Uncovering interactions among ternary electron donors of organic carbon source, thiosulfate and Fe0 in mixotrophic advanced denitrification: Proof of concept from simulated to authentic secondary effluent.

ABSTRACT

To offset the imperfections of higher cost and emission of CO2 greenhouse gas in heterotrophic denitrification (HDN) as well as longer start-up time in autotrophic denitrification (ADN), we synergized the potential ternary electron donors of organic carbon source, thiosulfate and zero-valent iron (Fe0) to achieve efficient mixotrophic denitrification (MDN) of oligotrophic secondary effluent. When the influent chemical oxygen demand to nitrogen (COD/N) ratio ascended gradually in the batch operation with sufficient sulfur to nitrogen (S/N) ratio, the MDN with thiosulfate and Fe0 added achieved the highest TN removal for treating simulated and authentic secondary effluents. The external carbon is imperative for initiating MDN, while thiosulfate is indispensable for promoting TN removal efficiency. Although Fe0 hardly donated electrons for denitrification, the suitable circumneutral environment for denitrification was implemented by OH- released from Fe0 corrosion, which neutralized H+generated during thiosulfate-driven ADN. Meanwhile, Fe0 corrosion consumed the dissolved oxygen (DO) and created the low DO environment suitable for anoxic denitrification. This process was further confirmed by the continuous flow operation for treating authentic secondary effluent. The TN removal efficiency achieved its maximum under the combination condition of influent COD/N ratio of 3.1-3.5 and S/N ratio of 2.0-2.1. Whether in batch or continuous flow operation, the coordination of thiosulfate and Fe0 maintained the dominance of Thiobacillus for ADN, with the dominant heterotrophic denitrifiers (e.g., Plasticicumulans, Terrimonas, Rhodanobacter and KD4-96) coexisting in MDN system. The interaction insights of ternary electron donors in MDN established a pathway for realizing high-efficiency nitrogen removal of secondary effluent.