Autotrophic denitrification based on sulfur-iron minerals: advanced wastewater treatment technology with simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal

Autotrophic denitrification technology has many advantages, including no external carbon source addition, low sludge production, high operating cost efficiency, prevention of secondary sewage pollution, and stable treatment efficiency. At present, the main research on autotrophic denitrification electron donors mainly includes sulfur, iron, and hydrogen. In these autotrophic denitrification systems, pyrite has received attention due to its advantages of easy availability of raw materials, low cost, and pH stability. When pyrite is used as a substrate for autotropic denitrification, sulfide (S2-) and ferrous ion (Fe2+) in the substrate will provide electrons to convert nitrate (NO3-) in sewage first to nitrite (NO2-), then to nitrogen (N2), and finally to discharge the system. At the same time, sulfide (S2-) loses electrons to sulfate (SO42-) and ferrous ion (Fe2+) loses electrons to ferric iron (Fe3+). Phosphates (PO43-) in wastewater are chemically combined with ferric iron (Fe3+) to form ferric phosphate (FePO4) precipitate. This paper aims to provide a detailed and comprehensive overview of the dynamic changes of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and other substances in the process of sulfur autotrophic denitrification using iron sulfide, and to summarize the factors that affect wastewater treatment in the system. This work will provide a relevant research direction and theoretical basis for the field of sulfur autotrophic denitrification, especially for the related experiments of the reaction conversion of various substances in the system.