Sequencing batch reactor operation for treating wastewater with aerobic granular sludge

In this work, the performance of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) on aerobic granular sludge was studied for urban wastewater treatment. The system was inoculated with aerobic activated sludge collected from a wastewater treatment plant and, after 30 days of operation, the first granules observed had an average diameter of 0.1 mm. The biomass concentration reached a maximum value around 4 g VSS L-1, and COD removal and nitrification efficiency achieved stable values of 90%. The predominant oxidizing ammonium bacteria in the granules were identified as Nitrosomonas spp.