Abstract
Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification (SND) is a promising process for biological nitrogen removal. Compared to conventional nitrogen removal processes, SND is cost-effective due to the decreased structural footprint and low oxygen and energy requirements. This critical review summarizes the current knowledge on SND related to fundamentals, mechanisms, and influence factors. The creation of stable aerobic and anoxic conditions within the flocs, as well as the optimization of dissolved oxygen (DO), are the most significant challenges in SND. Innovative reactor configurations coupled with diversified microbial communities have achieved significant carbon and nitrogen reduction from wastewater. In addition, the review also presents the recent advances in SND for removing micropollutants. The micropollutants are exposed to various enzymes due to the microaerobic and diverse redox conditions present in the SND system, which would eventually enhance biotransformation. This review presents SND as a potential biological treatment process for carbon, nitrogen, and micropollutant removal from wastewater.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abu Bakar SNH, Abu Hasan H, Mohammad AW et al (2018) A review of moving-bed biofilm reactor technology for palm oil mill effluent treatment. J Clean Prod 171:1532–1545
Ahn YH (2006) Sustainable nitrogen elimination biotechnologies: A review. Process Biochem 41(8):1709–1721
Alexander JT, Hai FI, Al-aboud TM (2012) Chemical coagulation-based processes for trace organic contaminant removal: current state and future potential. J Environ Manage 111:195–207
Alvarino T, Komesli O, Suarez S et al (2016) The potential of the innovative SeMPAC process for enhancing the removal of recalcitrant organic micropollutants. J Hazard Mater. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2016.01.040
Alvarino T, Suarez S, Lema J, Omil F (2018) Understanding the sorption and biotransformation of organic micropollutants in innovative biological wastewater treatment technologies. Sci Total Environ 615:297–306
Alzate Marin JC, Caravelli AH, Zaritzky NE (2016) Nitrification and aerobic denitrification in anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.10.024
Baek SH, Kim HJ (2013) Mathematical Model for Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification (SND) in Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) under Low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) Concentrations. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng 18:104–110. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-011-0419-6
Bucci P, Coppotelli B, Morelli I et al (2021) Heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification performance in a granular sequencing batch reactor supported by next generation sequencing. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ibiod.2021.105210
Bueno RF, Piveli RP, Campos F, Sobrinho PA (2018) Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in the activated sludge systems of continuous flow. Environ Technol (united Kingdom). https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2017.1363820
Cabeza Y, Candela L, Ronen D, Teijon G (2012) Monitoring the occurrence of emerging contaminants in treated wastewater and groundwater between 2008 and 2010. J Hazard Mater, The Baix Llobregat (Barcelona, Spain). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.07.032
Chai H, Xiang Y, Chen R et al (2019) Enhanced simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in treating low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio wastewater: Treatment performance and nitrogen removal pathway. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.02.022
Chang M, Wang Y, Pan Y et al (2019) Nitrogen removal from wastewater via simultaneous nitrification and denitrification using a biological folded non-aerated filter. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121696
Chiu YC, Lee LL, Chang CN, Chao AC (2007) Control of carbon and ammonium ratio for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in a sequencing batch bioreactor. Int Biodeterior Biodegrad 59(1):1–7
Corsino SF, Capodici M, Morici C et al (2016) Simultaneous nitritation-denitritation for the treatment of high-strength nitrogen in hypersaline wastewater by aerobic granular sludge. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.10.041
Dawas-Massalha A, Gur-Reznik S, Lerman S et al (2014) Co-metabolic oxidation of pharmaceutical compounds by a nitrifying bacterial enrichment. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.06.003
Deng Y-L, Ruan Y-J, Zhu S-M et al (2017) The impact of DO and salinity on microbial community in poly(butylene succinate) denitrification reactors for recirculating aquaculture system wastewater treatment. AMB Express. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13568-017-0412-3
Di Capua F, Iannacone F, Sabba F, Esposito G (2022) Simultaneous nitrification–denitrification in biofilm systems for wastewater treatment: Key factors, potential routes, and engineered applications. Bioresour Technol 361:127702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127702
Dorival-García N, Zafra-Gómez A, Navalón A et al (2013) Removal and degradation characteristics of quinolone antibiotics in laboratory-scale activated sludge reactors under aerobic, nitrifying and anoxic conditions. J Environ Manage 120:75–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.02.007
Fernandez-Fontaina E, Omil F, Lema JM, Carballa M (2012) Influence of nitrifying conditions on the biodegradation and sorption of emerging micropollutants. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2012.07.037
Foley J, de Haas D, Yuan Z, Lant P (2010) Nitrous oxide generation in full-scale biological nutrient removal wastewater treatment plants. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2009.10.033
