A biological phosphorus removal potential test for wastewaters

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Microbiology

Background:

• Biological phosphorus removal (BPR) is crucial for managing wastewater effluent phosphorus.
• Assessing BPR feasibility in diverse wastewater streams can be challenging.
• Phosphorus-accumulating organisms (PAOs) are key to BPR processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simple test for assessing BPR feasibility.
• To estimate effluent phosphorus concentrations using a novel BPR potential test.
• To understand factors influencing phosphorus release by PAOs.

Main Methods:

• A batch reactor test measuring phosphorus release from PAOs during anaerobic conditions.
• Estimation of effluent phosphorus using biochemical relationships.
• Validation against effluent phosphorus concentrations from a sequencing batch reactor (SBR).

Main Results:

• The BPR potential test successfully evaluated BPR feasibility for five wastewater samples.
• Test predictions closely matched actual SBR effluent phosphorus concentrations (1.9 vs. 1.8 mg P/L).
• Phosphorus release after 2 hours was largely independent of initial sludge concentration and PAO source.

Conclusions:

• The developed BPR potential test is a reliable method for evaluating BPR feasibility.
• Optimal test conditions include a target mixed liquor volatile suspended solids concentration and fresh wastewater samples.
• Wastewater prefermentation can standardize phosphorus release, making PAO sludge characteristics less critical.