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Effect of Anaerobic HRT on Biological Phosphorus Removal and the Enrichment of Phosphorus Accumulating Organisms
Author(s) -
Coats Erik R.,
Watkins David L.,
Brinkman Cynthia K.,
Loge Frank J.
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 - 10.2175/106143010x12851009156402
Subject(s) - enhanced biological phosphorus removal , phosphorus , anaerobic exercise , hydraulic retention time , sequencing batch reactor , population , wastewater , pulp and paper industry , microorganism , sewage treatment , bioreactor , chemistry , environmental chemistry , biology , activated sludge , environmental science , environmental engineering , bacteria , botany , physiology , genetics , demography , organic chemistry , sociology , engineering
The purpose of this research was to develop a better understanding of the dynamic effects of anaerobic hydraulic retention time (HRT) on both enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) performance and enrichment of phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs). The research was conducted using laboratory‐scale sequencing batch reactors inoculated with mixed microbial consortia and fed real wastewater. Exposing microorganisms to extended anaerobic HRTs is not recommended for EBPR configured systems. In this research, however, longer anaerobic exposure did not negatively affect performance even if volatile fatty acids were depleted. Further, extended anaerobic HRTs may positively affect phosphorus removal through enhanced aerobic uptake. The EBPR consortia also appear to maintain reserve energetic capacity in the form of polyphosphate that can be used to survive and grow under variable operational and environmental conditions. Finally, the tested EBPR systems yield mixed microbial consortia enriched with PAOs (specifically Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis) at approximately 7.1 to 21.6% of the total population.