The relationships between bacterial storage products, density, and settling characteristics were determined in a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system. Both long-term and single anaerobic-aerobic cycle variations in these properties were studied. Increased polyphosphate (PP) content of the biomass during long-term operation resulted in improved sludge volume index (SVI) values. End-aerobic phase (after phosphate (P) uptake) values were consistently lower than end-anaerobic phase (after P release) values. Neither filamentous nor slime bulking were evident by microscopic observations. Biomass density increased at a rate of 1.2 mg/L per each 1% increase in biomass P content. End-aerobic phase samples had an average 25% higher buoyant density than end-anaerobic phase samples, which was attributed to aerobic P uptake. Biomass density was negatively correlated with SVI values, and SVI values increased sharply at low biomass density. A mathematical model developed by Mas et al. (1985) was modified to predict total cell density based on literature values of PP, glycogen (GLY), and poly-b-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) densities. Model predictions were in good agreement with experimental results, although improved measurement of PP density is required to improve model predictions.
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Research Article|
January 01 2001
Microbial storage products, biomass density, and settling properties of enhanced biological phosphorus removal activated sludge
A. J. Schuler;
A. J. Schuler
1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 27708–0287, USA
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D. Jenkins;
D. Jenkins
2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, 94720-1710, USA
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P. Ronen
P. Ronen
3Prague Institute of Chemical Technology, Department of Water Technology and Environmental Engineering, Technicka 5, CZ-166 28, Prague 6, Czech Republic
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Water Sci Technol (2001) 43 (1): 173–180.
Citation
A. J. Schuler, D. Jenkins, P. Ronen; Microbial storage products, biomass density, and settling properties of enhanced biological phosphorus removal activated sludge. Water Sci Technol 1 January 2001; 43 (1): 173–180. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2001.0042
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