Simultaneous devulcanization and denitrification: a novel approach for valorization of both ground tire rubber and nitrate-containing wastewater.

This study focused on a new approach for valorization of both ground tire rubber (GTR) and nitrate-containing wastewater via simultaneous devulcanization and denitrification. Initially, sulfur-based autotrophic denitrifiers were successfully enriched from three different seed sludge sources, biological nutrient removal (BNR) sludge, anaerobic digester sludge and BNR sludge of a leather organized industrial zone WWTP. Average nitrate removal efficiencies were 96-98%.