Missing Aerobic-Phase Nitrogen: the Potential for Heterotrophic Reduction of Autotrophically Generated Nitrous Oxide in a Sequencing Batch Reactor Wastewater Treatment System

Shiskowski, Dean M.; Mavinic, Donald S.

doi:10.1080/09593332608618501

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Previous studies have also indicated that N isotope ratios might be useful indicators of microbial activity since nitrification generally has a much greater fractionation factor than denitrification (Pérez, 2005). Our results from Process A also indicate that both processes lead to N 2 O emissions, as previously reported by other investigations (Shiskowski and Mavinic, 2005; Ahn et al, 2010; Foley et al, 2010). Our measurements show that denitrification reactors have greater dissolved N 2 O concentrations than nitrification in Process A, probably because of aeration in the aerobic nitrification reactors that induces N 2 O stripping (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Plants in Southern California

et al. 2011

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Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is a long-lived and potent greenhouse gas produced during microbial nitrification and denitrification. In developed countries, centralized water reclamation plants often use these processes for N removal before effluent is used for irrigation or discharged to surface water, thus making this treatment a potentially large source of N₂O in urban areas. In the arid but densely populated southwestern United States, water reclamation for irrigation is an important alternative to long-distance water importation. We measured N₂O concentrations and fluxes from several wastewater treatment processes in urban southern California. We found that N removal during water reclamation may lead to in situ N₂O emission rates that are three or more times greater than traditional treatment processes (C oxidation only). In the water reclamation plants tested, N₂O production was a greater percentage of total N removed (1.2%) than traditional treatment processes (C oxidation only) (0.4%). We also measured stable isotope ratios (δN and δO) of emitted N₂O and found distinct δN signatures of N₂O from denitrification (0.0 ± 4.0 ‰) and nitrification reactors (-24.5 ± 2.2 ‰), respectively. These isotope data confirm that both nitrification and denitrification contribute to N₂O emissions within the same treatment plant. Our estimates indicate that N₂O emissions from biological N removal for water reclamation may be several orders of magnitude greater than N₂O emissions from agricultural activities in highly urbanized southern California. Our results suggest that wastewater treatment that includes biological nitrogen removal can significantly increase urban N₂O emissions.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Plants in Southern California

et al. 2011

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“…This reported sensitivity of N 2 O reductase to oxygen inhibition (e.g. Shiskowski and Mavinic, 2005), relative to the other reductase enzymes, induces heterotrophic N 2 O "generation", or more accurately allows its accumulation and emission, if the N 2 O reductase turnover rate is lower than the turnover rate of the previous enzymes (Wicht, 1996).…”

Section: Heterotrophic Bacteriamentioning

confidence: 94%

Nitrous Oxide – a Powerful Greenhouse Gas with a Wastewater Treatment Connection

Shiskowski¹

2007

proc water environ fed

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Although a ubiquitous element in nature, nitrogen has the potential for far-reaching environmental significance when considered in the context of the fate and impact of its various compounds in aquatic and atmospheric environments. Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is a nitrogen compound largely unknown to the wastewater industry, but is a powerful greenhouse gas (GHG) due to its efficiency at trapping infra-red radiation. In recognition of this characteristic the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has assigned N 2 O a global warming potential of approximately 310 units, relative to carbon dioxide. The connection of N 2 O to the wastewater industry lies in the biochemical pathways of autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria, which can induce N 2 O generation in a variety of environments that include wastewater treatment bioreactors, effluent receiving water bodies and land receiving biosolids application. The objectives of this paper are to (i) provide an overview of the biochemical N 2 O generation pathways of interest in the context of wastewater management, (ii) present experimental data from a laboratory-scale study to illustrate the potential, and variability, of N 2 O generation in a wastewater treatment bioreactor, and (iii) using these data comment on bioreactor operation practices intended to encourage simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) in the context of N 2 O emissions from wastewater treatment facilities.

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“…That research concluded that "for control of N 2 O emissions in the SBR, the aerobic fill mode could be an effective method" (Park et al, 2001). Shiskowski and Mavinic (2005) slowly pumped sodium acetate into an SBR during the aerobic phase, to simulate the existence of slowly degradable carbon in the solution and found significant reduction of N 2 O off-gas, via heterotrophic denitrification.…”

Section: The Effect Of Feed Patternmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The N 2 O off-gas was monitored by an infrared N 2 O Monitor (Bacharach, N 2 O monitor 3010) (Shiskowski et al, 2005). Dissolved oxygen (DO), pH and oxidation reduction potential (ORP) probes were installed in each reactor and the monitoring data were recorded in a personal computer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction of Nitrous Oxide Formation from a Biological Nutrient Removal System in Wastewater Treatment – Factors of Aeration, External Carbon and pH

Lo¹,

Lo²,

Mavinic³

et al. 2008

proc water environ fed

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Significant amounts of nitrous oxide (N 2 O), a greenhouse gas, have been found emitted from some biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes, especially the simultaneous nitrification denitrification (SND) process. In this study, factors affecting N 2 O emissions including the aeration rate, the feeding pattern and pH were investigated in a simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorous removal (SNDPR) process using a hybrid sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The results suggest that using operating conditions of a lower aeration rate, continuous feeding and higher pH are strategies which could successfully reduce the emission of nitrous oxide.

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Missing Aerobic-Phase Nitrogen: the Potential for Heterotrophic Reduction of Autotrophically Generated Nitrous Oxide in a Sequencing Batch Reactor Wastewater Treatment System

Cited by 10 publications

References 13 publications

Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Plants in Southern California

Nitrous Oxide Emissions from Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Plants in Southern California

Nitrous Oxide – a Powerful Greenhouse Gas with a Wastewater Treatment Connection

Reduction of Nitrous Oxide Formation from a Biological Nutrient Removal System in Wastewater Treatment – Factors of Aeration, External Carbon and pH

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