Effect of operational strategies on activated sludge's acclimation to phenol, subsequent aerobic granulation, and accumulation of polyhydoxyalkanoates.
Aerobic granules, a relative novel form of microbial aggregate, are capable of degrading many toxic organic pollutants. Appropriate strategy is needed to acclimate seed sludge to the toxic compounds for successful granulation. In this study, two distinct strategies, i.e. mixed or single carbon sources, were experimented to obtain phenol-acclimated sludge. Their effects on reactor performance, biomass characteristics, microbial population and the granulation process were analyzed. Sludge fed with phenol alone exhibited faster acclimation and earlier appearance of granules, but possibly lower microbial diversity and reactor stability. Using a mixture of acetate and phenol in the acclimation stage, on the other hand, led to a reactor with slower phenol degradation and granulation, but eventual formation of strong and stable aerobic granules. In addition, the content of intracellular polyhydoxyakanoates (PHA) was also monitored, and significant accumulation was observed during the pre-granulation stage, where PHA >50% of dry weight was observed in both reactors.
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Afrida
A
Wosman
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Yuhao
Y
Lu
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Supu
S
Sun
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, China.
Xiang
X
Liu
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, China. Electronic address: hitwan@163.com.
Chunli
C
Wan
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, 200433, China. Electronic address: sybil_zhang@yahoo.com.
Yi
Y
Zhang
Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
Duu-Jong
DJ
Lee
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
JooHwa
J
Tay
D000064:Acclimatization; D000332:Aerobiosis; D018533:Biomass; D019800:Phenol / Q000032:analysis*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000032:analysis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D011091:Polyesters; D012722:Sewage; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019800:Phenol
Acclimation; Aerobic granules; PHA; Phenol; SBR