Autohydrogenotrophic denitrification by a bioelectrochemical process: A viability study

Mahdi Safari, Abbas Rezaee, Bita Ayati, Ahmad Jonidi Jafari

Abstract


ABSTRACT
In this study, viability of the autotrophic bacteria was investigated in a denitrification process. Bench-scale bioelectrochemical denitrification with separated chambers reactor were applied for nitrate reduction from synthetic wastewater. The influences of current density, retention time, mixing on viability of autotrophic denitrifying bacteria were investigated in the bioelectrochemical reactor (BER). It was found that by increasing the current density up to 8 mA/cm2, nitrate reduction rate was increased. At higher current density (24 - 32 mA/cm2), denitrification rate due to excess of hydrogen gas on cathode surface and accumulation of nitrite, was decreased. Low current density (<16 mA/cm2) has not had a significant effect on viability of denitrifying bacteria. Mixing of the solution reduced the adverse effects of electric current on bacteria and enhanced the denitrification rate which was mainly due to prevention of bacteria localization, increasing the contact of hydrogen and bacteria, and delay in membrane fouling. The viability of cultivable bacteria has not been significantly influenced by running time.

Keywords


Nitrate; autotrophic; Bioelectrochemical; Viability; Reduction; Wastewater

References


Choi JH, Shin WS, Choi SJ, Kim YH. Reductive denitrification using zero‐valent iron and bimetallic iron, Environ Technol. 2009;30(9): 939-46

Mook WT, Arouaa MK, Chakrabartia MH, Lowc CTJ, Aravindd PV, Brandon NP. The application of nano-crystalline PbO2 as an anode for the simultaneous bio-electrochemical denitrification and organic matter removal in an up-flow undivided reactor, Electrochim. Acta. 2013;94: 327-35

Ghafari Sh, Hasan M, Aroua MK. Bio-electrochemical removal of nitrate from water and wastewater-A review. Bioresour. Technol. 2008;99(10): 3965-74

Mook WT, Chakrabarti MH, Aroua M K, Khan GMA, Ali BS, Islam MS, Abu Hassan M A. Removal of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrate and total organic carbon (TOC) from aquaculture wastewater using electrochemical technology: A review. Desalination, 2012; 285: 1-13

Song H, Yao Z, Wang M, Wang J, Zhu Z, Li A. Effect of dissolved organic matter on nitrate-nitrogen removal by anion exchange resin and kinetics studies. J. Environ. Sci. 2013; 25(1): 105-13

Richards L A, Vuachere M, Schafer AI. Impact of pH on the removal of fluoride, nitrate and boron by nanofiltration/reverse osmosis. Desalination, 2010; 261(3): 331-37

Isoda N, Yokoyama H, Nojiri M, Suzuki S, Yamaguchi K. Electro reduction of nitrite to nitrogen oxide by a copper-containing nitrite reductase model complex incorporated into collagen film, Bioelectrochem. 2010; 77(2): 82–88

Rezaee A, Godini H, Jorfi S. Nitrate removal from aqueous solution using MgCl2 impregnated activated carbon, Environ. Eng. Manag. J. 2010; 9(3): 449-52

Midaoui EI, Elhannouni AF, Taby M, Chay L, Menkouchi MA, Echihabi L, Hafsi M. Optimization of nitrate removal operation from ground water by electrodialysis. Seper. Purif. Technol. 2002; 29(3): 235- 41

Bernat K, Wojnowska-Baryła I. Carbon source in aerobic denitrification, Biochem. Eng. J. 2007; 36(2): 116–22

Wan D, Liu H, Qu J , Lei P. Bio-electrochemical denitrification by a novel proton-exchange membrane electrodialysis system—a batch mode study, J. Chem. Technol. Biotechnol. 2011; 85(11): 1540-46

Li M, Feng C, Zhang Z, Shen Z, Sugiura N. Electrochemical reduction of nitrate using various anodes and a Cu/Zn cathode. Electrochem. Commun. 2009; 11(10): 853-56

Zhang Y, Angelidaki I. Bioelectrode-based approach for enhancing nitrate and nitrite removal and electricity generation from eutrophic lakes. Water Res. 2012; 46(19): 6445-53

