Abstract
This study researched the use of biofilms to remove nitrogen compounds from municipal sewages at low temperatures, especially in winter. An aluminosilicate substrate was used to create a biofilm, which has an affinity for ammonium ions. The selection of biofilm-forming microorganisms has been shown to occur on aluminosilicate. This substrate is mainly inhabited by microorganisms that remove nitrogen compounds. As a result, microorganisms protected against external factors in the biofilm effectively remove nitrogen compounds. The TN content in sewage treated at a temperature of 10 °C was of a 4 mg/L order and was 3-5 times lower than in the reference system (classical conditions). This process involves shortened nitrification/denitrification such as Anammox. As a result of a given process, CO2 emissions were reduced and much smaller amounts of NOx were produced, positively impacting the ongoing climate changes. Microbiological DNA/RNA tests have shown that the biofilm is primarily composed of archaea and bacteria that remove nitrogen compounds, including those that oxidize ammonia.