Biological Nitrogen Removal Database

A manually curated data resource for microbial nitrogen removal


Groundwater Water systems


Experimental setup


Influent:Tap water

Denitrification system:Heterotrophic denitrification

Denitrifying reactor:Column packed-bed reactor

Medium:Sand particles

Culture taken from:Anoxic sludge tank

Organism (s) cultured:nan

Respiration:Anaerobic

Electron donor:Methanol

Electron acceptor:Nitrate


Experimental Information


Input NO3-N (mg/l):0.15

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

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

Microorganisms identified:nan

Molecular tools:nan


Information about Article


Major findings:The concentration of chromate did not adversely affect the rate of denitrification in both denitrifcation systems. At high nitrate loading rates the heterotrophic denitrification systems performed better than autotrophic denitrication system.

Authors:Sahinkaya and Kilic., 2014

Title:Heterotrophic and Elemental-Sulfur-Based Autotrophic Denitrification Processes for Simultaneous Nitrate and Cr(VI) Reduction

Pubmed link:Link

Full research link:Link

Abstract:Nitrate and chromate can be present together in water resources as nitrate is a common co-contaminant in surface and ground waters. This study aims at comparatively evaluating simultaneous chromate and nitrate reduction in heterotrophic and sulfur-based autotrophic denitrifying column bioreactors. In sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification process, elemental sulfur and nitrate act as an electron donor and an acceptor, respectively, without requirement of organic supplementation. Autotrophic denitrification was complete and not adversely affected by chromate up to 0.5 mg/L. Effluent chromate concentration was <50 ?g/L provided that influent chromate concentration was ?0.5 mg/L. Heterotrophic denitrification performance was not adversely affected even at 20 mg/L chromate and complete chromate reduction was attained up to 10 mg/L. Although autotrophic denitrification rate was much lower compared with heterotrophic one, it may be preferred in drinking water treatment due to the elimination of organic supplementation and the risk of treated effluent contamination.