Location and chemical composition of microbially induced phosphorus precipitates in anaerobic and aerobic granular sludge

Manas, Angela; Sperandio, Mathieu; Decker, François; Biscans, Béatrice

doi:10.1080/09593330.2012.696719

Cited by 25 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…Mañas et al (2012) also observed internal precipitation of calcium phosphate in anaerobic granules. 42 It was proposed that the increase in internal pH is because of biological consumption of H + during methanogenesis in anaerobic granules and contributed to the internal precipitation. 42 Therefore, the favorable internal conditions for Ca x (PO 4 ) y formation are most likely biologically induced.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Bioinduced Increased pH on the Enrichment of Calcium Phosphate in Granules during Anaerobic Treatment of Black Water

Cunha

Tervahauta²,

Weijden

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Simultaneous recovery of calcium phosphate granules (CaP granules) and methane in anaerobic treatment of source separated black water (BW) has been previously demonstrated. The exact mechanism behind the accumulation of calcium phosphate (Cax(PO4)y) in CaP granules during black water treatment was investigated in this study by examination of the interface between the outer anaerobic biofilm and the core of CaP granules. A key factor in this process is the pH profile in CaP granules, which increases from the edge (7.4) to the center (7.9). The pH increase enhances supersaturation for Cax(PO4)y phases, creating internal conditions preferable for Cax(PO4)y precipitation. The pH profile can be explained by measured bioconversion of acetate and H2, HCO3– and H+ into CH4 in the outer biofilm and eventual stripping of CO2 and CH4 (biogas) from the granule. Phosphorus content and Cax(PO4)y crystal mass quantity in the granules positively correlated with the granule size, in the reactor without Ca2+ addition, indicating that the phosphorus rich core matures with the granule growth. Adding Ca2+ increased the overall phosphorus content in granules >0.4 mm diameter, but not in fine particles (<0.4 mm). Additionally, H+ released from aqueous phosphate species during Cax(PO4)y crystallization were buffered by internal hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis and stripping of biogas from the granule. These insights into the formation and growth of CaP granules are important for process optimization, enabling simultaneous Cax(PO4)y and CH4 recovery in a single reactor. Moreover, the biological induction of Cax(PO4)y crystallization resulting from biological increase of pH is relevant for stimulation and control of (bio)crystallization and (bio)mineralization in real environmental conditions.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Bioinduced Increased pH on the Enrichment of Calcium Phosphate in Granules during Anaerobic Treatment of Black Water

Cunha

Tervahauta²,

Weijden

et al. 2018

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…In view of the above, it can be concluded that the removal of phosphorus compounds could have occurred by precipitation of phosphorus as inorganic phosphate such as Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 and MgHPO 4 . Such a mechanism for phosphorus removal in AGS technology has been indicated by, among others, Filali et al [ 49 ] and Manas et al [ 50 ]. There was a high negative correlation between the TP removal and TP loading rate of biomass in the reactors supported by powdered materials.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 93%

Powdered Ceramsite and Powdered Limestone Use in Aerobic Granular Sludge Technology

et al. 2020

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The effects of two powdered mineral materials (powdered ceramsite and powdered limestone) on aerobic granulation of sludge were evaluated. The experiment was conducted on a laboratory scale bioreactors treating wastewater for 89 days. Three granular sequencing batch reactors (GSBRs) were operated at the lowest optimal organic loading rate (OLR) of 2.55 g COD/(L∙d). In the control reactor (R1), the mean diameter (d) of the biomass ranged from 124.0 to 210.0 µm, and complete granulation was not achieved. However, complete granulation did occur in reactors to which either ceramsite (251.9 µm < d < 783.1 µm) or limestone (246.0 µm < d < 518.9 µm) was added. Both powdered materials served as a ballast for the sludge flocs making up the seed sludge. Ceramsite particles also acted as microcarriers of granule-forming biomass. The granules in the reactors with added powdered materials had nonfibrous and smoother surfaces. The reactor with ceramsite exhibited the highest average efficiencies for COD, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus removal (85.4 ± 5.4%, 56.6 ± 10.2%, and 56.8 ± 9.9%, respectively). By contrast, the average nitrification efficiency was 95.1 ± 12.8%.

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“…a deficiency or excess of some macro (N, P, S) or micronutrients (Fe, Ni, Co, Mo, Ca, Al, Na, K, Se, W) that affect sludge growth, granule stability, or may cause their mineralization -i.e. replacement of active biomass by inorganic precipitates - (Guiot et al 1988;Grotenhuis et al 1991;Alphenaar et al 1993;El Mamouni et al 1995;Kim et al 2004;Jeison et al 2008;Speece 2008;Zandvoort et al 2006, Mañas et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strategy to identify the causes and to solve a sludge granulation problem in methanogenic reactors: application to a full-scale plant treating cheese wastewater

Macarie

Esquivel

Laguna

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Granulation of biomass is at the basis of the operation of the most successful anaerobic systems (UASB, EGSB and IC reactors) applied worldwide for wastewater treatment. Despite of decades of studies of the biomass granulation process, it is still not fully understood and controlled. "Degranulation/lack of granulation" is a problem that occurs sometimes in anaerobic systems resulting often in heavy loss of biomass and poor treatment efficiencies or even complete reactor failure. Such a problem occurred in Mexico in two full-scale UASB reactors treating cheese wastewater. A close follow-up of the plant was performed to try to identify the factors responsible for the phenomenon. Basically, the list of possible causes to a granulation problem that were investigated can be classified amongst nutritional, i.e. related to wastewater composition (e.g. deficiency or excess of macronutrients or micronutrients, too high COD proportion due to proteins or volatile fatty acids, high ammonium, sulphate or fat concentrations), operational (excessive loading rate, sub- or over-optimal water upflow velocity) and structural (poor hydraulic design of the plant). Despite of an intensive search, the causes of the granulation problems could not be identified. The present case remains however an example of the strategy that must be followed to identify these causes and could be used as a guide for plant operators or consultants who are confronted with a similar situation independently of the type of wastewater. According to a large literature based on successful experiments at lab scale, an attempt to artificially granulate the industrial reactor biomass through the dosage of a cationic polymer was also tested but equally failed. Instead of promoting granulation, the dosage caused a heavy sludge flotation. This shows that the scaling of such a procedure from lab to real scale cannot be advised right away unless its operability at such a scale can be demonstrated.

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Location and chemical composition of microbially induced phosphorus precipitates in anaerobic and aerobic granular sludge

Cited by 25 publications

References 38 publications

The Effect of Bioinduced Increased pH on the Enrichment of Calcium Phosphate in Granules during Anaerobic Treatment of Black Water

The Effect of Bioinduced Increased pH on the Enrichment of Calcium Phosphate in Granules during Anaerobic Treatment of Black Water

Powdered Ceramsite and Powdered Limestone Use in Aerobic Granular Sludge Technology

Strategy to identify the causes and to solve a sludge granulation problem in methanogenic reactors: application to a full-scale plant treating cheese wastewater

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