Sulfate reducing ammonium oxidation (SULFAMMOX) process under anaerobic conditions

Sulfate (SO42-) can be an electron acceptor for ammonium nitrogen (NH4+) oxidation under anaerobic conditions. The process is known as sulfammox and can be a viable alternative to conventional, nitrite (NO2-) dependent, anammox. Two bacterial species, including Bacillus Benzoevorans and Brocadia Anammoxoglobus Sulfate, can perform that process. With sulfammox, an economically inefficient pre-nitration step (due to aeration) is not required. There are more than 10 different systems in which sulfammox has been studied, including suspended growth, biofilm, granular and hybrid reactors. A combination of anammox and sulfur related processes (sulfammox and autotrophic denitrification) would especially be appropriate for specific industrial wastewater with high content of nitrogen compounds and SO42-. The results of recent studies suggest that very high removal efficiencies could simultaneously be achieved with respect to both NH4+ (92%-99%) and SO42- (53%-60%). (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Sulfate can act as an electron acceptor for ammonium oxidation under anaerobic conditions, known as sulfammox, offering an alternative to nitrite-dependent anammox. This process shows promising removal efficiencies for both NH4+ and SO42- in various wastewater systems, especially in industrial settings with high nitrogen compound and sulfate content.