The influence mechanism of temperature on solid phase denitrification based on denitrification performance, carbon balance, and microbial analysis.

Abstract In this work, the influence mechanism of temperature on solid phase denitrification (SPD) was investigated using a pilot-scale reactor supported with polycaprolactone (PCL). The results showed that under nitrate loads of ~31.5 mg N/(L·h), as temperature decreased from 30 °C to 13 °C, the nitrate removal efficiency declined from 94% to 57%. Furthermore, denitrification rate constants were input into Arrhenius equation and the resulting temperature coefficient was 1.04. Significantly nitrite accumulation and less effluent COD residue occurred at low-temperatures. Via stoichiometry, the sludge yield coefficient and COD demand for nitrate removal both increased as a function of increasing temperature; and were calculated at 20 °C as 0.069 g MLVSS/(g COD·d) and 3.265 g COD/g N, respectively. Carbon balance analysis indicated that the COD release rate (υ) at 30 °C was twice that at 13 °C. LEfSe analysis demonstrated that Desulfomicrobium, Desulfovibrio, and Meganema were abundant at low-temperature, while Simplicispira, Aquabacterium, and Acidovorax were enriched at high-temperature. Besides, carboxylesterase (PCL depolymerase) was more abundant at high-temperature, implying an association with a fast υ. Moreover, nar was enriched at low-temperature, while nir was depleted, which led to nitrite accumulation. These results provide reference for SPD design parameter estimation and/or optimal operation strategy.