Analysis of phosphorus removal and anaerobic selector performance in a full-scale activated sludge process in Singapore

This paper analyses the performance of the anaerobic selector (A/O process) in a full-scale activated sludge process receiving mostly industrial sewage discharge (>60%) in Singapore. In addition to the sludge settleability, enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) was studied. The sludge volume index (SVI) reduced from 200 to 80 ml g⁻¹ and foaming was suppressed significantly, indicating the effectiveness of the anaerobic selector in improving sludge settleability. The phosphorus removal efficiency was 66%, and 7.5 mg HAc-COD was consumed per mg PO³⁻₄-P removed. In the anaerobic compartment, 31% of the SCOD and 73% of the acetic acid in the settled sewage were removed with PO³⁻₄-P release of 14.1 mg PO³⁻₄-P l ⁻¹. The linear correlation between PO³⁻₄-P release in the anaerobic compartment and PO³⁻₄-P uptake in the aerobic compartment indicates that there is about 0.8 mg PO³⁻₄-P release in the anaerobic compartment per mg PO³⁻₄-P uptake in the aerobic compartment. The fates of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and its short chain acids (SCAs) in the process were studied and discussed.