Multiscale investigation of a symbiotic microalgal-integrated fixed film activated sludge (MAIFAS) process for nutrient removal and photo-oxygenation.

The Integrated Fixed-Film Activated Sludge (IFAS) process is an advanced biological wastewater treatment process that integrates biofilm carriers within conventional activated sludge to uncouple the sludge retention time for nitrifiers and heterotrophic bacteria. In this study, we incorporated microalgae into the IFAS configuration for photo-oxygenation and evaluated the symbiotic reaction between microalgae and bacteria for both suspended solids and IFAS biofilm media. In a sequencing batch mode, the microalgae-IFAS system removed more than 99% ammonia and 51% phosphorous without the need for mechanical aeration.

Effects of reduced return activated sludge flows and volume on anaerobic zone performance for a septic wastewater biological phosphorus removal system.

Enhanced biological phosphorous removal (EBPR) performance was found to be adequate with reduced return-activated sludge (RAS) flows (50% of available RAS) to the anaerobic tank and smaller-than-typical anaerobic zone volume (1.08 hours hydraulic retention time [HRT]). Three identical parallel biological nutrient removal pilot plants were fed with strong, highly fermented (160 mg/L volatile fatty acids [VFAs]), domestic and industrial wastewater from a full-scale wastewater treatment facility.

Changes in anoxic denitrification rate resulting from prefermentation of a septic, phosphorus-limited wastewater.

A preliminary bench-scale study of parallel University of Cape Town (UCT) biological nutrient removal systems showed improvement in anoxic denitrification rates resulting from prefermentation of a septic (i.e., high volatile fatty acid [VFA] content), phosphorus-limited (i.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates form potentially a key aspect of aerobic phosphorus uptake in enhanced biological phosphorus removal.

Eighteen anaerobic/aerobic batch experiments were conducted with a variety of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) on a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) population displaying enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). A statistically significant (P << 0.01 for all variables) correlation between aerobic phosphorus uptake and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) quantity and form was observed.

The role of poly-hydroxy-alkanoate form in determining the response of enhanced biological phosphorus removal biomass to volatile fatty acids.

Anaerobic-aerobic batch experiments indicated that poly-hydroxy-alkanoate (PHA) form was important in determining the net phosphorus removal resulting from different volatile fatty acids (VFAs). Poly-3-hydroxy-butyrate (3HB) content was found to correlate fairly well with higher observed aerobic phosphorus uptake per unit PHA carbon degraded. Poly-3-hydroxy-valerate (3HV) correlated with lower aerobic phosphorus uptakes per unit PHA carbon degraded.