Development of a new denitrification process using methane as electron donor

为了更好地保护人类健康和水资源，控制氧化态氮(亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐)至关重要。然而，加拿大只规定在15±1°C的温度下，非离子氨氮低于1.25 mg/L的废水中的氮。一般来说，生物反硝化过程被用来将亚硝酸盐或硝酸盐去除到氮气中。这些过程需要连续剂量的有机化学品让细菌将氧化形式的氮还原为氮气，这增加了废水处理设施的运营和维护成本。这一成本可能是中小型城市或工业应用反硝化的一个重大障碍。因此，经济的反硝化工艺将有助于控制废水中的亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐(即总氮控制)，从而提高对人类健康和水资源的保护。该项目的目标是开发一种创新的、经济的生物技术，使用甲烷作为反硝化的电子供体；甲烷可以在废水处理设施中通过污泥的厌氧消化产生甲烷，因此甲烷可以作为一种游离的化学物质用于反硝化。一方面，这个项目可以帮助行业合作伙伴开始开发一种新的、经济的脱氮工艺。另一方面，这项技术的成功开发可以改善加拿大的人类健康和清洁的水环境。

To better protect human health and water resources, the control of oxidized forms of nitrogen (nitrite and nitrate) is essential. However, Canada only regulates nitrogen in wastewater effluent with un-ionized ammonia less than 1.25 mg/L at a temperature of 15±1°C. In general, biological denitrification processes have been used to remove nitrite or nitrate into nitrogen gas. These processes need continuous dose of organic chemicals for bacteria to reduce oxidized forms of nitrogen into nitrogen gas, which increases operating and maintenance costs in wastewater treatment facilities. This cost can be a significant barrier to denitrification application for small- to medium-sized cities or industries. Hence, economical denitrification processes would facilitate the control nitrite and nitrate (i.e., total nitrogen control) for wastewater effluent, which will improve protection of human health and water resources. The goal of this project is to develop an innovative, economical biotechnology using methane as the electron donor for denitrification; methane can be generated from sludge anaerobic digestion in wastewater treatment facilities, and hence methane can be a free chemical for denitrification. On the one hand, this project can help an industry partner to initiate development of a new, economical denitrification process. On the other hand, successful development of this technology can improve human health and the clean water environment in Canada.