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Denitrifying phosphorus removal: linking the process performance with the microbial community structure.

Gilda Carvalho1, Paulo C Lemos, Adrian Oehmen

  • 1REQUIMTE/CQFB, Chemistry Department, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.

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Summary

Propionate supports denitrifying phosphorus removal by enriching specific PAO morphotypes, unlike acetate which leads to system collapse. Different Accumulibacter morphotypes exhibit distinct electron acceptor preferences, impacting system performance.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental microbiology
  • Wastewater treatment technologies
  • Biogeochemical cycling

Background:

  • Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is crucial for nutrient management.
  • Denitrifying phosphorus removal (DPR) offers a sustainable alternative to conventional EBPR.
  • Understanding the microbial ecology of DPR systems is essential for optimizing performance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between microbial community structure and process performance in two denitrifying phosphorus removal systems.
  • To compare the effects of acetate and propionate as carbon sources on DPR.
  • To identify the microbial players and their metabolic roles in successful DPR.

Main Methods:

  • Operation of two sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) with acetate or propionate under gradually changing anaerobic-anoxic conditions.
  • Monitoring of process performance, including phosphorus removal efficiency.
  • Microbial community analysis using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) to characterize dominant organisms and morphotypes.

Main Results:

  • The propionate-fed SBR successfully sustained denitrifying phosphorus removal.
  • The acetate-fed SBR experienced a collapse in EBPR activity when the aerobic phase was removed.
  • FISH analysis revealed Accumulibacter as the dominant genus in both reactors, but with distinct morphotypes (coccus in acetate, rod in propionate).
  • The propionate-enriched rod morphotype is hypothesized to be capable of utilizing nitrate, nitrite, and oxygen, while the acetate-enriched coccus morphotype appears limited to oxygen and possibly nitrite.

Conclusions:

  • Carbon source selection significantly influences the microbial community and the success of denitrifying phosphorus removal.
  • Specific morphotypes of Accumulibacter, particularly the rod morphotype, are critical for effective denitrifying phosphorus removal.
  • The findings provide insights into the functional diversity of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and their adaptation to different electron acceptors in wastewater treatment.