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Stoichiometric analysis of dissolved organic carbon flux into storage and growth in aerobic granules culture
Author(s) -
Li Yong,
Liu Yu,
Wang ZhiWu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.144
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1860-7314
pISSN - 1860-6768
DOI - 10.1002/biot.200800191
Subject(s) - chemistry , activated sludge , volatile suspended solids , biomass (ecology) , biofilm , metabolism , anaerobic exercise , carbon fibers , aerobic exercise , environmental chemistry , food science , chemical engineering , biochemistry , wastewater , bacteria , biology , ecology , environmental engineering , materials science , physiology , environmental science , genetics , composite number , engineering , composite material , endocrinology
This study attempted to address a fundamental question of whether metabolic behaviors of aerobic granules are different from their counterparts, such as activated sludge and biofilms. A series of respirometric experiments were carried out using mature aerobic granules with mean sizes of 0.75–3.4 mm. Results suggested that metabolism of aerobic granules comprised three consecutive phases: (i) conversion of external dissolved organic carbon to a poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate‐like substance; (ii) growth of aerobic granules on the stored poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate‐like substance derived from phase I, and (iii) subsequent endogenous metabolism of aerobic granules. The stoichiometric analysis revealed that the conversion yields of external dissolved organic carbon to the poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate‐like substance, the growth yields of biomass on storage, and the overall growth yields of biomass on external dissolved organic carbon were not significantly correlated to the sizes of aerobic granules, i.e. , the metabolism of aerobic granules would be size independent. The conversion coefficients and growth rates of aerobic granules were found to be comparable with those reported in the activated sludge and biofilms cultures, indicating that there would not be significant difference in the metabolisms of aerobic granules over activated sludge and biofilms. This information will be useful for modeling and designing aerobic granular sludge processes.