The effect of propionic to acetic acid ratio on anaerobic-aerobic (low dissolved oxygen) biological phosphorus and nitrogen removal

Bioresour Technol. 2008 Jul;99(10):4400-7. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2007.08.032. Epub 2007 Oct 4.

Abstract

In this paper, three lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR-A, B, and C) operated with anaerobic/aerobic (low dissolved oxygen, 0.15-0.45 mg L(-1)) configuration were long-term cultured, respectively with single acetic acid and propionic/acetic acid of 1/1 and 2/1 (carbon molar ratio), and the comparisons of anaerobic and aerobic transformations of phosphorus and nitrogen among them were made. With the increase of propionic/acetic acid, lower anaerobic phosphorus release and higher phosphorus release to short-chain fatty acids uptake ratio were observed, and less anaerobic and aerobic transformations of glycogen and poly-3-hydroxybutyrate as well as total polyhydroxyalkanoates occurred, but the transformations of poly-3-hydroxyvalerate and poly-3-hydroxy-2-methyvalerate increased. The phosphorus removal efficiency was respectively 81, 94 and 97% in SBR-A, B and C. Almost all ammonium was removed and no significant nitrite was accumulated at different propionic/acetic acid ratios. However, the nitrate accumulation and total nitrogen removal were observed to be affected by propionic/acetic acid ratio. The total nitrogen removal efficiency was 61, 68 and 82%, and the aerobic end nitrate concentration was 8.05, 6.40 and 3.54 mg L(-1) in three SBRs, respectively. All the above studies indicated that the sole acetic acid caused more nitrate accumulation than propionic and acetic acids mixture, and a pertinent increase of wastewater propionic/acetic acid ratio was of benefit to both nitrogen and phosphorus removal in an anaerobic/aerobic (low dissolved oxygen) biological wastewater treatment process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetic Acid / analysis*
  • Aerobiosis
  • Anaerobiosis
  • Biotechnology / methods*
  • Calibration
  • Carbohydrates / chemistry
  • Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / methods
  • Glycogen / chemistry
  • Models, Chemical
  • Nitrogen / analysis*
  • Nitrogen / chemistry
  • Oxygen / chemistry*
  • Phosphorus / analysis*
  • Phosphorus / chemistry
  • Polyesters / analysis
  • Propionates / analysis*
  • Valerates / analysis
  • Water Purification

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Polyesters
  • Propionates
  • Valerates
  • Phosphorus
  • poly(3-hydroxyvalerate)
  • Glycogen
  • propionic acid
  • Nitrogen
  • Acetic Acid
  • Oxygen