title: Enhanced biological phosphate removal by granular sludge in a sequencing batch reactor.
abstract: A laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor was started-up with flocculated biomass and operated primarily for enhanced biological phosphate removal. Ten weeks after the start-up, gradual formation of granular sludge was observed. The compact biomass structure allowed halving the settling time, the initial reactor volume, and doubling the influent COD concentration. Continued operation confirmed the possibility of maintaining a stable granular biomass with a sludge volume index less than 40 ml g-1, while securing a removal efficiency of 95% for carbon, 99.6% for phosphate, and 71% for nitrogen. Microscopic observations revealed a morphological diversity.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak 34469, Istanbul, Turkey. edulekgurgen@ins.itu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ebru
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dulekgurgen
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ovez
authors.forename: Nazik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Artan
authors.forename: Derin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orhon
mesh_terms: D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D005427:Flocculation; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011786:Quality Control; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D010710:Phosphates; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen