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Novel technique for internal structure and elemental distribution analyses of granular sludge from reactors for wastewater treatment

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Abstract

A novel technique for internal structure and elemental distribution analyses of granular sludge is presented. Sludge samples were freeze-dried and embedded in epoxy resin to form a module, which were then ground and polished to obtain sequential cross-sections. The cross-sections were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). SEM observations showed that one granule was formed having several cores with different inorganic minerals, rather than a single core. EDX results indicate that the main elements of the granules are O, Ca, Mg, and P. In addition, the distribution areas of calcium and magnesium in the granule do not coincide.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the National Science Foundation of China (20877075), National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (863 Program, 2011AA060904-1), Open Funding Project of the National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, National Key Technologies R&D Program (2006BAC02A05), and National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2007CB613501).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Engineering Laboratory for Hydrometallurgical Cleaner Production Technology, P.O. Box 353, Beijing, 100190, China

    Xiaolei Cao, Hongbin Cao, Yuxing Sheng, Haixia You & Yi Zhang

  2. Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering and National Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, P.O. Box 353, Beijing, 100190, China

    Xiaolei Cao, Hongbin Cao, Yuxing Sheng, Haixia You & Yi Zhang

  3. Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Xiaolei Cao, Hongbin Cao, Yuxing Sheng, Haixia You & Yi Zhang

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  1. Xiaolei Cao
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  2. Hongbin Cao
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  3. Yuxing Sheng
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  4. Haixia You
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  5. Yi Zhang
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Correspondence to Hongbin Cao.

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Cao, X., Cao, H., Sheng, Y. et al. Novel technique for internal structure and elemental distribution analyses of granular sludge from reactors for wastewater treatment. Biotechnol Lett 35, 345–350 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-012-1081-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-012-1081-6

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