Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal

To facilitate the removal of phosphorus within an EBPR system, anaerobic, anoxic, and aerobic
environments must be provided to enrich for and induce necessary metabolisms in phosphorus
accumulating organisms (PAOs). Design EBPR configuration utilizing a mixed liquor return
(MLR) is illustrated in Figure 1.

MLR

Secondary
Primary
Anaerobic Anoxic Aerobic Clarifier
Effluent
Effluent

Return Activated Sludge

Sludge for Anaerobic Digestion

Figure 1: Design Aeration Sequence

The enrichment and metabolic health of these PAOs is vital for successful EBPR. It is the
engineer’s job to ensure that requisite environments are provided such that the PAOs are healthy,
allowing the phosphorus removal process to be as efficient as possible. The health of the PAOs is
directly related to exposing the microbes to both anaerobic and aerobic periods. This review will
describe the process of EBPR, and the steps taken in both the anaerobic and aerobic periods.
During the anaerobic period PAOs store carbon and energy – as polyhydroxyalkanotes (PHA) –
for future use in the aerobic period; additionally, glycogen is consumed anaerobically for
generation of ATP and to provide reducing equivalents required for PHA synthesis. PAOs
consume carboxylic acids such as acetate, propionate, and butyrate. These acids are generally
classified as volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and are produced in a fermentation process in the
WRRF, or within the sanitary sewer collection system. VFAs must be present to sustain the
PAOs, which store them as PHA. Coupled with organic carbon oxidation via the TCA cycle,
glycogen consumption provides the necessary electrons for PHA synthesis. PHA is stored within
the PAOs as a polymer that serves as an energy reserve during the aerobic period. The
polymerized phosphorus present within the PAOs is hydrolyzed; when the bonds are broken,
energy (as ATP) is produced and phosphorus (PO4) is released into bulk solution. The released
energy is in turn used for more VFA consumption. PO4 release occurs until VFAs have been
depleted and stored as PHAs within the PAOs. The phosphorus released into bulk solution is
referred to as soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP).
As VFA utilization is vital for success of the EBPR process, influent wastewater must have a
sufficient amount of both VFAs and organic carbon to facilitate the process. Table 1 lists
minimum ratios necessary for achieving an effluent concentration of less than 0.5 mg/L soluble
phosphorus for EBPR systems.
Table 1: Typical Influent Wastewater Substrate Ratios

Influent Substrate
Value Reference
Parameter
VFA:P 8 Wentzel (1990)
rbCOD:P 18 Barnard (2006)
BOD:P 30 Sedlak (1991)
COD:P 60 U.S. EPA (2010)

The aerobic period encourages growth of PAOs through SRP uptake and PHA degradation;
similar, albeit less efficient, reactions occur in the anoxic environment. The PAOs that have
stored PHA will grow, while other organisms are disadvantaged. During this growth period, the
PAOs remove the released SRP from bulk solution and store it intracellularly as polymerized
phosphorus; the net effect is excess SRP removal from the raw wastewater. The removal of SRP
is relatively quick, accounting for only 15-30 minutes of the total aerobic period, which is
typically 2-5 hours. Additionally, during the aerobic period the previously stored PHA is
degraded for glycogen synthesis. An illustration depicting the SRP, VFA, PHA, and glycogen
cycling during both periods is shown in Figure 2.