title: Robustness of sludge enriched with short SBR cycles for biological nutrient removal.
abstract: In this study, it is proposed that short sequencing batch reactor (SBR) cycles select and maintain a robust and active biomass, able to cope with typical disturbances occurring in wastewater treatment plants. In order to test this hypothesis, an SBR system was subjected to COD, N and P shock loads. It was shown that the sludge enriched in the SBR operated with short cycles was able to rapidly recover from the tested disturbances. COD and N removal recovered within 1-2 days for shock loads of 10 times the standard concentration. The P removal took up to 2-3 sludge ages to fully recover from the COD spike, but the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) performance was still able to be totally re-established after each of the tests, even in theoretically adverse conditions for the growth of polyphosphate accumulating organisms.
authors.affiliation: CQFB/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal.
authors.forename: Filomena
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.forename: Margarida F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Temudo
authors.forename: Gilda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oehmen
authors.forename: Maria A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D018533:Biomass; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012722:Sewage; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen