Study on the optimization of partial nitritation using air-lift granulation reactor for two stage partial nitritation/Anammox process

This study aimed to develop a compact partial nitritation step by forming granules with high Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria (AOB) fraction using the Air-lift Granulation Reactor (AGR) and to evaluate the feasibility of treating reject water with high ammonium content by combination with the Anammox process. The partial nitritation using AGR was achieved at high nitrogen loading rate ($2.25{\pm}0.05kg\;N\;m-3\;d^{-1}$). The important factors for successful partial nitritation at high nitrogen loading rate were relatively high pH (7.5~8), resulting in high free ammonia concentration ($1{\sim}10mg\;FA\;L^{-1}$) and highly enriched AOB granules accounting for 25% of the total bacteria population in the reactor. After the establishment of stable partial nitritation, an effluent $NO_2{^-}-N/NH_4{^+}-N$ ratio of $1.2{\pm}0.05$ was achieved, which was then fed into the Anammox reactor. A high nitrogen removal rate of $2.0k\; N\;m^{-3}\;d^{-1}$ was successfully achieved in the Anammox reactor. By controlling the nitrogen loading rate at the partial nitritation using AGR, the influent concentration ratio ($NO_2{^-}-N/NH_4{^+}-N=1.2{\pm}0.05$) required for the Anammox was controlled, thereby minimizing the inhibition effect of residual nitrite.