Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Improvement strategy on enhanced biological phosphorus removal for municipal wastewater treatment plants: full-scale
Zhijian Zhang1, Hui Li, Jun Zhu
1College of Natural Research and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Environmental Science, ZheJiang University, KuanXian Avenue 268, HangZhou, ZheJiang Province 310029, PR China. zhangzhijian@zju.edu.cn
Abstract:
The poor quality of effluent discharged by municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) is threatening the safety of water ecology. This study, which integrated a field survey, batch tests, and microbial community identification, was designed to improve the effectiveness of the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process for WWTPs. Over two-thirds of the investigated WWTPs could not achieve total P in effluent lower than 0.5 mg/L, mainly due to the high ratio of chemical oxygen demand to P (28.6-196.2) in the influent. The rates of anaerobic P release and aerobic P uptake for the activated sludge varied from 0.22 to 7.9 mg/g VSS/h and 0.43 to 8.11 mg/g VSS/h, respectively. The fraction of Accumulibacter (PAOs: polyphosphate accumulating organisms) was 4.8 ± 2.0% of the total biomass, while Competibacter (GAOs: glycogen-accumulating organisms) accounted for 4.8 ± 6.4%. The anaerobic P-release rate was found to be an effective indicator of EBPR. Four classifications of the principal components were identified to improve the EBPR effluent quality and sludge activity.
Related Concept Videos
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Bioreactor Design and Operational System
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Bioreactor Controls-III

