Uncertainty and variability in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) stoichiometry: consequences for process modelling and optimization

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (7) ◽  
pp. 1793-1800 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwight Houweling ◽  
Yves Comeau ◽  
Imre Takács ◽  
Peter Dold
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Feed Composition ◽  
P Limitation ◽  
Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms ◽  
Biological Phosphorus ◽  
P Removal

The overall potential for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in the activated sludge process is constrained by the availability of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). The efficiency with which polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) use these VFAs for P-removal, however, is determined by the stoichiometric ratios governing their anaerobic and aerobic metabolism. While changes in anaerobic stoichiometry due to environmental conditions do affect EBPR performance to a certain degree, model-based analyses indicate that variability in aerobic stoichiometry has the greatest impact. Long-term deterioration in EBPR performance in an experimental SBR system undergoing P-limitation can be predicted as the consequence of competition between PAOs and GAOs. However, the observed rapid decrease in P-release after the change in feed composition is not consistent with a gradual shift in population.

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal process implemented in membrane bioreactors to improve phosphorous recovery and recycling

2003 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lesjean ◽  
R. Gnirss ◽  
C. Adam ◽  
M. Kraume ◽  
F. Luck
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
P Limitation ◽  
Batch Tests ◽  
P Content ◽  
On Line ◽  
Biological Phosphorus ◽  
P Removal

The enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process was adapted to membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology. One bench-scale plant (BSP, 200-250 L) and two pilot plants (PPs, 1,000-3,000 L each) were operated under several configurations, including pre-denitrification and post-denitrification without addition of carbon source, and two solid retention times (SRT) of 15 and 26 d. The trials showed that efficient Bio-P removal can be achieved with MBR systems, in both pre- and post-denitrification configurations. EBPR dynamics could be clearly demonstrated through batch-tests, on-line measurements, profile analyses, P-spiking trials, and mass balances. High P-removal performances were achieved even with high SRT of 26 d, as around 9 mgP/L could be reliably removed. After stabilisation, the sludge exhibited phosphorus contents of around 2.4%TS. When spiked with phosphorus (no P-limitation), P-content could increase up to 6%TS. The sludge is therefore well suited to agricultural reuse with important fertilising values. Theoretical calculations showed that increased sludge age should result in a greater P-content. This could not be clearly demonstrated by the trials. This effect should be all the more significant as the influent is low in suspended solids.

Full Scale Investigations on Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal – P-Release in the Anaerobic Reactor

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 153-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wedi ◽  
P. A. Wilderer
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Process Conditions ◽  
Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Anaerobic Reactor ◽  
P Release ◽  
Acinetobacter Sp ◽  
Biological Phosphorus ◽  
P Removal

Most of the fundamental processes responsible for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) were obtained through laboratory tests under defined conditions with pure or enriched cultures. Acinetobacter sp. was identified as the most important group of bacteria responsible for bio-P removal. Full scale data showed, however, that laboratory results do not match full scale results well enough. There is a lack of data on the effects of sub-optimal process conditions such as inadequate availability of volatile fatty acids (VFA), high nitrate recycle, storm water inflow or low temperatures. In this paper the results of full scale experiments on P-release are presented and compared with theoretical values. Measurements at a full scale Phoredox-system showed a surprisingly low P-release in the anaerobic reactor. Only 4 to 10% of the phosphorus in the activated sludge was released in the bulk liquid. With laboratory batch-tests, a maximum of 20% of the P in the sludge could be released. It is assumed that under the prevailing process conditions either the fraction of Acinetobacter sp. was very small, or bacteria other than Acinetobacter sp. were responsible for the P-removal, or most of the phosphorus was bound chemically but mediated by biological processes.

Distributed microbial state effects on competitionin enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.J. Schuler
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Storage Product ◽  
Distributed Approach ◽  
Average System ◽  
Storage Products ◽  
Profile Characteristics ◽  
Polyphosphate Accumulating Organisms ◽  
Biological Phosphorus

Computer simulation of activated sludge population dynamics is a useful tool in process design, operation, and troubleshooting, but currently available programs rely on the assumption of “lumped,” or average, system characteristics in each reactor, such as microbial storage product contents. In reality, the states of individual bacteria are likely to vary due to variable residence times in reactors with completely mixed hydraulics. Earlier work by the present author introduced the MATLAB-based distributed state simulation program, Dissimulator 1.0, and demonstrated that distributed states may be particularly important in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) systems, which rely on the cycling of bacteria through anaerobic and aerobic reactors to select for a population accumulating multiple microbial storage products. This paper explores the relationships between distributed state profiles, variable anaerobic and aerobic SRTs, and the process rates predicted by lumped and distributed approaches. Consistent with previous results, the lumped approach consistently predicted better EBPR performance than did the distributed approach. The primary reason for this was the presence of large fractions of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) with depleted microbial storage product contents, which led to overestimation of process rates by the lumped approach. Distributed and lumped predictions were therefore most similar when microbial storage product depletion was minimal. The effects of variable anaerobic and aerobic SRTs on distributed profile characteristics and process rates are presented. This work demonstrated that lumped assumptions may overestimate EBPR performance, and the degree of this error is a function of the distributed state profile characteristics such as the degree to which fractions of the biomass contain depleted microbial storage product contents.

Experience from 10 years of full-scale operation with enhanced biological phosphorus removal at Öresundsverket

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 151-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Tykesson ◽  
L.-E. Jönsson ◽  
J. la Cour Jansen
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Stable Process ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Biological Phosphorus Removal ◽  
Sludge Hydrolysis ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Biological Phosphorus

Ten years of full-scale experience with enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) has been evaluated. During the start-up period lack of carbon source was the main operational problem and a higher level of volatile fatty acids was secured by introducing a primary sludge hydrolysis. Acidic thermal sludge hydrolysis was used as the sludge treatment method at the plant during about three years. One effluent stream, rich in carbon and precipitant, was brought back to the process leading to an improvement of the phosphorus removal both by an improved biological process and chemical precipitation. A quite stable process of EBPR was developed with low levels of effluent phosphorus concentration. Stringent effluent discharge limits during short evaluation periods necessitated a continued work for improvement of the short-term stability. During periods with lack of carbon, such as industrial holiday or rainy periods, both simultaneous precipitation and reduced aeration have been successfully tested as strategies for securing low levels of effluent phosphorus.

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