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Microbial selection on enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems fed exclusively with glucose

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Abstract

The microbial selection on an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system was investigated in a laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor fed exclusively with glucose as the carbon source. Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization analysis was performed to target two polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) (i.e., Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis and Microlunatus phosphovorus) and two glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) (i.e., Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis and Micropruina glycogenica). The results show that glucose might not select for Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis. However, Microlunatus phosphovorus, Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis, and Micropruina glycogenica might be selected. The highest percent relative abundance (% RA) of Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis was about 42%; this occurred at the beginning of the experimental period when phosphorus removal was efficient. However, the % RA of these bacteria decreased, reaching below 4% at the end of the run. The maximum % RA of Microlunatus phosphovorus, Candidatus Competibacter phosphatis, and Micropruina glycogenica was about 21, 37, 17%, respectively. It appears that a higher glucose concentration might be detrimental for Microlunatus phosphovorus and Micropruina glycogenica. Results also indicate a dominance of GAOs over PAOs when EBPR systems are fed with glucose. It is possible that the GAOs outcompete the PAOs at low pH values; it has been reported that at low pH, GAOs use glycogen as the energy source to uptake glucose. As a result, P-removal deteriorated. Therefore, glucose is not a strong candidate as a carbon source to supplement EBPR systems that do not contain sufficient volatile fatty acids.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Clark County Water Reclamation District (CCWRD) of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a grant from the Graduate Professional Student Association of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). We would like to thank Mr. William Shepherd, Operations Manager of CCWRD for his full support to this research. We thank Dr. Richard F. Unz for reviewing this manuscript and for the invaluable suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, Tuskegee University, 522E Luther Foster Hall, Tuskegee, AL, 36088, USA

    Shamim A. Begum

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Nevada Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV, 89154-4015, USA

    Jacimaria R. Batista

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  1. Shamim A. Begum
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  2. Jacimaria R. Batista
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Correspondence to Shamim A. Begum.

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Begum, S.A., Batista, J.R. Microbial selection on enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems fed exclusively with glucose. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 28, 2181–2193 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-012-1024-3

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