Phosphorus and polyhydroxyalkanoates variation in a combined process with activated sludge and biofilm

S. H. Chuang, C. F. Ouyang, H. C. Yuang, S. J. You

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24 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study investigates variations of phosphorus and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) in a combined activated sludge-biofilm process, operating under various sludge retention times (5, 10 and 15 days) and different dissolved oxygen conditions (0.1, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/l in aerobic stage). Experimental results indicate that phosphorus uptake closely corresponds to utilization of PHAs during anoxic and aerobic stages. Moreover, the sludge in the anoxic stage exhibits a higher PHAs utilization efficiency with respect to phosphorus uptake than sludge in the aerobic stage, when it is under low COD-SS loading conditions. The values of r(P/PHAs), representing sludge capacity on phosphorus uptake, range from 0.1-1.0 mg P/mg PHAs. In addition, analyzing the distribution of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB), 3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyrate (3H2MB), 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) and 3-hydroxy-2-methylvalerate (3H2MV) reveals that 3HB and 3HV are the major components of PHAs. The values of 3HB/PHAs and 3HV/PHAs vary with COD-SS loading of the process. When F/M ratio increases, 3HV/PHAs value increases and 3HB/PHAs value decreases simultaneously. This phenomenon implies that more bacteria accumulated 3HV as storage matter under high COD-SS loading conditions. The kind of bacteria population shift would intensify the competition of 'G bacteria' with polyphosphate accumulating organisms, possibly causing process deterioration during phosphorus removal.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)593-597
Number of pages5
JournalWater Science and Technology
Volume37
Issue number4-5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
EventProceedings of the 1997 2nd International Conference on Microorganisms in Activated Sludge and Biofilm Processes - Berkeley, CA, USA
Duration: 21 Jul 199723 Jul 1997

Keywords

  • Denitrification
  • Nutrient removal
  • PHB
  • Phosphorus uptake
  • PHV
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)

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