Temperature effect on microbial community of enhanced biological phosphorus removal system

Microbial population dynamics to gradual temperature change in an enhanced biological phosphorus removal system was kinetically investigated. As the temperature rose from 20.0 degrees C to 30.0 degrees C, and to 35.5 degrees C, the predominant microbial group changed from the phosphorus-accumulating organisms, PAOs (47-70% of total VSS) to the glycogen-accumulating organisms (64-75% of total VSS), and to the ordinary heterotrophs (90% of total VSS), respectively. Despite the species alteration, the phosphorus contents of the PAOs appeared to be steady within 0.182-0.308 mg/mg VSS(PAO) regardless of the temperature level. The initial specific phosphorus release rates, which are solely due to the PAOs activities, increased with the temperature from 37.5-55.9 to 51.8-61.3, 52.0-76.9, 147.2-210.3, and 374.2-756.3 mgP/gmVSS(PAO) h, at 20.0 degrees C, 25.0 degrees C, 30.0 degrees C, 32.5 degrees C, and 35.0 degrees C, respectively. On the other hand, mean initial specific phosphorus uptake rates of the biomass decreased as the temperature increased; however, the data implied that the rate of the PAOs was higher than the other two microbial groups. These results indicate that the PAOs are lower-range mesophiles or possibly psychrophiles. As the temperature rises, the portion of energy required for maintenance increases substantially which reduces the energy availability for cell reproduction; hence, the PAOs are washed out from the system.