title: Transformation and utilization of slowly biodegradable organic matters in biological sewage treatment of anaerobic anoxic oxic systems.
abstract: This study examined the distribution of carbon sources in two anaerobic anoxic oxic (AAO) sewage treatment plants in Xi'an and investigated the transformation characteristics and utilization potential of slowly biodegradable organic matters (SBOM). Results indicated under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, SBOM could be transformed at a rate of 65% in 8h into more readily biologically utilizable substrates such as volatile fatty acids (VFAs), polysaccharides and proteins. Additionally, non-biodegradable humus-type substances which are difficult to biodegrade and readily accumulate, were also generated. These products could be further hydrolyzed to aldehyde and ketone compounds and then transformed into substances with significant oxygen-containing functional groups and utilized subsequently. The molecular weights of proteinoid substances had a wide distribution and tended to decrease over time. Long hours of microbial reaction increased the proportion of micromolecular substances. This particular increase generated significant bioavailability, which can greatly improve the efficiency of nitrogen removal.
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; International Science & Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an 710055, China.
authors.forename: Q H
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: International Science & Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an 710055, China.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: h.ngo@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, NSW 2007, Australia.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China; International Science & Technology Cooperation Center for Urban Alternative Water Resources Development, Xi'an 710055, China.
authors.forename: X C
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Eco-Envrionmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dzakpasu
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China.
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D058440:Denitrification; D006868:Hydrolysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D064091:Waste Disposal Facilities; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012722:Sewage; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Anaerobic anoxic oxic (AAO); Carbon sources; Dissolved organic matters (DOM); Slowly biodegradable organic matters (SBOM)