Title: Formation of granules with filamentous microorganisms abundant in anaerobic sequencing batch reactor

Authors: Xiangwen Shao, Dangcong Peng, Yali Zhang, Juan Wang

Addresses: College of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, China; Department of Civil Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350002, China. ' Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology of Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China. ' Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology of Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China. ' Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology of Ministry of Education, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an 710055, China

Abstract: The start-up and granulation in a lab-scale Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor (ASBR) fed with synthetic glucose wastewater were investigated. Sludge granulation proceeded after 110 days operation and was completed in approximately 140 days. Scanning electron microscope images showed that filamentous bacteria like Methanosaeta are abundant in the granule and exhibit in a uniform structure. The growth of Methanosaeta can predominate even if the acetate concentration is high in the ASBR. Short filamentous bacteria are observed in the effluent. Batch tests showed that the composition of these filamentous microorganisms included fermentative, syntrophic acetogenic and methanogenic bacteria, with an ecology similar to that of granular sludge.

Keywords: anaerobic digestion; ASBR; anaerobic sequencing batch reactors; granular sludge; filamentous microorganisms; SMA; specific methanogenic activity; wastewater treatment; granules formation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2011.039084

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2011 Vol.45 No.1/2/3, pp.47 - 57

Published online: 29 Apr 2015 *

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