Exploiting refractory organic matter for advanced nitrogen removal from mature landfill leachate via anammox in an expanded granular sludge bed reactor

• Published in: Bioresource Technology Vol. 371; p. 128594
• Main Authors: Jiang, Mengting, Ji, Shenghao, Wu, Ruixin, Yang, Huan, Li, Yu-You, Liu, Jianyong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2023; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Advanced nitrogen removal; Anaerobic Ammonia Oxidation; anaerobic ammonium oxidation; Anammox; Bioreactors; Denitrification; Hydraulic retention time; landfill leachates; Mature landfill leachate; nitrates; Nitrogen; organic carbon; Oxidation-Reduction; Refractory organic matter; Sewage; sludge; technology; total nitrogen; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Mature landfill leachate; Anammox; Refractory organic matter; Hydraulic retention time; Advanced nitrogen removal
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128594

[Display omitted] •Exploiting ROM for advanced N removal via AMX from mature leachate was studied.•High TN and TOC removal (94.50 %, 27.12 %) were obtained with NLR of 2.4 kg N/(m3·d).•Prolonging HRT was beneficial to N removal and SMP, humus, fulvic acid utilization.•Anaerolineaceae abundance increased (21.63% to 49.21%) enhancing ROM utilization. Anammox is an efficient low-carbon nitrogen removal technology for mature landfill leachate (MLL). However, it produces 11 % nitrate theoretically, which needs further removal. In this study, the mechanisms of exploiting refractory organic matter (ROM) from an MLL as an inner carbon source for advanced nitrogen removal via anammox were systematically analyzed, and the effects of hydraulic retention time on nitrogen and ROM removal/utilization were investigated. Without any external carbon source, a total nitrogen and organic carbon removal efficiency of 94.50 % and 27.12 %, respectively, were achieved, with a nitrogen loading rate of 2.4 kg N/(m3·d). The abundances of norank_f_norank_o_SBR1031, OLB13, and norank_f_A4b, which had the capacity to degrade ROM, increased from 21.63 % to 49.21 %. This study reveals that the ROM in an MLL can be exploited for synchronous advanced nitrogen and organic matter removal.