Characterization of Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Release and Removal by Activated Sludge

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of various carbon sources and nitrogen compounds, applied at different initial concentrations of phosphorus, on the phosphorus release and removal in bioaugmented activated sludge system with enhanced biological phosphorus removal characteristics. The system performance for synthetic, as well for fresh municipal wastewater was examined. Successful anaerobic release and aerobic uptake of phosphorus were achieved with acetate and acetate plus propionate plus glucose as the carbon sources, whereas with glucose were significantly lower. Nitrogen compounds inhibited anaerobic release and aerobic uptake of phosphorus only in system with glucose as the carbon source. Phosphorus-accumulating bacteria Acinetobacter calcoaceticns presented a good capability of survival, multiplication and incorporation in the activated sludge flocks, in spite of the presence of other microorganisms in the activated sludge system.