Quantitative DNA Stable Isotope Probing To Identify Active Phosphate Accumulating Organisms Within a Side-stream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Process

Quantitative DNA Stable Isotope Probing To Identify Active Phosphate Accumulating Organisms Within a Side-stream Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal ProcessAbstractThe side-stream enhanced biological phosphorus removal (S2EBPR) process is an emerging technology for reliable and sustainable biological phosphorus removal in water resource recovery facilities. In S2EBPR facilities, a side-stream fermenter consistently provides volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to the mainstream reactors to tolerate fluctuating carbon loads among other advantages for optimal EBPR performance. Currently, the microbial community and activity of S2EBPR systems is not well characterized. This study investigated the influence of VFAs on the EBPR-related microbial communities in two full-scale facilities. We found that S2EBPR-related microbial community and their activity is influenced by the composition of VFAs, e.g., Tetrasphaera was active only with propionate as substrate, unlike Ca. Accumulibacter and Dechloromonas, which could uptake both acetate and propionate. Further, with propionate, Tetrasphaera was less active compared to Ca. Accumulibacter and Dechloromonas. This research expands our understanding of microbial ecophysiology of S2EBPR systems and has implications for optimizing EBPR performance.This study investigated the effect of carbon substrate on microbial activity and metabolic potential in the S2EBPR-related communities of two full-scale water resource recovery facilities. The results suggested that the activity of EBPR-related microbial community is influenced by the composition of VFAs in the S2EBPR facilities. This information is valuable for expanding the knowledge base of the microbial ecology of S2EBPR, and for optimizing EBPR performance.SpeakerSampara, PranavPresentation time14:30:0015:00:00Session time13:30:0015:00:00SessionConnecting Molecular Biology Sensors to EBPR PerformanceSession locationRoom S502 - Level 5TopicAdvanced Level, Facility Operations and Maintenance, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, NutrientsTopicAdvanced Level, Facility Operations and Maintenance, Municipal Wastewater Treatment Design, NutrientsAuthor(s)Sampara, PranavAuthor(s)P. Sampara ¹; P. Galvagno ² ; R.M. Ziels ³; ¹;Author affiliation(s)University of British Columbia, ¹; Carollo Engineers ² ; The University of British Columbia ³;SourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Oct 2023DOI10.2175/193864718825159086Volume / Issue Content sourceWEFTECCopyright2023Word count20