The Performance of Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS) on Stability of Aerobic Granular Sludge (AGS)

Abstract

Various article which indicating the Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) instability, particularly in prolonged phase operating duration become a significant obstacle to its implementation. Generally, prolonged the operation period will lost its stability that can degrade performance effectiveness. As AGS stabilization in hydrodynamic shear force and resisting mass transfer resistance within the reactor generally defined or evaluated by microbial community, bioactivity, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) structure and granular aspect. The aim of this research in order to illustrate the EPS formation on AGS which is preserved at 4°C in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) by sewage for eight months. The effective of granulation method and redevelopment of AGS stability by particular pressure produced with several hydrodynamic shear force and mass transfer resistance which controlled by low organic loading rate (OLR) between 0.26 and 0.81 kg CODs/m<sup>3</sup> d with 1.33 cm/s of superficial air velocity (SAV). The confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) were implemented to notice the evolution in composition of EPS that revealed the intermolecular interaction helped the aerobic granule stability as seed to achieved the performance of EPS on stability of AGS.