Effect of aeration rate on the emission of N2O in anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch reactors (A/O SBRs).

Nitrous oxide (N(2)O) is a significant greenhouse gas, and biological nitrogen removal systems have been shown to be a significant N(2)O source. To evaluate the control parameters for N(2)O emission in the wastewater treatment process, N(2)O emissions were compared in the activated sludge from anoxic-aerobic sequencing batch reactors (A/O SBRs) acclimated under different aeration rates, and fed with synthetic wastewater. Results showed that a higher aeration rate led to a smaller N(2)O emission, while reactors acclimated under mild aeration performed the best in terms of nitrogen removal efficiency. Most of the N(2)O was produced during the aerobic phase, regardless of the aeration rate. Trace studies showed that incomplete denitrification appeared to be the major process responsible for high N(2)O emission at a low aeration rate (Run 1), while incomplete nitrification was the reason for N(2)O emission at a higher aeration rate (Run 2 and Run 3). For enhancing the efficiency of nitrogen removal while lowering energy consumption and reducing N(2)O emission, the optimal aeration rate would be 2.7 L(air)/(L(reactor) . h), in terms of the synthetic wastewater used. (c) 2009 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.