Competition between polyphosphate- and glycogen-accumulating organisms in biological phosphorus removal systems – effect of temperature

Abstract

This study demonstrated that temperature is an important factor in determining the outcome of competition between polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) and glycogen-accumulating non-poly-P organisms (GAOs) and the resultant stability of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems. At 20 degrees C and a 10-day sludge age, PAOs were dominant in the anaerobic/aerobic (A/O) SBR, however, at 30 degrees C and a 10-day sludge age, GAOs were dominant in the A/O SBR. For kinetic batch studies, the anaerobic specific acetate uptake rate of GAO-dominated sludge (1.34 x 10(-3) mg C/mg VSS x minute) was higher than the rate of PAO-dominated sludge (0.89 x 10(-3) mg C/mg VSS x minute) at 30 degrees C, leading to the eventual failure of EBPR processes at high temperatures.