Biogas-based denitrification in a biotrickling filter: Influence of nitrate concentration and hydrogen sulfide

Juan C. López, Estefanía Porca, Gavin Collins, Rebeca Pérez, Alberto Rodríguez-Alija, Raúl Muñoz, Guillermo Quijano

Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer)Articlepeer-review

38 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The feasibility of NO3 removal by the synergistic action of a prevailing denitrifying anoxic methane oxidising (DAMO), and nitrate-reducing and sulfide-oxidising bacterial (NR-SOB) consortium, using CH4 and H2S from biogas as electron donors in a biotrickling filter was investigated. The influence of NO3 concentration on N2O production during this process was also evaluated. The results showed that NO3 was removed at rates up to 2.8 g mreactor −3 h−1 using CH4 as electron donor. N2O production rates correlated with NO3 concentration in the liquid phase, with a 10-fold increase in N2O production as NO3 concentration increased from 50 to 200 g m−3. The use of H2S as co-electron donor resulted in a 13-fold increase in NO3 removal rates (∼18 gNO3 m−3 h−1) and complete denitrification under steady-state conditions, which was supported by higher abundances of narG, nirK, and nosZ denitrifying genes. Although the relative abundance of the DAMO population in the consortium was reduced from 60% to 13% after H2S addition, CH4 removals were not compromised and H2S removal efficiencies of 100% were achieved. This study confirmed (i) the feasibility of co-oxidising CH4 and H2S with denitrification, as well as (ii) the critical need to control NO3 concentration to minimize N2O production by anoxic denitrifiers. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 665–673.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)665-673
Number of pages9
JournalBiotechnology and Bioengineering
Volume114
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Mar 2017

Keywords

  • anoxic hydrogen sulfide oxidation
  • biotrickling filter
  • denitrification
  • denitrifying anoxic methane oxidation
  • nitrate removal
  • nitrous oxide production

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