New perspectives in free nitrous acid (FNA) uses for sustainable wastewater management

doi:10.1007/s11783-024-1786-5

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2024, Vol. 18

Issue (2) : 26 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1786-5

PERSPECTIVES

New perspectives in free nitrous acid (FNA) uses for sustainable wastewater management

Zhiqiang Zuo^1,², Min Zheng^2,³(

), Tao Liu^2,⁴, Yongzhen Peng¹, Zhiguo Yuan⁵(

)

¹. National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
². Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
³. Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
⁴. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
⁵. School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China

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Abstract

● The historical development of free nitrous acid (FNA) technologies is reviewed.

● The roles of novel acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers are highlighted.

● Acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers can self-sustain high-level FNA production.

● The next-generation in situ FNA-based technologies are discussed.

The biocidal effects of free nitrous acid (FNA) have found applications in multiple units in an urban wastewater system, including sewer networks, wastewater treatment processes, and sludge treatment processes. However, these applications are associated with chemical costs as both nitrite and acid are needed to produce FNA at the required levels. The recent discovery of novel acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers offers the possibility to produce FNA from domestic wastewater, enabling the development of next-generation FNA-based technologies capable of achieving self-sustaining FNA production. In this study, we focus on the concept of in situ FNA generation facilitated by acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers and highlight the multiple benefits it creates, after a brief review of the historical development of FNA-based technologies. We will discuss how wastewater systems can be made more energy-efficient and sustainable by leveraging the potential of acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers.

Keywords Free nitrous acid Acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizer In situ generation Wastewater management

Corresponding Author(s): Min Zheng,Zhiguo Yuan

Issue Date: 11 December 2023

Cite this article:

Zhiqiang Zuo,Min Zheng,Tao Liu, et al. New perspectives in free nitrous acid (FNA) uses for sustainable wastewater management[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2024, 18(2): 26.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-024-1786-5
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2024/V18/I2/26

Fig.1 Progress of the FNA research in the past 20 years.

Fig.2 Potential applications of FNA produced in situ by acid-tolerant AOB to sewage and sludge treatment.

Fig.3 Wider applications of FNA produced in situ for sustainable wastewater management.

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