Nitrogen removal capacity and bacterial community dynamics of a Canon biofilter system at different organic matter concentrations

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 193; pp. 591 - 601
• Main Authors: García-Ruiz, María J., Maza-Márquez, Paula, González-López, Jesús, Osorio, Francisco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2018
• Subjects: Ammonium Compounds; Bacteria - classification; Biofilms; Biofilter technology; Bioreactors - microbiology; Denitrification; Filtration; Illumina sequencing; Nitrogen - analysis; Nitrogen - chemistry; Nitrogen - metabolism; Nitrogen removal; Nitrosomonas; Non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS); qPCR; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Waste Water - chemistry; Waste Water - microbiology; Water Microbiology; Water Pollutants - analysis; Water Pollutants - metabolism; Nitrogen removal; qPCR; Non-metric multidimensional scaling (MDS); Biofilter technology; Illumina sequencing
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.066

Three Canon bench-scale bioreactors with a volume of 2 L operating in parallel were configured as submerged biofilters. In the present study we investigated the effects of a high ammonium concentration (320 mgNH4+· L−1) and different concentrations of organic matter (0, 100 and 400 mgCOD·L−1) on the nitrogen removal capacity and the bacterial community structure. After 60 days, the Canon biofilters operated properly under concentrations of 0 and 100 mgCOD·L−1 of organic matter, with nitrogen removal efficiencies up to 85%. However, a higher concentration of organic matter (400 mgCOD·L−1) produced a partial inhibition of nitrogen removal (68.1% efficiency). The addition of higher concentrations of organic matter a modified the bacterial community structure in the Canon biofilter, increasing the proliferation of heterotrophic bacteria related to the genera of Thauera, Longilinea, Ornatilinea, Thermomarinilinea, unclassified Chlorobiales and Denitratisoma. However, heterotrophic bacteria co-exist with Nitrosomonas and Candidatus Scalindua. Thus, our study confirms the co-existence of different microbial activities (AOB, Anammox and denitrification) and the adaptation of a fixed-biofilm system to different concentrations of organic matter. •An anammox fixed-bed submerged biofilter with high nitrogen and carbon removal capacity is described.•Nitrosomonas and Candidatus Scalindua co-exist with heterotrophic bacteria when organic matter is added.•A fixed-biofilm system can adapt to certain organic matter concentration without significant modification to its performance.•Partial nitrification, anammox process and organic matter removal can be performed in a single biofilter reactor.