Work

Feammox, a “green” nitrogen removal process: Microorganism communities, related factors, benefits and challenges in wastewater treatment

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Nitrogen removal from low C/N wastewater is a significant challenge, as conventional denitrification requires the addition of external carbon, thereby increasing operational costs. Feammox, an anaerobic process, is emerging as a “green” alternative for nitrogen removal. While numerous reviews on this topic exist, this paper provides several new contributions, including a comprehensive synthesis of Feammox coupling pathways, a quantitative overview of the microbial communities involved, and a critical evaluation of the process's benefits versus its drawbacks. This process offers significant benefits, including reduced energy consumption, no organic carbon requirement, and lower greenhouse gas emissions. However, its primary drawback remains a low nitrogen removal rate, linked to unresolved issues like unclear enzymatic mechanisms and unidentified key functional microorganisms. Overcoming this limitation through strategies like microbial enrichment and reactor optimization is critical to realizing the potential of Feammox for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Source: Process Safety and Environmental Protection

DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2025.107836

Authors: Truong Trong Danh, Le Phuong Chung, Le Thanh Hai, Tran Le Luu

Institutions: Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang University, Viện Môi trường và Tài nguyên, Vietnamese-German University

Language: English

Topic: Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,500