Batch Experiments were made in pure cultures of
Alcaligenes faecalis under aerobic conditions. NH
4-N, NO
3-N and their mixture (NH
4-N/NO
3-N) were used as the nitrogen sources to test the heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification functions of
A. faecalis. Two carbon (TOC) to total nitrogen ratios (C:N), 5.22:1 and 1:1 were kept and nitrite shock was made to test their influence on the nitrification and denitrification functions of
A. faecalis and on N
2O emission. Experimental results showed that:
A. faecalis could conduct both nitrification and denitrification. However, the nitrifying and denitrifying rates were strongly influenced by the conditions like the nitrogen sources and the C:N ratio. In the case with NH
4-N as the nitrogen source and the C:N ratio of 5.22:1, the nitrifying rate could be 4.49mgNH
4-N·hr
1, while in the case with NH
4-N/NO
3-N as the nitrogen source and the C:N ratio of 5.22:1, it could be 2.78mgNH
4-N·hr
1. On the other hand, In the case with NO
3-N as the nitrogen source and the C:N ratio of 5.22:1, the denitrifying rate was 0.67mg NO
3-N·hr
1. N
2O emission generation was strongly influenced by the growth status and activity of
A. faecalis. The stationary status and low activity led to higher N
2O emission. Among the three nitrogen sources, mixture of NH
4-N and NO
3-N led to most N
2O emission, and NH
4-N led to the least N
2O generation. Therefore, to completely conduct nitrification and avoid the mixing of NH
4-N and NO
3-N will of use to control N
2O emission.
A. faecalis could use NO
2-N in its nitrification process. However, the accumulation of NO
2-N led to serious N
2O generation, especially in the case with higher C:N ratio. To avoid NO
2-N accumulation is therefore of importance for reducing N
2O production.
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