Achieving partial nitrification by inhibiting the activity of Nitrospira-like bacteria under high-DO conditions in an intermittent aeration reactor

It is generally accepted that a low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is more beneficial for achieving partial nitrification than high-DO. In this study, partial nitrification was not established under low-DO conditions in an intermittent aeration reactor for treating domestic wastewater. During the operational period of low-DO conditions (DO: 0.3 +/- 0.14 mg/L), stable complete nitrification was observed. The abundance of Nitrospira-like bacteria, which were the major nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, increased from 1.03 x 10(6) to 2.64 x 10(6) cells/mL. At the end of the low-DO period, the batch tests showed that high-DO concentration (1.5, 2.0 mg/L) could inhibit nitrite oxidation, and enhance ammonia oxidation. After switching to the high-DO period (1.8 x 0.32 mg/L), partial nitrification was gradually achieved. Nitrospira decreased from 2.64 x 10(6) to 8.85 x 10(5) cells/mL. It was found that suddenly switching to a high-DO condition could inhibit the activity and abundance of Nitrospira-like bacteria, resulting in partial nitrification. (C) 2016 The Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V.