A sludge characterization assay for aerobic and denitrifying phosphorus removing sludge

A. Wachtmeister, T. Kuba, M. C.M. Van Loosdrecht, J. J. Heijnen

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258 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

It was recently recognized that denitrifying bacteria, as well as aerobic bacteria, contribute to the biological phosphorus removal process. For evaluation of the phosphorus removal process it is necessary to have tests enabling a proper characterization of the microbial population in the activated sludge. In this study we evaluated the possibility of anoxic phosphorus release or aerobic/anoxic phosphorus uptake tests for sludge characterization. Hereto we employed sludge mixtures of enrichment cultures from laboratory sequencing batch reactor (SBR) systems operated under aanaerobic-aerobic (A/O) or anaerobic-anoxic (A2) conditions. It is shown that interpretation of phosphorus release tests, with or without nitrate present, is difficult. On the other hand a comparison of phosphorus uptake under aerobic and anoxic conditions leads to a straightforward characterization of the microbial population in the phosphorus removing organisms, with respect to their phosphorus removal activity under aerobic and anoxic conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)471-478
Number of pages8
JournalWater Research
Volume31
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 1997
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Ecological Modelling
  • Water Science and Technology
  • Waste Management and Disposal
  • Pollution

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