Biological Phosphorus and Nitrogen Removal in Anaerobic-Aerobic Activated Sludge Process

Simultaneous removal of phosphorus and nitrogen from wastewater was studied by the anaerobic-aerobic system of activated sludge. In the anaerobic stage, most of the influent glucose was removed and orthophosphate was released, when the nitrate and/or nitrite concentration in the wastewater was almost zero. The amount of the released phosphorus was found to be directly proportional to the amount of the removed glucose. When the ratio of phosphorus to glucose in the influent was less than 0.04, the phosphorus in the wastewater was almost completely removed during the aerobic state. Under the anaerobic condition, activated sludge released phosphate and excess removal of phosphate occurred during the aerobic condition. Namely, the stress received in anaerobic period stimulated the uptake of phosphorus in aerobic period. The amounts of phosphorus release in the anaerobic and uptake in the aerobic stage were less in proportional to the concentration of . Further, if the initial ratio of /glucose was less than 0.37, the inorganic nitrogen in the influent could be completely removed.