Effect of hydrodynamic conditions on the formation and structure of aerobic granular sludge performing enhanced biological phosphorus removal

Abstract

The study investigated the effect of hydrodynamic conditions on the formation of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) granular sludge without losing the EBPR capacity, and its structure. The effect of hydrodynamic conditions on the formation of EBPR granular sludge was evaluated by using the minimum settling velocity, (Vs)min, and superficial air velocity. The application of (Vs)min strategy was proved to be beneficial in maintaining granular biomass without losing the EBPR capacity. Microscale structure, the chemical composition and chemically stored phosphorus of the matured EBPR granular sludge were determined by using ESEM‐EDX and cold perchloric acid (PCA) analyses. The results of both the ESEM‐EDX and PCA analyses proved that the poly‐P granules were stored extracellular in EPS structure of EBPR granular sludge. Therefore, the EBPR granular sludge has a high potential for both removal and recovery of phosphorus from wastewater, which needs to be investigated in future studies.

Phosphorus and potassium recovery from anaerobically digested olive mill wastewater using modified zeolite, fly ash and zeolitic fly ash: a comparative study

“…6,8 However, the research interest in nutrient recovery from raw or digested OMW is still limited. [9][10][11] To recover P from wastes and wastewater, various biological and physicochemical processes have been suggested such as formation of aerobic granular sludge, 12 chemical or electrochemical precipitation of struvite 9,13 and calcium phosphate, 14,15 electrodialytic and acidic extraction, 16,17 membrane filtration, distillation and bioreactors, 18,19 and adsorption on hybrid anion exchange resins, 20 natural minerals, 21 biochar 22 and industrial byproducts. 23,24 Numerous studies of phosphate (PO 4 3− ) adsorption from aqueous solutions using abundant materials, such as coal fly ash (FA) and modified zeolites, have given promising results.…”