Home Performance and microbial community of a novel PVA/iron-carbon (Fe–C) immobilized bioreactor for nitrate removal from groundwater
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Performance and microbial community of a novel PVA/iron-carbon (Fe–C) immobilized bioreactor for nitrate removal from groundwater

  • Qiong Wen , Junfeng Su EMAIL logo , Guoqing Li , Tinglin Huang , Lei Xue and Yihan Bai
Published/Copyright: February 22, 2021
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Submit Manuscript Author Information
International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering
From the journal International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering Volume 19 Issue 3

Abstract

An efficient immobilized denitrification bioreactor functioning under anaerobic conditions was developed by combining bacterial immobilization technology with iron-carbon (Fe–C) particles. The effects of key factors on nitrate (NO3−–N) removal efficiency were invested, such as the carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N), pH and hydraulic retention time (HRT). Experimental results show that 100.00% NO3−–N removal efficiency and a low level of nitrite (NO2−–N) accumulation less than 0.05 mg L−1 were obtained under the condition of a C/N ratio of 3, pH 7.0 and HRT of 6 h. Meteorological chromatographic analysis showed that the final product of denitrification was mainly nitrogen (N2). The main component of precipitation formed in the bioreactor was characterized as Fe3O4 by X-ray diffraction. High-throughput sequencing analysis indicated that the dominant bacterial class in the Fe–C bioreactor was Gammaproteobacteria, while the dominant genera were Zoogloea and Azospira, the relative abundances of which were as high as 23.25 and 15.43%, respectively.

Keywords: bioreactor; high-throughput sequencing; iron-carbon; nitrate removal
Corresponding author: Junfeng Su, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an710055, China; and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an710055, China, E-mail:

Funding source: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Award Identifier / Grant number: No. 51678471, No. 51978556

Funding source: Shaanxi Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars

Award Identifier / Grant number: No. 2019JC-31

Funding source: Key Research and Development Program in Shaanxi Province

Award Identifier / Grant number: 2018ZDXM-SF-029

  1. Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.

  2. Research funding: This research work was partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (No. 51678471, No. 51978556), Shaanxi Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars (No. 2019JC-31) and The Key Research and Development Program in Shaanxi Province (2018ZDXM-SF-029).

  3. Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this article.

References

Bednarek, A., S. Szklarek, and M. Zalewski. 2014. “Nitrogen Pollution Removal from Areas of Intensive Farming—Comparison of Various Denitrification Biotechnologies.” Ecohydrology & Hydrobiology 14 (2): 132–41, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecohyd.2014.01.005.Search in Google Scholar

Biddau, R., R. Cidu, S. Da Pelo, A. Carletti, G. Ghiglieri, and D. Pittalis. 2019. “Source and Fate of Nitrate in Contaminated Groundwater Systems: Assessing Spatial and Temporal Variations by Hydrogeochemistry and Multiple Stable Isotope Tools.” The Science of the Total Environment 647: 1121–36, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.007.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Canfield, D. E., A. N. Glazer, and P. G. Falkowski. 2010. “The Evolution and Future of Earth’s Nitrogen Cycle.” Science 330 (6001): 192–6, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1186120.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Capodaglio, A. G., P. Hlavínek, and M. Raboni. 2015. “Physico-Chemical Technologies for Nitrogen Removal from Wastewaters: A Review.” Revista Ambiente & Agua 10 (3): 481–98, https://doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.1764.Search in Google Scholar

Chen, W., P. Westerhoff, J. A. Leenheer, and K. Booksh. 2003. “Fluorescence Excitation−Emission Matrix Regional Integration to Quantify Spectra for Dissolved Organic Matter.” Environmental Science & Technology 37 (24): 5701–10, https://doi.org/10.1021/es034354c.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Deng, S., D. Li, X. Yang, Q. Cai, S. Peng, X. Peng, H. Yao, and B. Xie. 2020. “Novel Characteristics on Micro-Electrolysis Mediated Fe(0)-Oxidizing Autotrophic Denitrification with Aeration: Efficiency, Iron-Compounds Transformation, N2O and NO2− Accumulation, and Microbial Characteristics.” Chemical Engineering Journal 387: 123409, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.123409.Search in Google Scholar

Gan, Y., Q. Zhao, and Z. Ye. 2019. “Denitrification Performance and Microbial Diversity of Immobilized Bacterial Consortium Treating Nitrate Micro-Polluted Water.” Bioresource Technology 281: 351–8, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.02.111.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Ghafari, S., M. Hasan, and M. K. Aroua. 2008. “Bio-Electrochemical Removal of Nitrate from Water and Wastewater—A Review.” Bioresource Technology 99 (10): 3965–74, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2007.05.026.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Hamid, S., S. Bae, W. Lee, M. T. Amin, and A. A. Alazba. 2015. “Catalytic Nitrate Removal in Continuous Bimetallic Cu–Pd/nanoscale Zerovalent Iron System.” Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research 54 (24): 6247–57, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.5b01127.Search in Google Scholar

