Operation of three parallel AN/AO processes to enrich denitrifying phosphorus removing bacteria for low strength wastewater treatment

Three parallel anaerobic-anoxic/anaerobic-aerobic (AN/AO) processes were developed to enrich denitrifying phosphorus removal bacteria (DPB) for low strength wastewater treatment. The main body of the parallel AN/AO process consists of an AN (anaerobic-anoxic) process and an AO (anaerobic-aerobic) process. In the AO process, the common phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs) was dominate, while in the AN process, DPB was dominate. The volume of anaerobic zone(V(ana)):anoxic zone(V(ano)): aerobic zone (V(aer)) for the parallel AN/AO process is 1:1:1 in contrast with a V(ana):V(aer) and V(ano):V(aer) of 1:2 and 1:4 for a traditional biological nutrient removal process (BNR). Process 3 excels in the 3 processes on the basis of COD, TN and TP removal. For 4 month operation, the effluent COD concentration of process 3 did not exceed 60 mg/L; the effluent TN concentration of process 3 was lower than 15 mg/L; and the effluent TP concentration of process 3 was lower than 1 mg/L.