Effect of storage conditions on maintaining anammox cell viability during starvation and recovery

Anammox bacteria can easily undergo starvation due to fluctuations in feed flowrate and concentration in wastewater treatment plants. In this study, we analyzed the effects of different types of storage conditions (presence of ammonium (Ra), nitrite (Rn), hydrazine (Rh), and no substrate (Rc)) in aiding the viability of anammox bacteria during starvation and recovery. After starvation, the bacteria were subjected to a 15-week recovery period. Anammox bacteria showed better results during starvation and recovery in Rh as compared to other conditions. Decay rate values obtained after starvation in Ra, Rn, Rh, and Rc were 0.032/day, 0.042/day, 0.019/day, and 0.037/day, respectively. Meanwhile, µmax values obtained in Rh, Ra, Rn, and Rc on the 15th week of recovery were 0.092, 0.075, 0.011, and 0.067 d-1, respectively. This indicated that the availability of hydrazine helps to reduce the mortality rate of anammox bacteria during starvation and enhances the recovery of anammox process.