TUTCRIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Chemolithotrophic denitrification in biofilm reactors

AU - Di Capua, Francesco

AU - Papirio, Stefano

AU - Lens, Piet N L

AU - Esposito, Giovanni

N1 - AUX=keb,"Di Capua, Francesco" EXT="Papirio, Stefano"

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Chemolithotrophic denitrification is an inexpensive and advantageous process for nitrate removal and represents a promising alternative to classical denitrification with organics. Chemolithotrophic denitrifiers are microorganisms able to reduce nitrate and nitrite using inorganic compounds as source of energy. Ferrous iron, sulfur-reduced compounds (e.g. hydrogen sulfide, elemental sulfur and thiosulfate), hydrogen gas, pyrite and arsenite have been used as inorganic electron donors resulting in diverse outcomes. In the last 40years, a large number of engineered systems have been used to maintain chemolithotrophic denitrification and improve rate and efficiency of the process. Among them, biofilm reactors proved to be robust and high-performing technologies. Packed bed reactors are particularly suitable for the removal of low nitrate concentrations, since high retention times are required to complete denitrification. Fluidized bed and membrane biofilm reactors result in the highest denitrification rates (>20kg N-NO3-/m3d) when hydrogen gas and sulfur reduced compounds are used as electron donors. Hydrogen gas pressure and current intensity rule the performance of membrane biofilm and biofilm electrode reactors, respectively. Biofouling is the most common and detrimental issue in biofilm reactors. Bed fluidization and hydrogen supply limitation are convenient and effective solutions to mitigate biofouling.

AB - Chemolithotrophic denitrification is an inexpensive and advantageous process for nitrate removal and represents a promising alternative to classical denitrification with organics. Chemolithotrophic denitrifiers are microorganisms able to reduce nitrate and nitrite using inorganic compounds as source of energy. Ferrous iron, sulfur-reduced compounds (e.g. hydrogen sulfide, elemental sulfur and thiosulfate), hydrogen gas, pyrite and arsenite have been used as inorganic electron donors resulting in diverse outcomes. In the last 40years, a large number of engineered systems have been used to maintain chemolithotrophic denitrification and improve rate and efficiency of the process. Among them, biofilm reactors proved to be robust and high-performing technologies. Packed bed reactors are particularly suitable for the removal of low nitrate concentrations, since high retention times are required to complete denitrification. Fluidized bed and membrane biofilm reactors result in the highest denitrification rates (>20kg N-NO3-/m3d) when hydrogen gas and sulfur reduced compounds are used as electron donors. Hydrogen gas pressure and current intensity rule the performance of membrane biofilm and biofilm electrode reactors, respectively. Biofouling is the most common and detrimental issue in biofilm reactors. Bed fluidization and hydrogen supply limitation are convenient and effective solutions to mitigate biofouling.

KW - Biofilm

KW - Biofilm electrode reactor

KW - Chemolithotrophic denitrification

KW - Fluidized bed reactor

KW - Membrane biofilm reactor

KW - Packed bed reactor

U2 - 10.1016/j.cej.2015.05.131

DO - 10.1016/j.cej.2015.05.131

M3 - Article

VL - 280

SP - 643

EP - 657

JO - Chemical Engineering Journal

JF - Chemical Engineering Journal

SN - 1385-8947

ER -