Combined effects of volume ratio and nitrate recycling ratio on nutrient removal,sludge characteristic and microbial evolution for DPR optimization

The optimization of volume ratio(V_(An)/V_(A)/V_(0))and nitrate recycling ratio(R)in a two-sludge denitrifying phosphorus removal(DPR)process of Anaerobic Anoxic Oxic-Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor(A^(2)/O-MBBR)was investigated.The results showed that prolonged anaerobic retention time(HRT An:1.25→3.75 hr)exerted favorable effect on chemical oxygen demand(COD)removal(57.26%→73.54%),poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates(PHA)synthesis(105.70→138.12 mg COD/L)and PO_(4)^(3-)release(22.3→38.9 mg/L).However,anoxic retention time(HRT A)and R exhibited positive correlation with PHA utilization(43.87%-81.34%)and denitrifying phosphorus removal(DPR)potential(NO_(3)-/PO^(3-)_(4):0.57-1.34 mg/mg),leading to dramatical TN removal variations from 68.86%to 81.28%.Under the V An/V A/V O ratio of 2:6:0,sludge loss deteriorated nutrient removals but the sludge bioactivity quickly recovered when the oxic zone was recovered.The sludge characteristic and microstructure gradually transformed under the dissolved oxygen(DO)control(1.0-1.5→1.5-2.0 mg/L),in terms of sludge volume index(SVI:194→57 m L/g VSS),median-particle-size(D 50:99.6→300.5μm),extracellular polymeric substances(EPS)(105.62→226.18 mg/g VSS)and proteins/polysaccharides(PN/PS)ratio(1.52→3.46).Fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)results showed that phosphorus accumulation organisms(PAOs)(mainly Cluster I of Accumulibacter,contribution ratio:91.79%-94.10%)dominated the superior DPR performance,while glycogen accumulating organisms(GAOs)(mainly Competibacter,contribution ratio:82.61%-86.89%)was responsible for deteriorative TN and PO_(4)^(3-)removals.The optimal HRT A and R assembled around 5-6.5 hr and 300%-400%based on the PHA utilization and DRP performance,and the oxic zones also contributed to PO_(4)^(3-)removal although it showed low dependence on DO concentration and oxic retention time(HRT_(0)).