Fu Z, Yang F, An Y, Xue Y (2009) Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification coupled with phosphorus removal in an modified anoxic/oxic-membrane bioreactor (A/O-MBR). Biochem Eng J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2008.09.021
Fu B, Liao X, Ding L, Ren H (2010) Characterization of microbial community in an aerobic moving bed biofilm reactor applied for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 26:1981–1990. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-010-0382-y
Gieseke A, Arnz P, Amann R, Schramm A (2002) Simultaneous P and N removal in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor: Insights from reactor- and microscale investigations. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00232-9
Guo J, Zhang L, Chen W et al (2013) The regulation and control strategies of a sequencing batch reactor for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification at different temperatures. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.01.026
Hai FI, Nghiem LD, Khan SJ, et al (2014) Wastewater reuse: Removal of emerging trace organic contaminants (TrOC). In: Membrane Biological Reactors: Theory, Modeling, Design, Management and Applications to Wastewater Reuse
Halling-Sørensen B, Nielsen SN (1996) A model of nitrogen removal from waste water in a fixed bed reactor using simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). Ecol Modell 87:131–141. https://doi.org/10.1016/0304-3800(95)00025-9
He S, bing, Xue G, Wang B zhen, (2009) Factors affecting simultaneous nitrification and de-nitrification (SND) and its kinetics model in membrane bioreactor. J Hazard Mater 168:704–710. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.02.099
He Q, Zhang W, Zhang S, Wang H (2017) Enanced nitrogen removal in an aerobic granular sequencing batch reactor performing simultaneous nitrification, endogenous denitrification and phosphorus removal with low superficial gas velocity. Chem Eng J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2017.06.071
He T, Li Z, Xie D et al (2018) Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification with different mixed nitrogen loads by a hypothermia aerobic bacterium. Biodegradation. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-018-9820-6
Hiatt WC, Grady CPL (2008) An Updated Process Model for Carbon Oxidation, Nitrification, and Denitrification. Water Environ Res 80:2145–2156. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143008x304776
Hocaoglu SM, Insel G, Cokgor UU, Orhon D (2011a) Effect of low dissolved oxygen on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in a membrane bioreactor treating black water. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.11.096
Hocaoglu SM, Insel G, Ubay Cokgor E, Orhon D (2011b) Effect of sludge age on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in membrane bioreactor. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2011.03.096
Holakoo L, Nakhla G, Bassi AS, Yanful EK (2007) Long term performance of MBR for biological nitrogen removal from synthetic municipal wastewater. Chemosphere. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.06.026
Hoseinzadeh E, Rezaee A, Hossini H (2016) Biological nitrogen removal in moving bed biofilm reactor using ibuprofen as carbon source. Water Air Soil Pollut. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2690-1
Hu Z, Zhang J, Xie H et al (2011) Identifying sources of nitrous oxide emission in anoxic/aerobic sequencing batch reactors (A/O SBRs) acclimated in different aeration rates. Enzyme Microb Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2011.04.014
Huang R, Meng T, Liu G et al (2022) Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in membrane bioreactor: Effect of dissolved oxygen. J Environ Manage 323:116183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116183
Ilies P, Mavinic DS (2001) The effect of decreased ambient temperature on the biological nitrification and denitrification of a high ammonia landfill leachate. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00477-2
Insel G, Hocaoĝlu SM, Cokgor EU, Orhon D (2011) Modelling the effect of biomass induced oxygen transfer limitations on the nitrogen removal performance of membrane bioreactor. J Memb Sci 368:54–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MEMSCI.2010.11.003
James SN, Vijayanandan A (2022) Anoxic-Aerobic-Anoxic sequencing batch reactor for enhanced nitrogen removal. Bioresour Technol 363:127892. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2022.127892
Ji B, Yang K, Zhu L et al (2015) Aerobic denitrification: A review of important advances of the last 30 years. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng 20:643–651
Jia W, Liang S, Ngo HH et al (2013) Effect of phosphorus load on nutrients removal and N2O emission during low-oxygen simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2013.02.095
Jia Y, Zhou M, Chen Y et al (2020) Insight into short-cut of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process in moving bed biofilm reactor: Effects of carbon to nitrogen ratio. Chem Eng J 400:125905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2020.125905
Jianlong W, Ning Y (2004) Partial nitrification under limited dissolved oxygen conditions. Process Biochem. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0032-9592(03)00249-8
Khin T, Annachhatre AP (2004) Novel microbial nitrogen removal processes. Biotechnol Adv. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2004.04.003
Kong Q, Wang Z, bin, Niu P fei, Miao M sheng, (2016) Greenhouse gas emission and microbial community dynamics during simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.02.051
Lakshminarasimman N, Quiñones O, Vanderford BJ et al (2018) Biotransformation and sorption of trace organic compounds in biological nutrient removal treatment systems. Sci Total Environ 640–641:62–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.05.145
