Wang Hong, Liu Shiyu, Li Yanzeng, Li Xinyu, Li Lei, Yuan Shijie, Dai Xiaohu
State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798 Singapore.
Bioresour Technol. 2025 Sep;431:132598. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132598. Epub 2025 Apr 28.
This study developed a novel wastewater treatment process for efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal using micron zeolite powder carriers and hydrocyclone separator. Under anaerobic/intermittent aeration, the total nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies reached 85.2 ± 1.9 % and 78.9 ± 3.4 %, respectively, significantly outperforming conventional activated sludge system. High specific surface area and porosity of zeolite powder facilitated microbial aggregation and biofilm formation, resulting in an average sludge size of 125.3 ± 5.3 μm. The combination of powder carriers and hydrocyclone separators resulted in the differentiated distribution of functional microorganisms. Denitrifying bacteria, such as norank_Comamonadaceae (4.34 %), norank_AKYH767 (1.90 %), and Candidatus_Microthrix (2.61 %), were enriched in biofilm, while nitrifying bacteria and polyphosphate-accumulating organisms predominated in floc. Functional gene abundance related to denitrification and phosphorus removal was significantly upregulated. Correlation network analysis revealed enhanced microbial cooperation, improving the functionality and stability of community. This study offers the potential pathway for efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal from municipal wastewater.
