Advances in analysis, quantification and modelling of N₂O emission in SBRs under various DO set points

Abstract

Nitrous oxide (N2O), considered a major greenhouse gas (GHG) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), is produced during both nitrification and denitrification processes; hence, it needs to be controlled by internal and external strategies. Various factors, such as DO, temperature, and pH, could be incorporated into the mitigation of emissions in WWTPs. In this research, potential operational strategies were investigated in order to find the optimal range for DO and temperature for controlling the N2O production during the nitrification process. In parallel, the activity of nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) could also be limited under optimal conditions to make the process more cost-effective and energy-saving. In this regard, under a lab-scale environment, DO = 0.7 mg/l was detected as the optimal range for inhibiting NOB activity and maintaining AOB activity. Moreover, the importance of developing mathematical modelling methods has gained significant attention in order to better understand the possibility of minimizing GHG in WWTPs. In this study, advanced mathematical modelling methods were used for simulating the kinetics of the nitrification process to determine the interaction among different operating factors compared to nitrification rates.