Influence of nutrient factors on phosphorus accumulating organisms (PAOs) Bacillus sp. PK1

Abstract

A kind of phosphorus accumulating organism (PAO), Bacillus sp. PK1, which showed high phosphorus removal efficiencies, was isolated from special medium in the SBR reactor. To further explore the effect of nutrient factors on its potential phosphorus removal efficiency, initial phosphorus content and various carbon sources were selected in this research. Results of a series tests showed that the initial phosphorus removal efficiency declined constantly to below 60% with the initial phosphorus content increased. As for the effect of carbon sources, the phosphorus removal efficiencies were respectively as high as 98.58%, 95.14% and 98.45% with sodium acetate, sodium citrate and mixed carbon source. More importantly, research also showed an infrequent phenomenon that the PK1 gave priority to utilize sodium citrate rather than short chain fatty acid sodium acetate, and hardly to use glucose.