Hybrid zeolite-based ion-exchange and sulfur oxidizing denitrification for advanced slaughterhouse wastewater treatment

ABSTRACT The discharge of slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW) is increasing and its wastewater has to be treated thoroughly to avoid the eutrophication. The hybrid zeolite-based ion-exchange and sulfur autotrophic denitrification (IX-AD) process was developed to advanced treat SWW after traditional secondary biological process. Compared with traditional sulfur oxidizing denitrification (SOD), this study found that IX-AD column showed: (1) stronger ability to resist NO3− pollution load, (2) lower SO42− productivity, and (3) higher microbial diversity and richness. Liaoning zeolites addition guaranteed not only the standard discharge of NH4+-N, but also the denitrification performance and effluent TN. Especially, when the ahead secondary biological treatment process run at the ultra-high load, NO3−-N removal efficiency for IX-AD column was still ~100%, whereas only 64.2% for control SOD column. The corresponding average effluent TN concentrations for IX-AD and SOD columns were 5.89 and 65.55 mg/L, respectively. Therefore, IX-AD is a promising technology for advanced SWW treatment and should be widely researched and popularized.