Mattarozzi L, Cattarin S, Comisso N, Guerriero P, Musiani M, Va¡zquez-Gomez L, Verlato E. Electrochemical reduction of nitrate and nitrite in alkaline media at CuNi alloy electrodes. Electrochim. Acta, 2013;89: 488-96

Morris JM, Fallgren PH, Jin S. Enhanced denitrification through microbial and steel fuel-cell generated electron transport. Chem. Eng. J. 2009; 153(1-3): 37-42

Mousavi S, Ibrahim S, Aroua MK, Ghafari S. Development of nitrate elimination by autohydrogenotrophic bacteria in bio-electrochemical reactors – A review. Biochem Eng. J. 2012; 67(15): 251-64

Rijn JV, Tal Y, Schreier HJ. Denitrification in recirculating systems: theory and applications. Aquacult. Eng. 2006; 34(3): 364–76

Wan D, Liu H, Qu J, Lei P, Xiao S, Hou Y. Using the combined bioelectrochemical and sulfur autotrophic denitrification system for groundwater denitrification. Bioresour. Technol. 2009; 100(1): 142–48

Behera M, Jana PS, More TT, Ghangreka MM. Rice mill wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cells fabricated using proton exchange membrane and earthen pot at different pH, Bioelectrochem. 2010; 79(2): 228-33

Cho JS, Park JY, Yoo Y. Novel three-dimensional bioelectrode for mediatorless bioelectrochemical denitrification. J. Biotechnol. Let. 2008; 30(9): 1917-20

Clauwaert, P, Desloover J, Shea C, Nerenberg R, Boon N, Verstraete W, Enhanced nitrogen removal in bio-electrochemical systems by pH control. Biotechnology Letters, 2009; 31(10): 1537-43

Zhan G, Zhang L, Li D, Su W, Tao Y, Qian J. Autotrophic nitrogen removal from ammonium at low applied voltage in a single-compartment microbial electrolysis cell. Bioresour. Technol. 2012; 116: 271-77

Zhao Y, Zhang B, Feng C, Huang F, Zhang P, Zhang Z, Yang Y, Sugiura N. Behavior of autotrophic denitrification and heterotrophic denitrification in an intensified biofilm-electrode reactor for nitrate-contaminated drinking water treatment. Bioresour. Technol. 2012; 107: 159-65

Kondaveeti S, Min B. Nitrate reduction with biotic and abiotic cathodes at various cell voltages in bioelectrochemical denitrification system. Bioprocess Biosyst. Eng. 2013: 36(2): 231-38

APHA, AWW, WPCF, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 21th ed. American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, USA; 2005

Grommen R, Verhaege M, Verstraete M. Removal of nitrate in aquaria by means of electrochemically generated hydrogen gas as electron donor for biological denitrification. Aquaculture Eng. 2006; 34(1): 33-39

Wang H, Qu J. Combined bioelectrochemical and sulfur autotrophic denitrification for drinking water treatment. Water Res. 2003; 37(15): 3767-75

Zhan G, Zhang L, Li D, Su W, Tao Y, Qian J. Autotrophic nitrogen removal from ammonium at low applied voltage in a single-compartment microbial electrolysis cell. Bioresour. Technol. 2012; 116: 271-77

Zhou M, Fu W, Gu H, Lei L. Nitrate removal from groundwater by a novel three-dimensional electrode biofilm reactor. Electrochimi. Acta, 2007; 52(19): 6052-59

Islam S, Suidan MT. Electrolytic denitrification: Long term performance and effect of current intensity. Water Res. 1998; 32(2): 528-36

Wei V, Elektorowicz M, Oleszkiewicz JA. Influence of electric current on bacterial viability in wastewater treatment. Water Res. 2011; 45(16): 5058-62

Tiehm A, Lohner ST, Augenstein T. Effects of direct electric current and electrode reactions on vinyl chloride degrading microorganisms. Electrochimi. Acta, 2009; 54(12): 3453-59




Iranian Journal of Health, Safety and Environment e-ISSN: :2345-5535 Iran university of Medical sciences, Tehran, Iran