The role of glucose in developing enhanced biological phosphorus removal

Sequential batch reactors were operated to study the mechanism of developing enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) while feeding glucose as the dominant substrate. Initial results indicated that feeding glucose as the dominant substrate caused poor and un-stable EBPR performance, similar to the findings reported by other researchers. The operating procedures for the glucose system were modified to longer anaerobic reaction time, higher glucose concentration in the influent, and shorter aerobic reaction time with a limited DO level. The application of these modified procedures successfully established stable EBPR performance by using glucose as the major substrate. Batch experiments showed that glucose was immediately transported into the bacteria and stored as glycogen and that poly-β-hydroxyvalerate predominated poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) during the anaerobic phase. It was also observed that much lower levels of PO₄-P anaerobic release and PHA accumulation occurred in the glucose induced EBPR system than in the acetate induced EBPR system. It is hypothesized that glycogen might replace the essential energy role of polyphosphate under the anaerobic condition, which results in the deterioration of PO₄-P removal unless these modified operating procedures are applied.