Biological Nitrogen Removal Database

A manually curated data resource for microbial nitrogen removal


Freshwater systems


Experimental setup


Influent:Aquaculture wastewater

Denitrification system:Recirculating aquaculture systems Autotrophic Denitrification

Denitrifying reactor:Reticulated sponge

Medium:Polyurethane

Culture taken from:Within the systems

Organism (s) cultured:Southern platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus)

Respiration:Anaerobic

Electron donor:Hydrogen

Electron acceptor:Nitrate


Experimental Information


Input NO3-N (mg/l):20.0

Nitrate removal rate (mg NO3-N/l/h):nan

Denitrification rate (gNO3-N removed/m3/day):36.0

Microorganisms identified:nan

Molecular tools:nan


Information about Article


Major findings:Hydrogenotrophic denitrification reactor was designed and applied in the removal of nitrate from aquaria system. Hydrogen gas was used as an electron donor because it is not toxic and gets less microbial biomass compared to traditional electron donors.

Authors:Grommen et al., 2006

Title:Removal of nitrate in aquaria by means of electrochemically generated hydrogen gas as electron donor for biological denitrification

Pubmed link:None

Full research link:Link

Abstract:A hydrogenotrophic denitrification reactor was designed for the removal of nitrate from aquaria. An average hydrogen gas transfer up to 130 mg per day from the gas to the water phase was accomplished by recirculating the water from the denitrification reactor over a separate trickling filter column with a volume of 1.3 l. During batch experiments removal rates up to 36 mg N/l reactor per day were recorded at a hydraulic residence time of 12 h. To avoid the need for storage of large volumes of hydrogen gas in aquarium or aquaculture applications, an electrochemical cell was used to generate hydrogen gas. During a 7 day aquarium test, a nitrate removal rate up to 18.5 mg N/l reactor per day was recorded at an influent NO3?–N concentration of 20 mg/l.