He, Q., J. Song, W. Zhang, S. Gao, H. Wang, and J. Yu. 2020. “Enhanced Simultaneous Nitrification, Denitrification and Phosphorus Removal Through Mixed Carbon Source by Aerobic Granular Sludge.” Journal of Hazardous Materials 382: 121043, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121043.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Hou, L., J. Li, and Y. Liu. 2019a. “Microbial Communities Variation Analysis of Denitrifying Bacteria Immobilized Particles.” Process Biochemistry 87: 151–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2019.09.001.Search in Google Scholar

Hou, T., N. Chen, S. Tong, B. Li, Q. He, and C. Feng. 2019b. “Enhancement of Rice Bran as Carbon and Microbial Sources on the Nitrate Removal from Groundwater.” Biochemical Engineering Journal 148: 185–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2018.07.010.Search in Google Scholar

Hu, S., Y. Wu, Y. Zhang, B. Zhou, and X. Xu. 2018. “Nitrate Removal from Groundwater by Heterotrophic/Autotrophic Denitrification Using Easily Degradable Organics and Nano-Zero Valent Iron as Co-Electron Donors.” Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 229 (3): 56, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-018-3713-5.Search in Google Scholar

Huang, T. L., S. L. Zhou, H. H. Zhang, S. Y. Bai, X. X. He, and X. Yang. 2015. “Nitrogen Removal Characteristics of a Newly Isolated Indigenous Aerobic Denitrifier from Oligotrophic Drinking Water Reservoir, Zoogloea Sp. N299.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences 16 (5): 10038–60, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms160510038.Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

Jafari, S. J., G. Moussavi, and K. Yaghmaeian. 2015. “High-Rate Biological Denitrification in the Cyclic Rotating-Bed Biological Reactor: Effect of COD/NO3−, Nitrate Concentration and Salinity and the Phylogenetic Analysis of Denitrifiers.” Bioresource Technology 197: 482–8, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.08.047.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Jia, L., H. Liu, Q. Kong, M. Li, S. Wu, and H. Wu. 2020. “Interactions of High-Rate Nitrate Reduction and Heavy Metal Mitigation in Iron-Carbon-Based Constructed Wetlands for Purifying Contaminated Groundwater.” Water Research 169: 115285, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.115285.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Kiskira, K., S. Papirio, E. Van Hullebusch, and G. Esposito. 2017. “Fe (II)-Mediated Autotrophic Denitrification: A New Bioprocess for Iron Bioprecipitation/Biorecovery and Simultaneous Treatment of Nitrate-Containing Wastewaters.” International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation 119: 631–48, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2016.09.020.Search in Google Scholar

Li, R., C. Feng, B. Xi, N. Chen, Y. Jiang, Y. Zhao, M. Li, Q. Dang, and B. Zhao. 2017. “Nitrate Removal Efficiency of a Mixotrophic Denitrification Wall for Nitrate-Polluted Groundwater In Situ Remediation.” Ecological Engineering 106: 523–31, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.06.010.Search in Google Scholar

Li, H., F. Liu, P. Luo, X. Chen, J. Chen, Z. Huang, J. Peng, R. Xiao, and J. Wu. 2019. “Stimulation of Optimized Influent C:N Ratios on Nitrogen Removal in Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands: Performance and Microbial Mechanisms.” The Science of the Total Environment 694: 133575, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.381.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Liu, Y., and J. Wang. 2019. “Reduction of Nitrate by Zero Valent Iron (ZVI)-Based Materials: A Review.” Science of the Total Environment 671: 388–403, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.317.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Majlesi, M., S. M. Mohseny, M. Sardar, S. Golmohammadi, and A. Sheikhmohammadi. 2016. “Improvement of Aqueous Nitrate Removal by Using Continuous Electrocoagulation/Electroflotation Unit with Vertical Monopolar Electrodes.” Sustainable Environment Research 26 (6): 287–90, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.serj.2016.09.002.Search in Google Scholar

