Advanced nitrate removal in sulfur autotrophic denitrification biofilter under dissolved oxygen shock and low temperature enhanced by boron oxide and magnesium oxide: Hydrogen sulfide accumulation and regulation.

Strengthening nitrate removal stability of sulfur autotrophic denitrification (SAD) under environmental stress is of great urgency. This study established a biofilter filled with S0-based filter material modified by boron oxide and magnesium oxide (FMSBMg). Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) accumulation reached 18.89 ± 4.51 mg/L and 7.28 ± 2.03 mg/L in summer and winter. Air and water backwash flow rates of 3 m3/h and 150 L/h could reduce H2S accumulation to below 0.16 mg/L under dissolved oxygen (DO) of 4.4 ± 0.1 mg/L 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/L B3+ and 15.9 ± 0.3 mg/L Mg2+ released from FMSBMg enhanced nitrate removal stability under DO shock and temperature drop. NO3--Neff reached 5.2 ± 2.2 mg/L at 12.1 ± 0.8 °C. Coexistence of NH4+-N and NO2--N provided substrates for in situ enrichment of Anammox bacteria. Thiobacillus, Lysobacter and Brocadia abundances accounted for 53.9%, 2.5% and 1.8% in biofilter, respectively. This study could provide theoretical basis for SAD biofilter application and H2S regulation.