestream deammonification technology towards mainstream application. Water Environ Res 87:2084–2094

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wiesmann (1994) Biological nitrogen removal from wastewater. In: Advances in biochemical engineering biotechnology, Vol. 51 Managing Editor: A. Fiechter. Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. 114–153

  • Winkler MKH, Kleerebezem R, Kuenen JG, Yang JJ, van Loosdrecht MCM (2011) Segregation of biomass in cyclic anaerobic/aerobic granular sludge allows the enrichment of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria at low temperatures. Environ Sci Technol 45:7330–7337

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winkler MKH, Kleerebezem R, van Loosdrecht MCM (2012a) Integration of anammox into the aerobic granular sludge process for main stream wastewater treatment at ambient temperatures. Wat Res 46:136–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winkler MKH, Bassin JP, Kleerebezem R, Sorokin DY, van Loosdrecht MCM (2012b) Unravelling the reasons for disproportion in the ratio of AOB and NOB in aerobic granular sludge. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 94:1657–1666

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wu J, He CD, van Loosdrecht MCM, Pérez J (2016) Selection of ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) over nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) based on conversion rates. Chem Eng J. doi:10.1016/j. cej.2016. 07. 019

  • Xu G, Zhou Y, Yang Q, Lee Z-P, Gu J, Lay W, Cao YS, Liu Y (2015) The challenges of mainstream deammonification process for municipal used water treatment. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 99(6):2485–2490

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Q, Peng YZ, Liu X, Zeng W, Mino T, Satoh H (2007) Nitrogen removal via nitrite from municipal wastewater at low temperatures using real-time control to optimize nitrifying communities. Environ Sci Technol 41:8159–8164

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yang Q, Shen N, Lee ZM-P, Xu GJ, Cao YS, Kwok BH, Lay W, Liu Y, Zhou Y (2016) Simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) in a full-scale water reclamation plant located in warm climate. Wat Sci Technol. doi:10.2166/wst.2016.214

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang SJ, Zhang L, Shao H, Gan YP, Peng YZ (2014) Nitrogen removal from mainstream by one-stage hybrid anammox system. In: Proceedings of Water Convention, SIWW 2014. June 30, 2014. Singapore

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Blk 6, 41 Tiang Jia Xian, Suzhou, 215000, Jiangsu Province, China

    Yeshi Cao

  2. Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands

    Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht

  3. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, 2350 Hayward Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Glen T. Daigger

Authors
  1. Yeshi Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Glen T. Daigger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yeshi Cao or Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht.

Ethics declarations

The article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cao, Y., van Loosdrecht, M.C.M. & Daigger, G.T. Mainstream partial nitritation–anammox in municipal wastewater treatment: status, bottlenecks, and further studies. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 101, 1365–1383 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-016-8058-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-016-8058-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation