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A Comprehensive Review on Wastewater Nitrogen Removal and Its Recovery Processes

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  • Yifan Zhou

    (Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Yingying Zhu

    (Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Jinyuan Zhu

    (Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Chaoran Li

    (Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

  • Geng Chen

    (Faculty of Maritime and Transportation, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China)

Abstract

Discharging large amounts of domestic and industrial wastewater drastically increases the reactive nitrogen content in aquatic ecosystems, which causes severe ecological stress and biodiversity loss. This paper reviews three common types of denitrification processes, including physical, chemical, and biological processes, and mainly focuses on the membrane technology for nitrogen recovery. The applicable conditions and effects of various treatment methods, as well as the advantages, disadvantages, and influencing factors of membrane technologies, are summarized. Finally, it is proposed that developing effective combinations of different treatment methods and researching new processes with high efficiency, economy, and energy savings, such as microbial fuel cells and anaerobic osmotic membrane bioreactors, are the research and development directions of wastewater treatment processes.

Suggested Citation

  • Yifan Zhou & Yingying Zhu & Jinyuan Zhu & Chaoran Li & Geng Chen, 2023. "A Comprehensive Review on Wastewater Nitrogen Removal and Its Recovery Processes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-27, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:4:p:3429-:d:1069641
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mary H. Ward & Rena R. Jones & Jean D. Brender & Theo M. De Kok & Peter J. Weyer & Bernard T. Nolan & Cristina M. Villanueva & Simone G. Van Breda, 2018. "Drinking Water Nitrate and Human Health: An Updated Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-31, July.
    2. Adele Folino & Demetrio Antonio Zema & Paolo S. Calabrò, 2020. "Environmental and Economic Sustainability of Swine Wastewater Treatments Using Ammonia Stripping and Anaerobic Digestion: A Short Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-28, June.
    3. Yellezuome, Dominic & Zhu, Xianpu & Wang, Zengzhen & Liu, Ronghou, 2022. "Mitigation of ammonia inhibition in anaerobic digestion of nitrogen-rich substrates for biogas production by ammonia stripping: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
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    5. Alessio Siciliano & Carlo Limonti & Giulia Maria Curcio & Raffaele Molinari, 2020. "Advances in Struvite Precipitation Technologies for Nutrients Removal and Recovery from Aqueous Waste and Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-35, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Khathutshelo Lilith Muedi & Job Tatenda Tendenedzai & Vhahangwele Masindi & Nils Hendrik Haneklaus & Hendrik Gideon Brink, 2025. "Facile Recovery of Polycationic Metals from Acid Mine Drainage and Their Subsequent Valorisation for the Treatment of Municipal Wastewater," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-27, March.
    2. Davide Clematis & Daria Bellotti & Massimo Rivarolo & Loredana Magistri & Antonio Barbucci, 2023. "Hydrogen Carriers: Scientific Limits and Challenges for the Supply Chain, and Key Factors for Techno-Economic Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-31, August.

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