Aerobic granular sludge for simultaneous accumulation of mineral phosphorus and removal of nitrogen via nitrite in wastewater

Lab-scale experiments were conducted to investigate the aerobic granular sludge process for simultaneous phosphorus (P) accumulation by chemical precipitation and biological nitrogen removal via nitrite. The P-rich granules were successfully incubated in a sequencing batch reactor, in which simultaneous nitrification–denitrification occurred via nitrite. The average diameter of the P-rich granules was 2.47 mm and the P content in granules was much higher than that in other granular systems with enhanced biological phosphorus removal process. Filamentous bacteria (genus Thiothrix) in the granules and the long sludge retention time (30 d) of the granular system played a crucial role in accumulation of precipitated phosphate. X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray and the experimental design using response surface methodology confirmed that the main mineral patterns in P-rich granules were Ca–Mg phosphate and whitlockite.