Simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal in a lab‐scale sequencing batch reactor

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Abstract
Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) via the nitrite pathway and anaerobic–anoxic‐enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) are two processes that can significantly reduce the energy and COD demand for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. The combination of these two processes has the potential of achieving simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal with a minimal requirement for COD. A lab‐scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated in alternating anaerobic–aerobic mode with a low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration (0.5 mg/L) during the aerobic period, and was demonstrated to accomplish nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. Under anaerobic conditions, COD was taken up and converted to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), accompanied by phosphorus release. In the subsequent aerobic stage, PHA was oxidized and phosphorus was taken up to 2O), not N2. Further experimental results demonstrated that nitrogen removal was via nitrite, not nitrate. These experiments also showed that denitrifying glycogen‐accumulating organisms (DGAOs), rather than denitrifying polyphosphate‐accumulating organisms (DPAOs), were responsible for the denitrification activity. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biotechnol Bioeng 84: 170–178, 2003.