EBPR Using Crude Glycerol: Assessing Process Resiliency and Exploring Metabolic Anomalies

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is predicated on exposing bacteria to cyclical anaerobic/aerobic environments while providing volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Combined, this environment enriches for phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs) and induces metabolisms to ensure excess phosphoru...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water environment research 2015-01, Vol.87 (1), p.68-79
Main Authors: Coats, Erik R., Dobroth, Zachary T., Brinkman, Cynthia K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Bacteria - metabolism
Bioreactors
Carbon
Carbon Cycle
crude glycerol
enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR)
Fatty acids
Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Glycerol - metabolism
glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs)
Metabolism
Phosphorus - metabolism
Phosphorus removal
polyphosphate
polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs)
Spectrophotometry
volatile fatty acids (VFAs)
Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods
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Summary:Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is predicated on exposing bacteria to cyclical anaerobic/aerobic environments while providing volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Combined, this environment enriches for phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs) and induces metabolisms to ensure excess phosphorus removal. Crude glycerol (CG), a byproduct of biodiesel manufacturing, is an alternate waste stream that could be substituted to achieve excess phosphorus removal; research into the use of CG yielded unexpected findings. While CG was an excellent substrate to accomplish and/or help achieve excess phosphorus removal, CG-fed bacteria did not consistently exhibit theoretical EBPR metabolisms. Specifically, anaerobic phosphorus release was not required for successful EBPR; however, carbon cycling patterns were consistent with theory. Analysis of results suggests that PAOs will first leverage carbon to generate energy anaerobically; only as needed will the bacteria utilize polyphosphate reserves anaerobically. Results also demonstrated that excess phosphorus removal can be achieved with a small fraction of PAOs.
ISSN:1061-4303
1554-7531
DOI:10.2175/106143014X14062131179113