Layer M, Villodres MG, Hernandez A et al (2020) Limited simultaneous nitrification-denitrification (SND) in aerobic granular sludge systems treating municipal wastewater: Mechanisms and practical implications. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.WROA.2020.100048
Li B, Irvin S (2007) The comparison of alkalinity and ORP as indicators for nitrification and denitrification in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Biochem Eng J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bej.2006.12.020
Li J, Peng Y, Gu G, Wei S (2007) Factors affecting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in an SBBR treating domestic wastewater. Front Environ Sci Eng China. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-007-0042-0
Liu Y, Shi H, Xia L et al (2010) Study of operational conditions of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in a Carrousel oxidation ditch for domestic wastewater treatment. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2009.09.015
Liu J, Wang J, Zhao C et al (2017) Performance and mechanism of triclosan removal in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) process under low-oxygen condition. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-016-7952-3
Luo Y, Guo W, Ngo HH et al (2014) A review on the occurrence of micropollutants in the aquatic environment and their fate and removal during wastewater treatment. Sci Total Environ 473:619–641
Ma W, Han Y, Ma W et al (2017) Enhanced nitrogen removal from coal gasification wastewater by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) in an oxygen-limited aeration sequencing batch biofilm reactor. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.083
Marti E, Huerta B, Rodríguez-Mozaz S et al (2014) Characterization of ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates from a wastewater treatment plant and its receiving river. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2014.05.006
Metcalf W, Eddy C (2003) Metcalf and Eddy Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Reuse. Wastewater Eng Treat Reuse McGraw Hill New York, NY
Miao L, Yang G, Tao T, Peng Y (2019) Recent advances in nitrogen removal from landfill leachate using biological treatments – a review. J Environ Manage 235:178–185
Munch EV, Lant P, Keller J (1996) Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in bench-scale sequencing batch reactors. Water Res 30(2):277–284
Peng YZ, Chen Y, Peng CY et al (2004) Nitrite accumulation by aeration controlled in sequencing batch reactors treating domestic wastewater. Water Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2004.0603
Phan HV, Hai FI, Kang J et al (2014) Simultaneous nitrification/denitrification and trace organic contaminant (TrOC) removal by an anoxic-aerobic membrane bioreactor (MBR). Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.03.094
Pochana K, Keller J (1999) Study of factors affecting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). Water Sci Technol 39(6):61–68
Pochana K, Keller J, Lant P (1999) Model development for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Water Sci Technol 39:235–243. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.1999.0050
Pomiès M, Choubert JM, Wisniewski C, Coquery M (2013) Modelling of micropollutant removal in biological wastewater treatments: A review. Sci Total Environ 443:733–748
Qi R, Yang K, Yu Z, xiang, (2007) Treatment of coke plant wastewater by SND fixed biofilm hybrid system. J Environ Sci. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(07)60025-4
Qu D, Wang C, Wang Y et al (2015) Heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification by a novel groundwater origin cold-adapted bacterium at low temperatures. RSC Adv. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4ra13141j
Ravishankar H, Nemeth A, Massons G et al (2022) Factors impacting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in a membrane aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) system treating municipal wastewater. J Environ Chem Eng. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JECE.2022.108120
Ren Y, Wang J, Xu L et al (2015) Direct emissions of N2O, CO2, and CH4 from A/A/O bioreactor systems: impact of influent C/N ratio. Environ Sci Pollut Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-4408-8
Rout PR, Bhunia P, Dash RR (2017) Simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorous from domestic wastewater using Bacillus cereus GS-5 strain exhibiting heterotrophic nitrification, aerobic denitrification and denitrifying phosphorous removal. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.186
She Z, Wu L, Wang Q et al (2018) Salinity effect on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification, microbial characteristics in a hybrid sequencing batch biofilm reactor. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 41:65–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-017-1844-5
Singh V, Ormeci B, Mishra S, Hussain A (2022) Simultaneous partial Nitrification, ANAMMOX and denitrification (SNAD) – a review of critical operating parameters and reactor configurations. Chem Eng J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.133677
Sipma J, Osuna B, Collado N et al (2010) Comparison of removal of pharmaceuticals in MBR and activated sludge systems. Desalination. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2009.06.073
Soliman M, Eldyasti A (2016) Development of partial nitrification as a first step of nitrite shunt process in a sequential batch reactor (SBR) using ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) controlled by mixing regime. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2016.09.023
Song T, Zhang X, Li J et al (2021) A review of research progress of heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification microorganisms (HNADMs). Sci Total Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149319
Stadler LB, Su L, Moline CJ et al (2015) Effect of redox conditions on pharmaceutical loss during biological wastewater treatment using sequencing batch reactors. J Hazard Mater 282:106–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.08.002
