Microbial Selection on Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Systems Fed Exclusively with Glucose

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2012

Publication Title

World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Volume

28

Issue

5

First page number:

2181

Last page number:

2193

Abstract

The microbial selection on an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system was investigated in a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor fed exclusively with glucose as the carbon source. Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization analysis was performed to target two polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) (i.e., Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis and Microlunatus phosphovorus) and two glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) (i.e.,Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis and Micropruina glycogenica). The results show that glucose might not select for Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis. However, Microlunatus phosphovorus, Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis, and Micropruina glycogenica might be selected. The highest percent relative abundance (% RA) of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis was about 42%; this occurred at the beginning of the experimental period when phosphorus removal was efficient. However, the % RA of these bacteria decreased, reaching below 4% at the end of the run. The maximum % RA of Microlunatus phosphovorus,Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis, and Micropruina glycogenica was about 21, 37, 17%, respectively. It appears that a higher glucose concentration might be detrimental forMicrolunatus phosphovorus and Micropruina glycogenica. Results also indicate a dominance of GAOs over PAOs when EBPR systems are fed with glucose. It is possible that the GAOs outcompete the PAOs at low pH values; it has been reported that at low pH, GAOs use glycogen as the energy source to uptake glucose. As a result, P-removal deteriorated. Therefore, glucose is not a strong candidate as a carbon source to supplement EBPR systems that do not contain sufficient volatile fatty acids.

Keywords

Actinomycetales; Actinomycetales/growth & development; Actinomycetales/metabolism; Betaproteobacteria/growth & development; Betaproteobacteria/metabolism; Bioreactors; Bioreactors/microbiology; EBPR; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Gammaproteobacteria/growth & development; Gammaproteobacteria/metabolism; GAO; Glucose; Glucose—Metabolism; Glucose/metabolism; In situ hybridization; In situ hybridization; Fluorescence; Microbial selection; PAO; Phosphorus; Phosphorus—Metabolism; Phosphorus/metabolism; Phosphorus removal

Disciplines

Bioimaging and Biomedical Optics | Biological Engineering | Biomechanics and Biotransport | Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering | Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Sciences | Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Engineering

Language

English

Permissions

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