Polyhydroxyalkanoates form potentially a key aspect of aerobic phosphorus uptake in enhanced biological phosphorus removal.
Eighteen anaerobic/aerobic batch experiments were conducted with a variety of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) on a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) population displaying enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). A statistically significant (P << 0.01 for all variables) correlation between aerobic phosphorus uptake and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) quantity and form was observed. The results suggest that poly-3-hydroxy-butyrate (3HB) results in significantly higher aerobic phosphorus (P) uptake per unit mmoles as carbon (mmoles-C) than poly-3-hydroxy-valerate (3HV). The results showed that acetic and isovaleric acids resulted in higher P removals (relative to propionic and valeric acids) during EBPR batch experiments not because of higher PHAs quantity, but largely because the predominant type was 3HB rather than 3HV. In contrast propionic and valeric acids resulted in 3HV, and showed much lower aerobic P uptake per unit PHAs.
Randall
Andrew Amis
AA
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Central Florida, Orlando 32816-2450, USA. randall@mail.ucf.edu
Liu
Yan-Hua
YH
D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic; D019149:Bioreactors; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018508:Water Purification
D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D010758:Phosphorus