Anaerobic Treatment of Nitrate

While aerobic bacteria use oxygen as their terminal electron acceptor for metabolic activity, denitrifying bacteria use NO2 and NO3 under anaerobic conditions. In the presence of an electron donor such as hydrogen, the net effect is the conversion of nitrate to inert nitrogen gas. Heterotrophic bacteria require organic carbon and hydrogen, while hydrogen-oxidizing denitrifying (HOD) bacteria, which are autotrophic and ubiquitous, require carbon dioxide and hydrogen.

Denitrification

Thus, you can save money by stimulating the HOD bacteria without adding fermentable electron donors.

Nitrate + Hydrogen + CO2 + HOD Bacteria → Nitrogen Gas + Water

denitrifikáció

Hidrogen Coupled Denitrification for Nitrate Remediation

Advantages of HOD Process

  • Autotrophic microorganisms only require CO2 for carbon source
  • Significant cost savings over injecting soy based electron donors
  • Innocuous end-products
  • HOD bacteria have been identified as fairly ubiquitous in the environment

Benefits of Gas inFusion

Gas inFusion versus Organic Substrates (EVO, soluble donors, etc.) for Nitrate Remediation

  • Gas inFusion eliminates the need to inject organic substrates (to produce hydrogen)
  • Gas inFusion does not produce more biomass than you need (can stop at any point)
  • Gas inFusion reduces the risk of bio-fouling the aquifer or treatment wells
  • Gas inFusion minimizes secondary water quality issues
  • Gas inFusion can be used for source attenuation or dissolved plume treatment