Long-term stability of a non-adapted aerobic granular sludge process treating fish canning wastewater associated to EPS producers in the core microbiome

Abstract

The tolerance of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) to variable wastewater composition is perceived as one of its greatest advantages compared to other aerobic processes. However, research studies select optimal operational conditions for evaluating AGS performance, such as the use of pre-adapted biomass and the control of wastewater composition. In this study, non-adapted granular sludge was used to treat fish canning wastewater presenting highly variable organic, nutrient and salt levels over a period of ca. 8 months. Despite salt levels up to 14 g NaCl L−1, the organic loading rate (OLR) was found to be the main factor driving AGS performance. Throughout the first months of operation, the OLR was generally lower than 1.2 kg COD m−3 day−1, resulting in stable nitrification and low COD and phosphorous levels at the outlet. An increase in OLR up to 2.3 kg COD m−3 day−1 disturbed nitrification and COD and phosphate removal, but a decrease to average values between 1 and 1.6 kg COD m−3 day−1 led to resuming of those processes. Most of the bacteria present in the AGS core microbiome were associated to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production, such as Thauera and Paracoccus, which increased during the higher OLR period. Ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) species were detected in AGS biomass; while AOB were identified throughout the operation, NOB were no further identified after the period of increased OLR. Different polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) were detected along the process: CandidatusAccumulibacter, Tetrasphaera and Gemmatimonas. A non-adapted granular sludge was able to treat the fish canning wastewater and to tolerate salinity fluctuations up to 14 g L−1. Overall, a high microbial diversity associated to EPS producers allowed to preserve bacterial groups responsible for nutrients removal, contributing to the adaptation and long-term stability of the AGS system.