Positive role of nitrite as electron acceptor on anoxic denitrifying phosphorus removal process

Literatures revealed that the electron acceptor-nitrite could be inhibitory or toxic in the denitrifying phosphorus removal process. Batch test experiments were used to investigate the inhibitory effect during the anoxic condition. The inoculated activated sludge was taken from a continuous double-sludge denitrifying phosphorus and nitrogen removal system. Nitrite was added at the anoxic stage. One time injection and sequencing batch injection were carried on in the denitrifying dephosphorus procedure. The results indicated that the nitrite concentration higher than 30 mg/L would inhibit the anoxic phosphate uptake severely, and the threshold inhibitory concentration was dependent on the characteristics of the activated sludge and the operating conditions; instead, lower than the inhibitory concentration would not be detrimental to anoxic phosphorus uptake, and it could act as good electron acceptor for the anoxic phosphate accumulated. Positive effects performed during the denitrifying biological dephosphorus all the time. The utility of nitrite as good electron acceptor would provide a new feasible way in the denitrifying phosphorus process.