Suarez S, Lema JM, Omil F (2010) Removal of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) under nitrifying and denitrifying conditions. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2010.02.040
Sun H, Wang T, Yang Z et al (2019) Simultaneous removal of nitrogen and pharmaceutical and personal care products from the effluent of waste water treatment plants using aerated solid-phase denitrification system. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121389
Suneethi S, Keerthiga G, Soundhar R et al (2015) Qualitative evaluation of small scale municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPS) in South India. Water Pract Technol. https://doi.org/10.2166/wpt.2015.087
Third KA, Burnett N, Cord-Ruwisch R (2003a) Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification using stored substrate (PHB) as the electron donor in an SBR. Biotechnol Bioeng. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.10708
Third KA, Newland M, Cord-Ruwisch R (2003b) The effect of dissolved oxygen on PHB accumulation in activated sludge cultures. Biotechnol Bioeng. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.10564
Tiwari B, Sellamuthu B, Ouarda Y et al (2017) Review on fate and mechanism of removal of pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater using biological approach. Bioresour Technol 224:1–12
Tran NH, Urase T, Kusakabe O (2009) The characteristics of enriched nitrifier culture in the degradation of selected pharmaceutically active compounds. J Hazard Mater. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.06.114
Wang J, Wang S (2016) Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from wastewater: A review. J Environ Manage 182:620–640
Wang B, He S, Wang L, Shuo L (2005) Simultaneous nitrification and de-nitrification in MBR. Water Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2005.0721
Wang J, Peng Y, Wang S, Gao Y (2008) Nitrogen Removal by Simultaneous Nitrification and Denitrification via Nitrite in a Sequence Hybrid Biological Reactor. Chinese J Chem Eng. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1004-9541(08)60155-X
Wang J, Rong H, Cao Y, Zhang C (2020) Factors affecting simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) in a moving bed sequencing batch reactor (MBSBR) system as revealed by microbial community structures. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-020-02374-w
Wu M, Xiang J, Que C et al (2015) Occurrence and fate of psychiatric pharmaceuticals in the urban water system of Shanghai, China. Chemosphere. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2015.07.002
WWAP (2017) Wastewater The Untapped Resource
Xia Z, Wang Q, She Z et al (2019) Nitrogen removal pathway and dynamics of microbial community with the increase of salinity in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification process. Sci Total Environ 697:134047. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SCITOTENV.2019.134047
Yan X, Li L, Liu J (2014) Characteristics of greenhouse gas emission in three full-scale wastewater treatment processes. J Environ Sci (china). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1001-0742(13)60429-5
Yan L, Liu S, Liu Q et al (2019) Improved performance of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification via nitrite in an oxygen-limited SBR by alternating the DO. Bioresour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.12.054
Yang S, Yang F (2011) Nitrogen removal via short-cut simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in an intermittently aerated moving bed membrane bioreactor. J Hazard Mater. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.08.045
Yoo H, Ahn KH, Lee HJ et al (1999) Nitrogen removal from synthetic wastewater by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) via nitrite in an intermittently-aerated reactor. Water Res. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(98)00159-6
Zeng RJ, Lemaire R, Yuan Z, Keller J (2003) Simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal in a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor. Biotechnol Bioeng. https://doi.org/10.1002/bit.10744
Zhang L, Wei C, Zhang K et al (2009) Effects of temperature on simultaneous nitrification and denitrification via nitrite in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 32:175–182. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-008-0235-3
Zhang F, Li P, Chen M et al (2015) Effect of operational modes on nitrogen removal and nitrous oxide emission in the process of simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. Chem Eng J. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.06.016
Zhang J, Jia W, Wang R et al (2016) Microbial community characteristics during simultaneous nitrification-denitrification process: effect of COD/TP ratio. Environ Sci Pollut Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5496-1
Zinatizadeh AAL, Ghaytooli E (2015) Simultaneous nitrogen and carbon removal from wastewater at different operating conditions in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR): Process modeling and optimization. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 53:98–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JTICE.2015.02.034
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Science and Engineering Research Board (SRG/2019/001577).
Funding
Science and Engineering Research Board, SRG/2019/001577
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
SNJ: Conceptualization, Data curation, Writing—Original draft preparation. AV: Supervision, Writing—Reviewing and Editing
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
James, S.N., Vijayanandan, A. Recent advances in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification for nitrogen and micropollutant removal: a review. Biodegradation 34, 103–123 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-023-10015-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10532-023-10015-8