Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal in Anaerobic/Aerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor Supplied with Glucose as Carbon Source

Phosphorus removal performance in an aerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) supplied with glucose as carbon source was investigated. It was found that there was no phosphate release concomitant with the storing of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) during the anaerobic phase. Whereas, glycogen was soon built up followed by rapid consumption, at the same time, glucose was depleted rapidly. Based on the analysis of different fractions of phosphorus in activated sludge, the relative ratio of organically bound phosphorus in sludge changed at the end of anaerobic and aerobic phases. The ratios were 45.3% and51.8% respectively. This showed that the polyphosphate broke down during the anaerobic phase to supply part of energy for PHA synthesis. The reason why there was no phosphate release might be the biosorption effect of extracellular exopolymers (EPS). It was also proved by the analysis of EPS with scanning electron microscopy (SEM)combined with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). The phosphorus weight percentage of EPS at the end of anaerobic phase was 9.22%.