title: The effect of GAOs (glycogen accumulating organisms) on anaerobic carbon requirements in full-scale Australian EBPR (enhanced biological phosphorus removal) plants.
abstract: Glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) were present in six full-scale plants investigated and in all but one made a significant contribution to the amount of volatile fatty acid (VFA) taken up anaerobically. While most plants surveyed contain GAOs, it was demonstrated that it is possible for a full-scale plant to operate with an insignificant GAO population. "Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis" were the significant polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) in all plants surveyed. "Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis" were found in all plants along with other possible GAOs that were observed but not identified. A significant GAO population will increase the carbon requirements by removing VFA that could otherwise have been used by PAOs. Process optimization minimizing GAOs in full-scale plants would lead to a more efficient use of VFA.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Wastewater Management Centre (AWMC), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Qld, 4072.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Saunders
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oehmen
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Blackall
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keller
mesh_terms: D019149:Bioreactors; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D005232:Fatty Acids, Volatile; D010758:Phosphorus; D002244:Carbon; D006003:Glycogen