Medhi, K., A. Singhal, D. K. Chauhan, and I. S. Thakur. 2017. “Investigating the Nitrification and Denitrification Kinetics Under Aerobic and Anaerobic Conditions by Paracoccus Denitrificans ISTOD1.” Bioresource Technology 242: 334–43, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.03.084.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Pu, J., C. Feng, Y. Liu, R. Li, Z. Kong, N. Chen, S. Tong, C. Hao, and Y. Liu. 2014. “Pyrite-Based Autotrophic Denitrification for Remediation of Nitrate Contaminated Groundwater.” Bioresource Technology 173: 117–23, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.09.092.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Quan, X. C., H. F. Zhang, H. Z. Liu, L. Chen, and N. Y. Li. 2020. “Remediation of Nitrogen Polluted Water Using Fe–C Microelectrolysis and Biofiltration Under Mixotrophic Conditions.” Chemosphere 257: 8, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127272.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Rivett, M. O., S. R. Buss, P. Morgan, J. W. Smith, and C. D. Bemment. 2008. “Nitrate Attenuation in Groundwater: A Review of Biogeochemical Controlling Processes.” Water Research 42 (16): 4215–32, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2008.07.020.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Samatya, S., N. Kabay, Ü. Yüksel, M. Arda, and M. Yüksel. 2006. “Removal of Nitrate from Aqueous Solution by Nitrate Selective Ion Exchange Resins.” Reactive and Functional Polymers 66 (11): 1206–14, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2006.03.009.Search in Google Scholar

Schoeman, J., and A. Steyn. 2003. “Nitrate Removal with Reverse Osmosis in a Rural Area in South Africa.” Desalination 155 (1): 15–26, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0011-9164(03)00235-2.Search in Google Scholar

Schroeder, A., D. H. Souza, M. Fernandes, E. B. Rodrigues, V. Trevisan, and E. Skoronski. 2020. “Application of Glycerol as Carbon Source for Continuous Drinking Water Denitrification Using Microorganism from Natural Biomass.” Journal of Environmental Management 256: 109964, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109964.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Shams, D. F., A. Rubio, P. Elefsiniotis, and N. Singhal. 2016. “Post-Denitrification Using Alginate Beads Containing Organic Carbon and Activated Sludge Microorganisms.” Water Science and Technology 74 (7): 1626–35, https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2016.328.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Shen, Y., L. Zhuang, J. Zhang, J. Fan, T. Yang, and S. Sun. 2019. “A Study of Ferric-Carbon Micro-Electrolysis Process to Enhance Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal Efficiency in Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands.” Chemical Engineering Journal 359: 706–12, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2018.11.152.Search in Google Scholar

Straub, K. L., W. A. Schönhuber, B. E. E. Buchholz-Cleven, and B. Schink. 2004. “Diversity of Ferrous Iron-Oxidizing, Nitrate-Reducing Bacteria and Their Involvement in Oxygen-Independent Iron Cycling.” Geomicrobiology Journal 21 (6): 371–8, https://doi.org/10.1080/01490450490485854.Search in Google Scholar

Su, J. F., T. T. Lian, T. L. Huang, D. H. Liang, L. Wei, and W. D. Wang. 2017. “Microbial Community Analysis of Simultaneous Ammonium Removal and Fe3+ Reduction at Different Influent Ammonium Concentrations.” Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 40 (10): 1555–63, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-017-1811-1.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Su, J. F., D. H. Liang, L. Wei, and X. X. Luo. 2018. “Coupled Carbon, Mn (II), and Nitrogen Cycles in a Mixotrophic Biofilm Reactor and Microbial Community Structure.” Chemical Engineering & Technology 41 (8): 1613–21, https://doi.org/10.1002/ceat.201700306.Search in Google Scholar

Su, J. F., H. Zhang, T. L. Huang, L. Wei, M. Li, and Z. Wang. 2019. “A New Process for Simultaneous Nitrogen and Cadmium (Cd (II)) Removal Using Iron-Reducing Bacterial Immobilization System.” Chemical Engineering and Processing-Process Intensification 144: 107623, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cep.2019.107623.Search in Google Scholar

Tuyen, N., J. Ryu, J. Yae, H. Kim, S. Hong, and D. Ahn. 2018. “Nitrogen Removal Performance of Anammox Process with PVA–SA Gel Bead Crosslinked with Sodium Sulfate as a Biomass Carrier.” Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry 67: 326–32, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2018.07.004.Search in Google Scholar

Wang, B., K. Tian, X. Xiong, and H. Ren. 2019. “Treatment of Overhaul Wastewater Containing N-Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) Through Modified Fe–C Microelectrolysis-Configured Ozonation: Investigation on Process Optimization and Degradation Mechanisms.” Journal of Hazardous Materials 369: 655–64, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.02.078.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Wang, X., L. Xing, T. Qiu, and M. Han. 2013. “Simultaneous Removal of Nitrate and Pentachlorophenol from Simulated Groundwater Using a Biodenitrification Reactor Packed with Corncob.” Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20 (4): 2236–43, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-1092-9.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Xie, F., X. Ma, B. Zhao, Y. Cui, X. Zhang, and X. Yue. 2020. “Promoting the Nitrogen Removal of Anammox Process by Fe–C Micro-Electrolysis.” Bioresource Technology 297: 122429, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122429.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Xing, W., D. Li, J. Li, Q. Hu, and S. Deng. 2016. “Nitrate Removal and Microbial Analysis by Combined Micro-Electrolysis and Autotrophic Denitrification.” Bioresource Technology 211: 240–7, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.044.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Zhang, L., Q. Yue, K. Yang, P. Zhao, and B. Gao. 2018a. “Enhanced Phosphorus and Ciprofloxacin Removal in a Modified BAF System by Configuring Fe–C Micro Electrolysis: Investigation on Pollutants Removal and Degradation Mechanisms.” Journal of Hazardous Materials 342: 705–14, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.09.010.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Zhang, W., Y. Bai, X. Ruan, and L. Yin. 2019. “The Biological Denitrification Coupled with Chemical Reduction for Groundwater Nitrate Remediation via Using SCCMs as Carbon Source.” Chemosphere 234: 89–97.10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.005Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Zhang, X., L. Hu, F. Tang, and Q. Wang. 2013. “Large Eddy Simulation of Fire Smoke Re-Circulation in Urban Street Canyons of Different Aspect Ratios.” Procedia Engineering 62: 1007–14, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2013.08.155.Search in Google Scholar

Zhang, Y., G. Ji, and R. Wang. 2016. “Functional Gene Groups Controlling Nitrogen Transformation Rates in a Groundwater-Restoring Denitrification Biofilter Under Hydraulic Retention Time Constraints.” Ecological Engineering 87: 45–52, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.11.031.Search in Google Scholar

Zhang, Z., Y. Han, C. Xu, W. Ma, H. Han, M. Zheng, H. Zhu, and W. Ma. 2018b. “Microbial Nitrate Removal in Biologically Enhanced Treated Coal Gasification Wastewater of Low COD to Nitrate Ratio by Coupling Biological Denitrification with Iron and Carbon Micro-Electrolysis.” Bioresource Technology 262: 65–73, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.04.059.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Zhu, A., J. Chen, L. Gao, Y. Shimizu, D. Liang, M. Yi, and L. Cao. 2019. “Combined Microbial and Isotopic Signature Approach to Identify Nitrate Sources and Transformation Processes in Groundwater.” Chemosphere 228: 721–34, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.163.Search in Google Scholar PubMed

Zhu, T., Y. Zhang, X. Quan, and H. Li. 2015. “Effects of an Electric Field and Iron Electrode on Anaerobic Denitrification at Low C/N Ratios.” Chemical Engineering Journal 266: 241–8, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.12.082.Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2020-08-31
Accepted: 2020-11-25
Published Online: 2021-02-22

© 2021 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Articles
  3. Performance and microbial community of a novel PVA/iron-carbon (Fe–C) immobilized bioreactor for nitrate removal from groundwater
  4. Modeling of dry reforming of methane for hydrogen production at low temperatures using membrane reactor
  5. Formation mechanism and chaotic reinforcement elimination of the mechanical stirring isolated mixed region
  6. CFD-DEM simulation of powders clogging in a packed bed with lateral inlet
  7. Degradation of basic violet 16 dye by electro-activated persulfate process from aqueous solutions and toxicity assessment using microorganisms: determination of by-products, reaction kinetic and optimization using Box–Behnken design
  8. Propargyloligosilazane matrixed composite for high temperature material combining polymer and ceramic properties
  9. An application of continuous flow microreactor in the synthesis and extraction of rabeprazole
  10. Numerical study on gas–liquid two-phase flow and mass transfer in a microchannel
  11. A new two-layer passive micromixer design based on SAR-vortex principles
https://doi.org/10.1515/ijcre-2020-0158
Keywords for this article
bioreactor; high-throughput sequencing; iron-carbon; nitrate removal

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Articles
  3. Performance and microbial community of a novel PVA/iron-carbon (Fe–C) immobilized bioreactor for nitrate removal from groundwater
  4. Modeling of dry reforming of methane for hydrogen production at low temperatures using membrane reactor
  5. Formation mechanism and chaotic reinforcement elimination of the mechanical stirring isolated mixed region
  6. CFD-DEM simulation of powders clogging in a packed bed with lateral inlet
  7. Degradation of basic violet 16 dye by electro-activated persulfate process from aqueous solutions and toxicity assessment using microorganisms: determination of by-products, reaction kinetic and optimization using Box–Behnken design
  8. Propargyloligosilazane matrixed composite for high temperature material combining polymer and ceramic properties
  9. An application of continuous flow microreactor in the synthesis and extraction of rabeprazole
  10. Numerical study on gas–liquid two-phase flow and mass transfer in a microchannel
  11. A new two-layer passive micromixer design based on SAR-vortex principles
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 31.10.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/ijcre-2020-0158/html
Scroll to top button