Chapter 8 - Role of polyphosphate accumulating organisms in enhanced biological phosphorous removal

Abstract

Phosphorous is one of the ubiquitous elements in metabolism as well as DNA and RNA synthesis. It is also used by living beings for the production of fertilizers to improve agronomy but it is bringing deleterious effects for natural water bodies. Therefore polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) are effective source of phosphorous removal from wastewater and meet the worldly demand of phosphorous. It is estimated that about 80% of total phosphorous is present in municipal wastewater and biological treatment of wastewater for phosphorous removal is effective in preventing P depletion. Polyphosphate granules were first identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and then in Candida humicola, Hansenula fabianii, and Hansenula anomala. Enhanced biological phosphorous removal (EBPR) is a biological process for phosphorous removal by using certain anoxic, anaerobic, and aerobic steps and optimized pH, temperature, and concentrations of PAOs may play important roles in regulation of this process. This chapter explains about basic concepts, mechanisms, and factors affecting EBPR process. Furthermore, future technologies for P removal using biological processes and PAOs are effectively described in this chapter.