Phosphorus fractionation in membrane-assisted biological nutrient removal processes.
A comparison between a patented novel membrane bioreactor (NMBR) and conventional University of Cape Town adapted MBR (UMBR) was conducted using two different municipal wastewaters at a total bioreactor hydraulic retention time of 6h and sludge retention time of 10d. Total nitrogen removal efficiencies were 73-80% and 70-77% for the NMBR and UMBR, respectively, with 1-1.7 mgL(-1) lower effluent nitrates in the NMBR. The average effluent P in the NMBR and UMBR were 0.5 and 0.8 mgL(-1), respectively. P uptake by denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (DPAO) accounted for 37-40% of the total uptake in both systems and DPAOs were 40% of PAO. Sludge P fractionation substantiated that poly-P content increased from 27-37% to 57-59% of the total phosphorus, with P increasing from around 3% to 6% by weight upon the supplementation of the wastewater volatile fatty acids.
Kim
MinGu
M
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON, Canada, N6A 5B9.
Nakhla
George
G
D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen