MABR-Anammox Wastewater Treatment for Balanced Nitrite-Ammonia Feed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anammox processes struggle to maintain an equimolar ratio of ammonia and nitrite, requiring pH and temperature control, which can lead to partial or complete loss of anammox microbiological dominance and inefficiency in nitrogen removal.
Innovation Solution
Integrate a membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) upstream to increase nitrite concentration, allowing for controlled splitting of influent streams to achieve an equimolar ratio of ammonia and nitrite in the anammox reactor, independent of pH and temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pH and temperature control is applied to maintain equimolar ratio in anammox process, then nitrogen removal efficiency is improved, but system complexity and operational cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wastewater stream is divided into two separate influent streams: one enriched with nitrite and another with ammonia. This segmentation allows each stream to be independently treated and controlled, eliminating the need for complex pH and temperature control systems while maintaining the equimolar ratio required for efficient anammox process
Solution Approach 2:
A nitrite enrichment reactor is introduced as an intermediary component between the wastewater source and the anammox reactor. This intermediary device pre-processes the wastewater to generate the required nitrite concentration, simplifying the overall system control by decoupling the nitrite and ammonia delivery systems
2Productivity
If pH and temperature control is applied to maintain anammox microbiological dominance, then nitrogen removal efficiency is improved, but operational cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the inherent properties of the wastewater and biological processes to automatically maintain the equimolar ratio of ammonia and nitrite. The nitrite enrichment reactor and anammox reactor work together in a self-regulating manner, eliminating the need for external energy-intensive pH and temperature control systems
3Productivity
If conventional nitrification-denitrification process is used, then nitrogen removal is achieved, but energy consumption increases due to complete ammonia oxidation to nitrate
Solution Approach 1:
The process extracts and removes the energy-intensive step of complete ammonia oxidation to nitrate. By using the anammox process which only requires partial oxidation to nitrite, the system eliminates the unnecessary energy consumption associated with converting nitrite to nitrate, while still achieving effective nitrogen removal
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the oxidation state parameter by stopping at nitrite (N+3) instead of proceeding to nitrate (N+5). This parameter change in the oxidation process significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining nitrogen removal efficiency through the anammox reaction
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances nitrogen removal efficiency by maintaining a balanced nitrite and ammonia ratio, reducing the need for pH and temperature control, and improving the production of gaseous nitrogen in the anammox process.
Implementation Method 1
oxygen for ammonia oxidation is supplied via a gas permeable, self-respiring membrane
Implementation Method 2
anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) reactor... NH4++NO2−→N2+2H2O
Data Source
AI summary
A wastewater treatment method comprising splitting wastewater influent into a first influent stream and second influent stream; subjecting the first influent stream to treatment within at least one membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) to provide a MABR effluent; subjecting the second influent stream and said MABR effluent to treatment within an anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) reactor to obtain treated water effluent; and discharging from said Anammox reactor said treated water effluent. Also provided is a wastewater treatment system comprising at least one membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) module; an anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) reactor comprising at least one inlet and an outlet for discharging treated water effluent; and a wastewater influent arrangement configured for splitting a wastewater influent to a first influent stream and a second influent stream and for supplying said first influent stream to said MABR module and said second influent stream to said Anammox reactor.