Microbial Treatment of Wastewater with Low Carbon to Nitrogen Ratio

The nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the effluent of wastewater treatment plants are important sources of N and P in surface water, and their excessive discharge accelerates the eutrophication process of the receiving water bodies. Biological N and P removal is widely used because of its low cost and high removal efficiency. Removing 1 mg of N through nitrification-denitrification consumes 2.86 mg of COD, and the actual consumption is much higher. However, various types of wastewater, such as municipal wastewater, chemical wastewater, highway service area wastewater, and toilet wastewater, cannot provide sufficient carbon sources for N removal due to their low C/N ratio. With increasingly strict N and P discharge standards, the treatment of these wastewaters is becoming more challenging. Although some processes can efficiently remove N and P from these wastewaters, current solutions still need further improvement, and new processes are also required.This Research Topic aims to focus on the latest processes, mechanisms, and practical applications in biological N and P removal from low C/N ratio wastewater. Key objectives include identifying novel N and P removal processes, optimizing operational parameters, revealing the pathways and mechanisms of N and P removal, and developing integrated approaches that embody the concept of NEW (Nutrient + Energy + Water) plants. Scholars are encouraged to employ methods such as molecular biology and tracer atoms to explore the pathways and mechanisms of pollutant removal, and to explore application strategies for recovering C, N, and P from wastewater. This Research Topic also seeks to investigate the effects of emerging pollutants such as antibiotics, endocrine disruptors, and perfluorinated compounds on the removal efficiency, pathways, and mechanisms of pollutant removal.The scope of this Research Topic includes the development and advances of novel processes for removing N and P from low C/N ratio wastewater, with a focus on removal efficiency and operational costs. Review and original research articles are encouraged, as well as case studies demonstrating innovative applications. To gather further insights into this rapidly evolving domain, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes: • Development of a novel process for removing N and P from low C/N ratio wastewater. • The N removal mechanism of low C/N ratio wastewater based on anammox. • N and P recovery from low C/N ratio wastewater. • Influence of emerging pollutants on the removal efficiency and mechanisms of N and P. • New approaches to stimulate N and P removal efficiency. • Strategies for the transmission and elimination of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment systems.Please note that Microbiotechnology does not consider descriptive studies that are solely based on amplicon (e.g., 16S rRNA) profiles or comparisons of nucleic acid extracts (e.g., metagenomics), unless they are accompanied by a clear hypothesis and experimentation and provide insight into the microbiological system or process being studied. Topic editors: Qingfeng Cheng, Xin Zhou, Huizhi Hu, Bingzheng Wang, Jing Zhao Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85636/microbial-treatment-of-wastewater-with-low-carbon-to-nitrogen-ratio