An integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery: Sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reduction

Although the treatment of sludge with free nitrous acid can effectively recover short chain fatty acids, the feasibility of sequential nitrite reduction and methane recovery without acidic pH adjustment is still scarcely studied. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into the effect of nit...

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Main Authors: Xiaodi Li, Mengxue Sun, Bo Wang, Wei Zeng, Yongzhen Peng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:Water Research X
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589914725000015
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author Xiaodi Li
Mengxue Sun
Bo Wang
Wei Zeng
Yongzhen Peng
author_facet Xiaodi Li
Mengxue Sun
Bo Wang
Wei Zeng
Yongzhen Peng
author_sort Xiaodi Li
collection DOAJ
description Although the treatment of sludge with free nitrous acid can effectively recover short chain fatty acids, the feasibility of sequential nitrite reduction and methane recovery without acidic pH adjustment is still scarcely studied. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into the effect of nitrite at different levels on nitrite reduction and methane production. The results showed that the nitrite concentrations of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/L were completely reduced in 1, 2, 2 and 4 days, respectively. The nitrite reduction process stimulated the fermentation of sludge to produce more organic matters, which served as electron donors for denitrification. With the nitrite concentrations increasing from 200 to 800 mg/L methane production decreased from 128.7 to 0 mg/L at the digestion time of 15 d. The toxicity of nitrite to methanogenic microorganisms and the nitrite reduction process competing with methanogens for carbon sources may lead to the inhibition of methane production by excessive nitrite. Moreover, the methane production reached 184.4 mL with 100 mg/L nitrite reduction, which was increased by 83.2 % compared with that without nitrite addition (101.1 mL). Nitrite reduction stimulated hydrolysis without negatively impacting acetogenesis, thereby providing more substrates for subsequent methanogenesis. Model-based analysis indicated that nitrite reduction enhanced the maximum methane yield and methane production rate, aligning with the aforementioned analysis. 16S rRNA analysis unraveled that the bacterial abundance associated with hydrolysis increased. This anaerobic digestion technique driven by nitrite reduction is both environmentally and economically attractive for increasing methane production.
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issn 2589-9147
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publishDate 2025-05-01
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series Water Research X
spelling doaj-art-4a576fb27eec44a1a77b3721e710d68c2025-01-06T04:08:53ZengElsevierWater Research X2589-91472025-05-0127100301An integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery: Sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reductionXiaodi Li0Mengxue Sun1Bo Wang2Wei Zeng3Yongzhen Peng4National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR ChinaCorresponding author.; National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR ChinaNational Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR ChinaAlthough the treatment of sludge with free nitrous acid can effectively recover short chain fatty acids, the feasibility of sequential nitrite reduction and methane recovery without acidic pH adjustment is still scarcely studied. Therefore, this study aimed to provide insights into the effect of nitrite at different levels on nitrite reduction and methane production. The results showed that the nitrite concentrations of 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/L were completely reduced in 1, 2, 2 and 4 days, respectively. The nitrite reduction process stimulated the fermentation of sludge to produce more organic matters, which served as electron donors for denitrification. With the nitrite concentrations increasing from 200 to 800 mg/L methane production decreased from 128.7 to 0 mg/L at the digestion time of 15 d. The toxicity of nitrite to methanogenic microorganisms and the nitrite reduction process competing with methanogens for carbon sources may lead to the inhibition of methane production by excessive nitrite. Moreover, the methane production reached 184.4 mL with 100 mg/L nitrite reduction, which was increased by 83.2 % compared with that without nitrite addition (101.1 mL). Nitrite reduction stimulated hydrolysis without negatively impacting acetogenesis, thereby providing more substrates for subsequent methanogenesis. Model-based analysis indicated that nitrite reduction enhanced the maximum methane yield and methane production rate, aligning with the aforementioned analysis. 16S rRNA analysis unraveled that the bacterial abundance associated with hydrolysis increased. This anaerobic digestion technique driven by nitrite reduction is both environmentally and economically attractive for increasing methane production.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589914725000015NitriteMethane productionAnaerobic digestionWaste activated sludge
spellingShingle Xiaodi Li
Mengxue Sun
Bo Wang
Wei Zeng
Yongzhen Peng
An integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery: Sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reduction
Water Research X
Nitrite
Methane production
Anaerobic digestion
Waste activated sludge
title An integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery: Sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reduction
title_full An integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery: Sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reduction
title_fullStr An integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery: Sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reduction
title_full_unstemmed An integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery: Sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reduction
title_short An integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery: Sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reduction
title_sort integrated strategy for sequential nitrite removal and methane recovery sludge fermentation driven by nitrite reduction
topic Nitrite
Methane production
Anaerobic digestion
Waste activated sludge
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589914725000015
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