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Production and Characterization of Foam in the Anoxic Zone of a Membrane‐Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Process
Author(s) -
Hall Eric R.,
Monti Alessandro,
Mohn William W.
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.2175/106143010x12780288628174
Subject(s) - anoxic waters , phosphorus , bioreactor , chemistry , nitrogen , organic matter , membrane , volatile suspended solids , pulp and paper industry , environmental chemistry , chemical engineering , suspended solids , environmental engineering , wastewater , environmental science , biochemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
A pilot‐scale membrane‐enhanced biological phosphorus removal process accumulated substantial quantities of stable foam on the surface of the anoxic zone. The foam contained 4 to 6% dry matter, with specific nitrogen and phosphorus contents that were similar to those of the underlying anoxic zone mixed liquor. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the specific rate of phosphorus release from the foam was only 25 to 30% of that observed with mixed liquor from the aerobic zone. Molecular techniques demonstrated that the calculated similarity of the microbial communities in the foam and the underlying mixed liquor was approximately 80%, with two phylotypes ( Gordonia amarae and Microthrix parvicella ) being uniquely enriched in the foam and one phylotype ( Epistylis sp. ) more abundant in the underlying mixed liquor. The production of foam was demonstrated to be a consistent phenomenon that depended on the concentration of the suspended solids in the bioreactor.