Comparison of chemo-, hetero- and mixotrophic denitrification in laboratory-scale UASBs

This study investigated removal of sulfide and p-cresol linked to denitrification in laboratory-scale upflow anaerobic granular sludge bed (UASB) bioreactors. Three parallel denitrification bioreactors were run for nine months, which were operated under chemolithoautotrophic conditions (i.e., using sulfide as electron donor –e-donor- and bicarbonate as C source); heterotrophic conditions (with p-cresol as e-donor and C source), and mixotrophic conditions (utilizing both sulfide and p-cresol as electron donors), respectively. The average hydraulic retention time and nitrate load applied to the bioreactors was 13.4 h and 1,240 mg N-NO₃/l/day, respectively. The nitrate removal efficiency was 89, 95 and 99%, respectively, for the chemo-, hetero- and mixotrophic reactors. The mixotrophic UASB removed both sulfide and p-cresol almost completely, indicating that simultaneous removal of the inorganic and organic e-donors occurred. Nitrite was seldom observed as an intermediate. N₂O gas and methane concentrations in the biogas were also negligible. These results indicate that mixotrophic denitrification with phenols and sulfide is feasible in high rate UASB reactors.