Abstract
It is necessary to supply external carbon source for enhancement of biological nitrogen removal from domestic wastewater with low influent C/N ratio. Sulfide was chosen as a cost effective electron donor and reaction stoichiometry for autotrophic denitrification was investigated by conducting bench-scale experiments in this study. Higher sulfur to nitrogen (S/N) ratio than the calculated value from theoretical reaction stoichiometry was required when the anoxic reactor was operated at open condition because dissolved oxygen introduced by surface aeration reacted with sulfide with ease. In addition, higher sulfate production and lower yield of microorganism could be observed under the same condition. It was possible to obtain reliable reaction stoichiometry for autotrophic denitrification by establishing pure anoxic condition. Linear relationship between bacterial growth and consumption of nitrate, sulfide, alkalinity, and sulfate production enabled to derive a relatively correct reaction stoichiometry for autotrophic denitrification when sulfide was used as an electron donor.