Anoxic phosphorus removal by denitrifying heterotrophic bacteria.

The unexplained occurrence of anoxic phosphorus (P) accumulation has largely hampered modeling of nitrification denitrification biological excess P removal (NDBEPR) systems. The aim of this study was, therefore, to isolate and identify denitrifying-P accumulating heterotrophic bacteria (DPBs) from a NDBEPR system in order to evaluate anoxic P accumulation and the specific mechanisms involved. Results of the study showed various heterotrophic bacteria to be capable of anoxic P accumulation utilising nitrate (NO3) as electron acceptor. While Pseudomonas spp. predominated, Serratia spp. and Vibrio spp. demonstrated the most efficient anoxic P accumulation with 7.10 and 7.29 mgPO4-P/L removal, respectively, at an initial NO3 concentration of 13.54 mgNO3-N/L and P concentration of 16.34 mgPO4-P/L. Weaker DPBs were also identified which were only capable of accumulating small amounts of P at low initial P and NO3 concentrations due to weak denitrification capacity. Anoxic P release was also observed due to the presence of acetate.