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Enhanced phosphorus removal by glucose fed sequencing batch reactor
Summary
Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) was not achieved using glucose as a sole carbon source in an anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor. Acetic acid as a substrate yielded high phosphate removal, indicating substrate type is critical for EBPR.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Engineering
- Microbiology
Background:
- Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is crucial for wastewater treatment.
- Sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) are commonly used for wastewater treatment processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effectiveness of an anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR).
- To evaluate the impact of different carbon sources (acetic acid, glucose, and a mixture) on EBPR performance.
Main Methods:
- A laboratory-scale (14-liter) anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor was operated with synthetic wastewater.
- Batch tests were conducted using acetic acid, glucose, and a mixture of both as sole carbon sources.
- Phosphate and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were monitored.
Main Results:
- EBPR was not achieved when glucose was the sole carbon source, with only 37.8% phosphate removal.
- High phosphate removal (68.7%) was observed when acetic acid was used as the sole substrate.
- Phosphate removal decreased to 60.8% when a mixture of acetic acid and glucose was used.
- COD removal occurred under non-anaerobic conditions with glucose, unlike with acetic acid.
Conclusions:
- The type of carbon source significantly impacts EBPR efficiency in anaerobic/aerobic SBRs.
- Acetic acid supports effective EBPR, while glucose does not, likely due to altered bacterial metabolism and reduced polyphosphate dependency.
- Optimizing carbon source selection is essential for successful biological phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment.