Microbial Adaptability to Organic Loading Changes in an Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Process
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132, Issue 8
Abstract
The enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) performances of phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) under organic loading fluctuations were investigated using a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with anaerobic/oxic stages. The adaptability of PAOs was evaluated after establishing a normal steady-state condition [chemical oxygen demand ( )=150 mg/L]. During SBR operation, the initial COD was changed gradually or abruptly. When the initial COD increased gradually from the steady state to 300 mg/L, the biomass increased steadily and the system showed stable EBPR. However, when the initial COD oscillated from 150 to 300 or 50 mg/L abruptly, PAOs could not adapt themselves to these sudden changes, resulting in unstable EBPR. When the organic loading returned to a normal condition, the system was recovered to stable EBPR in 2 days after the high organic loading fluctuation, while it was not after the low organic loading fluctuation. Using fluorescent in situ hybridization technique, Rhodocyclus-related PAO population changes were monitored. It was demonstrated that PAOs would wash out faster under the low organic loading fluctuation than the high organic loading fluctuation.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by nine dairies in Wisconsin and Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB) (Agreement No. UNSPECIFIEDUW0202). The writers wish to thank Dr. Jenchie Wang from Procorp Inc. for assistance in full-scale field study.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 132 • Issue 8 • August 2006
Pages: 909 - 917
Copyright
© 2006 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 14, 2004
Accepted: Dec 21, 2005
Published online: Aug 1, 2006
Published in print: Aug 2006
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