Autotrophic denitrification characteristics of urban wastewater treatment plant effluent driven by sodium thiosulfate siderite

Yong Chen; Xiaoli Wen; Geran Zhao; Chengcai Zhang; Yong Chen; Xiaoli Wen; Geran Zhao; Chengcai Zhang

doi:10.3934/environsci.2026036

AIMS Environmental Science

2026, Volume 13, Issue 5: 917-935. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2026036

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Research article

Autotrophic denitrification characteristics of urban wastewater treatment plant effluent driven by sodium thiosulfate siderite

1.
Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province 450001, China
2.
Henan University of Engineering, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province 451191, China
3.
Zhengzhou Institute of Food Technology. Zhengzhou city, Hennan Province 451162, China

Received: 28 February 2026 Revised: 19 September 2026 Accepted: 20 September 2026 Published: 24 September 2026

Autotrophic denitrification has garnered increasing attention as it eliminates the dependency on external organic carbon sources. Addressing the challenge of elevated nitrate levels in the tailwater of urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), we proposed a sodium thiosulfate-siderite autotrophic denitrification (STSAD) biofilter for advanced nitrogen removal. The optimal operational parameters were an influent pH of 7.0, a temperature of 30℃, a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2 hours, and a sodium thiosulfate dosage equivalent to 1.5 times the theoretical requirement. Under these conditions, the system achieved a nitrate (NO₃^--N) removal rate of 100% and a total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency exceeding 95%. Microbial analysis revealed significant biofilm enrichment on the ceramsite and siderite media, with Thiobacillus and Ferritrophicum identified as the predominant denitrifying genera. This ensured that effluent TN and COD levels comply with discharge standards.
Citation: Yong Chen, Xiaoli Wen, Geran Zhao, Chengcai Zhang. Autotrophic denitrification characteristics of urban wastewater treatment plant effluent driven by sodium thiosulfate siderite[J]. AIMS Environmental Science, 2026, 13(5): 917-935. doi: 10.3934/environsci.2026036

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Abstract

Autotrophic denitrification has garnered increasing attention as it eliminates the dependency on external organic carbon sources. Addressing the challenge of elevated nitrate levels in the tailwater of urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), we proposed a sodium thiosulfate-siderite autotrophic denitrification (STSAD) biofilter for advanced nitrogen removal. The optimal operational parameters were an influent pH of 7.0, a temperature of 30℃, a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 2 hours, and a sodium thiosulfate dosage equivalent to 1.5 times the theoretical requirement. Under these conditions, the system achieved a nitrate (NO₃^--N) removal rate of 100% and a total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency exceeding 95%. Microbial analysis revealed significant biofilm enrichment on the ceramsite and siderite media, with Thiobacillus and Ferritrophicum identified as the predominant denitrifying genera. This ensured that effluent TN and COD levels comply with discharge standards.

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