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Microbiology of Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal in Aerated—Anoxic Orbal Processes
Author(s) -
Zilles Julie L.,
Peccia Jordan,
Noguera Daniel R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.2175/106143002x140224
Subject(s) - enhanced biological phosphorus removal , anoxic waters , aeration , activated sludge , phosphorus , wastewater , anaerobic exercise , bioreactor , sewage treatment , biology , environmental chemistry , chemistry , pulp and paper industry , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , environmental engineering , environmental science , botany , physiology , organic chemistry , engineering
The traditional process for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in wastewater treatment involves an anaerobic zone followed by an aerobic zone. Although there is no strict anaerobic zone in aerated‐anoxic Orbal processes, phosphorus removal in excess of that required for cell growth does occur. The microbial ecology of polyphosphate‐accumulating organisms (PAO) in two full‐scale Orbal wastewater treatment plants was investigated using flow cytometry to physically separate PAO from non‐PAO and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) to identify organisms. Although Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis , an uncultured organism associated with EBPR in acetate‐fed laboratory‐scale reactors, was detected, it did not seem to be the dominant PAO in these processes. Comparative FISH analyses of the activated sludge and the PAO‐rich subpopulation did not reveal the presence of a dominant group of PAO in these full‐scale plants. Rather, the analysis suggested that the operational characteristics of aerated‐anoxic processes might select for a diverse PAO community that is significantly different from that observed in acetate‐fed laboratory reactors or in traditional EBPR configurations.