What are the advantages of ammonia oxidation denitrification process in wastewater treatment?

Ammonia oxidation denitrification processes (such as short-cut nitrification and denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation, etc.) have attracted considerable attention in the wastewater treatment field in recent years, demonstrating significant advantages in treating high-ammonia nitrogen wastewater. By optimizing the traditional nitrification and denitrification processes, these processes improve denitrification efficiency, reduce energy consumption and operating costs, and minimize the generation of secondary pollutants. The following are the main advantages of ammonia oxidation denitrification processes in wastewater treatment:

1. Efficient denitrification, improving treatment effect

Ammonia oxidation denitrification processes significantly improve denitrification efficiency by shortening the reaction pathway between nitrification and denitrification. For example, the short-cut nitrification and denitrification process directly converts ammonia nitrogen into nitrite, which is then reduced to nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria. This avoids the formation of nitrates in traditional processes, thus reducing the number of reaction steps and accelerating denitrification. The anaerobic ammonium oxidation process directly converts ammonia nitrogen and nitrite into nitrogen gas, further simplifying the reaction process and improving treatment efficiency.

2. Reduce energy consumption and save operating costs

While traditional nitrification and denitrification processes consume significant amounts of oxygen and carbon sources, ammonia oxidation denitrification processes significantly reduce energy consumption by optimizing the reaction pathway. For example, the short-cut nitrification and denitrification process reduces oxygen consumption, while the anaerobic ammonium oxidation process requires no oxygen at all and significantly reduces its carbon source requirements. These improvements not only reduce energy consumption but also lower operating costs, making them particularly suitable for treating high-ammonia nitrogen wastewater.

3. Reduce sludge production and reduce treatment difficulty

The ammonia oxidation denitrification process produces relatively low amounts of sludge during the reaction, primarily due to its efficient reaction mechanism and low biomass requirement. Compared to traditional processes, this process reduces the difficulty and cost of sludge treatment and disposal, while also alleviating the environmental burden.

4. Strong adaptability and wide application range

The ammonia oxidation denitrification process is highly adaptable to fluctuations in water quality and is particularly suitable for treating wastewater with high ammonia nitrogen content and low carbon-nitrogen ratios, such as landfill leachate, aquaculture wastewater, and industrial wastewater. Furthermore, this process can be combined with other wastewater treatment technologies (such as membrane bioreactors and activated sludge processes) to further expand its scope of application.

5. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and achieve significant environmental benefits

While traditional nitrification and denitrification processes can produce greenhouse gases such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) during operation, the ammonia oxidation denitrification process reduces these harmful gases by optimizing the reaction pathway. This not only helps improve the environmental benefits of wastewater treatment but also provides technical support for achieving carbon neutrality.

6. Simple operation and easy control

The reaction conditions of ammonia oxidation denitrification processes are relatively simple and easily automated. For example, the short-cut nitrification and denitrification process can achieve stable operation by controlling dissolved oxygen and pH, while the anaerobic ammonium oxidation process has lower requirements for temperature and water quality. These characteristics make the process more flexible and reliable in practical applications.

7. Reduce the use of chemicals and reduce secondary pollution

Traditional denitrification processes typically require the addition of large amounts of chemicals (such as carbon sources and alkalinity regulators). However, ammonia oxidation denitrification uses biological processes to achieve denitrification, reducing reliance on chemicals. This not only reduces operating costs but also minimizes secondary environmental pollution from chemicals.

8. Promote resource recycling and achieve sustainable development

The ammonia oxidation denitrification process not only treats wastewater but also recovers nitrogen resources. For example, the nitrogen gas produced by the anaerobic ammonium oxidation process can be discharged directly without further treatment. Furthermore, this process can be combined with other resource recovery technologies (such as phosphorus recovery and energy recovery) to further enhance the resource utilization of wastewater treatment and promote sustainable development.

9. The technology is mature and has broad application prospects

With in-depth research and continuous technological advancements, the ammonia oxidation denitrification process has achieved numerous successful applications both domestically and internationally. For example, countries like the Netherlands and Germany have implemented the process in actual wastewater treatment plants, achieving significant economic and environmental benefits. In China, with increasing environmental protection requirements and the widespread adoption of the technology, the ammonia oxidation denitrification process holds great promise for application in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment.

10. Comply with policy guidelines and support green development

The high efficiency, low energy consumption, and environmental friendliness of the ammonia oxidation denitrification process fully align with national policies on wastewater treatment and environmental protection. With the advancement of the "dual carbon" goals and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, this process will become a key technology in wastewater treatment, providing strong support for green development and the promotion of ecological civilization.

The ammonia oxidation denitrification process has shown great application potential in the field of sewage treatment due to its advantages of high efficiency, energy saving, and environmental protection. By optimizing the traditional denitrification process, this technology not only improves treatment efficiency and reduces operating costs, but also reduces secondary pollution, providing important support for the improvement of the water environment and sustainable development. In the future, with the further development and promotion of technology, the ammonia oxidation denitrification process will be widely used in more fields and make greater contributions to environmental protection and resource utilization.