Superior mainstream partial nitritation in an acidic membrane-aerated biofilm reactor

Mainstream wastewater accounts for an estimated 80% of the nitrogen load in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The ongoing urbanization has significantly increased the burden on these WWTPs, necessitating the development of innovative solutions to intensify wastewater treatment processes. Partial nitritation and anammox (PN/A) technology holds promise for enhancing wastewater treatment capacity; however, practical application faces several challenges. This presentation will introduce a novel strategy to address the issues of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) inhibition and low nitrogen removal rates by utilizing the acid-tolerant ammonia-oxidizing bacterium "Candidatus Nitrosoglobus" in a membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR). This approach not only supports the potential application of shortcut nitrogen removal in mainstream wastewater but also presents an exciting opportunity to intensify overall wastewater treatment efficiency.

Bio: Chenkai Niu earned his master's degree in mining engineering in China before beginning his PhD studies at ACWEB. He is currently working on nitrogen and other pollutants removal using MBfR technology, under the guidance of Dr. Tao Liu and Associate Professor Shihu Hu.