Involvement of Rhodocyclus-related organisms in phosphorus removal in full-scale wastewater treatment plants.
The participation of organisms related to Rhodocyclus in full-scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) was investigated. By using fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques, the communities of Rhodocyclus-related organisms in two full-scale wastewater treatment plants were estimated to represent between 13 and 18% of the total bacterial population. However, the fractions of these communities that participated in polyphosphate accumulation depended on the type of treatment process evaluated. In a University of Cape Town EBPR process, the percentage of Rhodocyclus-related cells that contained polyphosphate was about 20% of the total bacterial population, but these cells represented as much as 73% of the polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs). In an aerated-anoxic EBPR process, Rhodocyclus-related PAOs were less numerous, accounting for 6% of the total bacterial population and 26% of the total PAO population. In addition, 16S ribosomal DNA sequences 99.9% similar to the sequences of Rhodocyclus-related organisms enriched in acetate-fed bench-scale EBPR reactors were recovered from both full-scale plants. These results confirmed the involvement of Rhodocyclus-related organisms in EBPR and demonstrated their importance in full-scale processes. In addition, the results revealed a significant correlation between the type of EBPR process and the PAO community.
Zilles
Julie L
JL
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Peccia
Jordan
J
Kim
Myeong-Woon
MW
Hung
Chun-Hsiung
CH
Noguera
Daniel R
DR
D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011122:Polyphosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D018505:Waste Management / Q000379:methods; D018508:Water Purification
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011122:Polyphosphates; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D010758:Phosphorus