CANDAN process – A novel “4E” technology for nitrogen removal to

advance carbon-neutral wastewater treatment

Shenbin Cao1 and Rui Du2
1
College of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing,
100124, China, csbin@bjut.edu.cn
2
National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse
Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China, durui@bjut.edu.cn

Abstract: (Max words limit 300)

Conventional nitrification/denitrification process has been most widely practiced in WWTPs

for biological nitrogen removal. However, this process requires intensive aeration-associated
energy and significant organic carbon. The annual electrical energy consumed for domestic
and industrial wastewater treatment was reported to be as high as around 3 % of the whole
society's electricity consumption. As water industry is aiming to achieve carbon neutrality,
the current WWTP operation is under increasing pressure to improve its energy efficiency.

The novel CANDAN (Complete Ammonium and Nitrate removal via Denitratation-
Anammox over Nitrite) converts nitrate into nitrite by denitratation and then removes both
nitrite and ammonium into nitrogen through anammox, possessing significant economic and
environment advantages compared to traditional processes. It reduces COD demand, oxygen
consumption, sludge production, and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, it demonstrates
great technological superiority in achieving high-efficiency nitrogen removal and treating
various nitrogen-containing wastewaters.

Denitratation is a key process in CANDAN system. We have achieved a highly efficient

denitratation process with 80% nitrate-to-nitrite transformation ratio through sludge selection.
The robustness and stability of denitratation in response to high COD/NO 3--N and extended
reaction durations have been demonstrated through short- and long-term experiments.
Furthermore, a granule-based denitratation process has been developed to facilitate high-rate
nitrite production.

Moreover, the novel CANDAN process performing in a single reactor configuration or two
separately dedicated reactors configurations were established to treat low-ammonium
municipal wastewater, nitrate-contained secondary effluent and synthetically high-nitrate
wastewater. It is indicated that CANDAN process is an Effective way to meet stringent
discharge standards with excellent effluent quality, an Efficient way to allow high loading
rate with small footprint, an Economic way to lower operation cost with tremendous interest
and an Environmental-friendly way to lessen by-products generation with great
sustainability. The implementation of CANDAN process would indeed advance the
wastewater treatment towards carbon neutral.
Biography of Author: (Max words limit 100)

Dr. Shenbin Cao is a Professor at Beijing University of Technology, China. He is also a

Humboldt research fellow at Technical University of Munich, Germany. He obtained his
Ph.D. degree in 2018 and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research for approximately 3
years at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Dr. Cao mainly focus on the
development of cost-effective anammox processes for wastewater treatment, as well as
biological anaerobic technologies for resource and energy recovery. He has contributed to
more than 60 academic publications. Dr. Cao's research has garnered significant attention,
with over 4000 citations on Google Scholar and an H-index of 30.

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Presentation Category: (Oral/Poster Presentation)

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