Ultra-low energy consumption process (PN+Anammox) for enhanced nitrogen removal from decentralized sewage.

[Display omitted] • An ultra-low energy consumption bioprocess was firstly developed for decentralized sewage treatment. • High-efficient nitrogen removal efficiency of 93.7% with 6.7 mg/L in effluent TN was obtained. • Anammox contributed a significance nitrogen removal of 88.1% and 7.6% for denitrification. • UEFC saved 100% mechanical aeration, 100% external carbon dosage. An ultra-low energy consumption continuous flow (UECF) process was used for enhanced nitrogen removal from rural sewage. The ammonia in sewage was first oxidized to nitrite in a bio trickling filter (BTF PN) supplemented with natural oxygen. A stable nitrite accumulation ratio (NAR) of 93.2% was maintained by adding 5 mg/L NH 2 OH every seven days. BTF PN effluent was then combined with certain portion of rural sewage (1:1.2 to 1:1.5) and introduced to an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, where the nitrogen-containing pollutants were removed by Anammox process (UASB AMX). Effluent total nitrogen (TN) of 6.7 mg/L and a TN removal efficiency of 93.7% were obtained when influent chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH 4 +-N and TN were 321.9, 74.2 and 82.7 mg/L, respectively. Advanced nitrogen removal, based on the desirable cooperation between Anammox bacteria (Ca. Brocadia , 2.3%) and partial denitrification bacteria (Thauera , 4.2%), was achieved over 300 days of stable operation. Considering the nitrogen balance, 57.9% of nitrate generated in Anammox was reduced to nitrite by partial denitrification, and Anammox contributed 88.1% of nitrogen removal and 7.6% of denitrification. Compared with conventional nitrification and denitrification processes, UECF requires no mechanical aeration, no external carbon, produces 76.6% less external sludge, and reduces CO 2 emissions by 92.3%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]