Technology · Ecology & restoration / Bioremediation

Biological denitrification & phosphorus removal (sewage)

Sewage-treatment processes that remove nitrogen and phosphorus by steering biological pathways — multi-point feed, sludge recirculation — with new double-reflux designs replacing A2/O and a first 10,000-ton application in 2020.

Maturity 7/9 Risk: medium Water CN · EU verified 2026-10-16 · 3 Sources

1 · What it gives

Biological denitrification and dephosphatation remove nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage by optimising biological pathways, for example with multi-point influent or sludge recirculation. New designs such as BEAOA (sludge double reflux, AOA) aim to replace traditional activated-sludge layouts like A2/O, which are limited by internal reflux ratio and weak deep nitrogen removal. Beijing Enterprises Water Group (BEWG) piloted AOA in 2019 and reached its first 10,000-ton project application in 2020.

2 · What it replaces 6

D2	Enhanced biological phosphorus removal instead of chemical precipitation with metal salts Replaces: Chemical phosphorus precipitation with ferric chloride, ferrous sulfate or aluminium salts in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment	SERV
D3	Sewage sludge and faecal sludge stabilized biologically — anaerobic digestion, thermophilic co-composting, sludge treatment (drying) reed beds — instead of lime stabilization, landfilling, incineration-only and raw dumping Replaces: Lime (CaO/Ca(OH)₂) stabilization of sludge; landfilling of untreated sludge; raw dumping of pit-latrine and septic-tank sludge into rivers …	SERV
D1	Recovered phosphorus (struvite and other recovered phosphates from biological wastewater and digester streams) instead of fertilizer made from cadmium-bearing phosphate rock Replaces: A share of DAP/MAP/superphosphate made from mined phosphate rock; chemical P-removal with iron and aluminium salts at treatment plants …	AGROCHEM
D2	Cassava mealybug classical biological control with Anagyrus lopezi instead of insecticides Replaces: Insecticide spraying (rarely affordable for smallholders) and uncontrolled crop losses from the invasive cassava mealybug in Africa	CLASSIC
D1	Lower-toxicity textile dyeing and dye-effluent treatment with biological methods — bio-based indigo reduction and enzymatic indigo routes, microbial pigments, and biological decolorization of dye effluent — instead of sodium dithionite reduction, aniline-derived synthetic indigo and untreated/chemically treated dye effluent Replaces: Sodium dithionite (hydrosulfite) for indigo vat reduction, synthetic indigo made from aniline (traces of aniline in dyed denim), some azo …	CHEM
D2	Biological desulfurisation of biogas and sour gas instead of chemical scrubbing Replaces: Caustic (NaOH) scrubbing, iron-based scavengers and liquid-redox processes for removing hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) from biogas, landfill gas and …	EAC

3 · How to implement 4 steps

1
Split the influent
Divide the influent between points of the process.
2
Anaerobic and anoxic
Run anaerobic and anoxic treatment.
3
Aerobic oxidation
Oxidise in the aerobic zone.
4
Settle and recirculate
Separate sludge and water by sedimentation and recirculate sludge.

4 · Who delivers

Matched suppliers (matched automatically)

Papop	Thailand	Services / consulting	active
SGTech - Zero Carbon, Sustainable Farming	Israel	Research / RTO	active
Ayala Water & Ecology Nature Based Solutions	Israel	Producer	active
Kobelco Eco-Solutions Co., Ltd.	Japan	Research / RTO	active
Kobelco Eco-Solutions Vietnam Co.,Ltd.	Vietnam	Services / consulting	active
MENA-Water	United Arab Emirates	Producer	active
True Eco Sdn Bhd	Malaysia	Distributor	active
Biowatt-Biogas	China	Services / consulting	active
Kenya Animal Genetic Resources Centre	Kenya	Producer	active
Pivot Bio	United States	Research / RTO	active
Zytex	India	Producer	active
Emvees Water \| Waste Water Treatment LLC	United Arab Emirates	Services / consulting	active

Leading companies and institutes (from the brief)

Beijing Enterprises Water Group (BEWG) delivers the BEAOA technology. Other water-technology suppliers are matched by the portal under Water.

5 · Rules & route to market

Route into Russia / EAEU: SERV · — (operator: Rosprirodnadzor, Rostechnadzor)
none for the service; operator permits (integrated environmental permit ~1 month)
Information, not legal advice — confirm the procedure for your product. (2026-10-06)

United States

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the US regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

European Union

The sources reviewed on 2026-10-16 identified no the EU regulator or standard specific to this technology. Treat the route as case-by-case and ask for a check.

China

In China, biological denitrification and dephosphatation must meet national standards such as the Discharge Standard of Pollutants for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (GB 18918-2002).

6 · Money: tenders & grants

Grant	Biotechnology application for CCU European Commission · EU	Sep 22, 2027 341 days
Grant	First in Human and Early Stage Clinical Trials of Novel Investigational Drugs or Neuromodulatory Device-based … National Institutes of Health · United States	Oct 15, 2027 364 days
Grant	Replacing hazardous substances in biocidal products European Commission · EU	Sep 22, 2027 341 days
Grant	UK Obesity Research Institute: full application UKRI · United Kingdom	Nov 19, 2026 34 days

7 · Tech stack & innovations

Main risks from the sources (for novel denitrification technologies): high investment and operating cost, transport-safety concerns for materials such as hydrogen, and possible secondary pollution.

Sources 3

Ceett.org.cn — www.ceett.org.cn 2026-10-16
Bewg.net — www.bewg.net 2026-10-16
Pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov 2026-10-16