Factors Affecting the Integration of Methanogenesis with Simultaneous Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation and Denitrification

Ammonium nitrogen and nitrogen oxides are toxic to methanogeneic bacteria, however, their toxicities can be decreased through domestication. In the process of anaerobic ammonium oxidation, ammonium is oxidized to dinitrogen gas with nitrite as the electron acceptor under anoxic conditions. Although anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria have been described as obligate chemolithoautotrophs, they can use organic compounds as a supplementary carbon source. Furthermore, NO2 can increase the activity of anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria. It is very exciting to integrate methanogenesis with simultaneous anaerobic ammonium oxidation and denitrification in their preferred micro-ecological symbiosis environment by using special reactors. It could change the organic compounds into a clean energy source, and at the same time remove nitrogen in wastewater treatment. Tab 1, Ref 31