Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ecological Engineering of Bioreactors for Wastewater Treatment

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems remove carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus from wastewaters through biodegradation of organic compounds, oxidation of ammonia-N to nitrate-N, reduction of nitrate-N to N2 gas, and sequestration of phosphorus as polyphosphate. The microbial community in such systems is complex because it must contain heterotrophic bacteria capable of aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration, and fermentation; specialized heterotrophic bacteria that can store polyphosphate; and autotrophic nitrifying bacteria that can withstand long periods without oxygen. Although the basic design principles for BNR systems are reasonably well established, it is becoming apparent that a greater understanding of the microbial interactions involved is required to increase system reliability. For example, although the environment established for the selection of phosphorus accumulating organisms was thought to give them a strong competitive advantage over other heterotrophic bacteria, this has turned out not to be the case. Rather, glycogen accumulating organisms can compete quite effectively in the same environment. Furthermore, BNR systems have suffered from problems with sludge settleability, even though many of the system characteristics are considered to be conducive to the suppression of filamentous bacteria. Finally, the use of molecular techniques has revealed that the autotrophic nitrifying bacteria are different from those that had been considered to be present. This paper reviews the microbial ecology of BNR systems, establishes how molecular biology techniques are changing our understanding of that ecology, and suggests ways in which engineering control can be exerted over community structure, thereby increasing the reliability of BNR systems.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andreasen, K. and Nielsen, P. H.: 1997, Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 63, 3662-3668.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andreasen, K. and Nielsen, P. H.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 19-26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballinger, S. J., Head, I. M., Curtis, T. P., and Godley, A. R.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 105-108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackall, L. L., Stratton, H., Bradford, D., Sjörup, C., Del Dot, T., Seviour, E. M., and Seviour, R. J.: 1996, International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology. 4, 344-346.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bond, P. L., Keller, J., and Blackall, L. L.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 567-571.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burrell, P. C., Keller, J., and Blackall, L. L.: 1998, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 64, 1878-1883.

    Google Scholar 

  • Casey, T. G., Wentzel, M. C., Lowenthal, R. E., Ekama, G. A., and Marais, G. v. R.: 1992, Water Research. 26, 867-869.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cech, J. S. and Hartman, P.: 1990, Environmental Technology. 11, 651-656.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cech, J. S. and Hartman, P.: 1993, Water Research. 27, 1219-1225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Costerton, J. W., Lewandowski, Z., Caldwell, D. E., Korber, D. R., and Lappin-Scott, H. M.: 1995, Annual Review of Microbiology, 49, 711-745.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eikelboom, D. H., Andreadakis, A., and Andreasen, K.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 281-289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekama, G. A., Wentzel, M. C., Casey, T. G., and Marais, G. V. R.: 1996, Water SA. 22, 147-152.

    Google Scholar 

  • Filipe, C. D. M.: 1999, Competition between Phosphorus and Glycogen Accumulating Bacteria: Stoichiometry, Kinetics, and the Effects of pH, Ph.D. Dissertation, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grady, Jr., C. P. L., Daigger, G. T., and Lim, H. C.: 1999, Biological Wastewater Treatment: Second Edition, Revised and Expanded, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, pp. 355, 487-560, 949-986.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juretschko, S., Timmermann, G., Schmid, M., Schleifer, K.-H., Pommerening-Röser, A., Koops, H.-P., and Wagner, M.: 1998, Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 64, 3042-3051.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoop, S. and Kunst, S.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 27-35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madigan, M. T., Martinko, J. M., and Parker, J.: 1997, Brock, Biology of Microorganisms, Eighth Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, pp. 535, 660.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamais, D., Andreadakis, A., Noutsopoulos, C. and Kalergis, C.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 9-17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maszenan, A. M., Seviour, R. J., Patel, B. K. C., Rees, G. N., and McDougall, B.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 65-69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsuo, Y.: 1994, Water Science and Technology. 30, #6, 193-202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mino, T., van Loosdrecht, M. C. M., and Heijnen, J. J.: 1998, Water Research. 32, 3193-3207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mobarry, B. K., Wagner, M., Urbain, V., Rittmann, B. E., and Stahl, D. A.: 1996, Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 62, 2156-2162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, A. T., Liu, W.-T., Filipe, C., Grady, L. Jr., Molin, S. and Stahl, D. A.: 1999, Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 65, 1251-1258.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palm, J. C., Jenkins, D., and Parker, D. S.: 1980, Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation. 52, 2484-2506.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prosser, J. I.: 1989, Advances in Microbial Physiology. 30, 125-181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raunkjæ r, K., Hvitved-Jacobsen, T., and Nielsen, P. H.: 1994, Water Research. 28, 251-262.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schramm, A., Larsen, L. H., Revsbech, N. P., Ramsing, N. B., Amann, R., and Schleifer, K.-H.: 1996, Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 62, 4641-4647.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schramm, A., de Beer, D., Wagner, M., and Amann, R.: 1998, Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 64, 3480-3485.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slijkhuis, H. and Deinema, M. H.: 1982, in Bulking of Activated Sludge: Prevention and Remedial Methods, edited by B. Chambers and E. J. Tomlinson, Ellis Horwood, Ltd., Chichester, UK, pp. 75-89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slijkhuis, H. and Deinema, M. H.: 1988, Water Research. 22, 825-828.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephen, J. R., McCaig, A. E., Smith, Z., Prosser, J. I., and Embley, T. M.: 1996, Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 62, 4147-4154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandoi, V., Rossetti, S., Blackall, L. L., and Majone, M.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 1-8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thiele, J. H. and Zeikus, J. G.: 1988, Biotechnology and Bioengineering. 31, 521-535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, M., Rath, G., Koops, H.-P., Flood, J., and Amann, R.: 1996, Water Science and Technology. 34, #1/2, 237-244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagner, M., Noguera, D. R., Juretschko, S., Rath, G., Koops, H.-P., and Schleifer, K.-H.: 1998, Water Science and Technology. 37, #4/5, 441-449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wanner, J.: 1994, Activated Sludge Bulking and Foaming Control, Technomic Publishing Co., Inc., Lancaster, PA, USA, 170-178.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, L. G. Rich Environmental Research Laboratory, Clemson Research Park, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, 29634-0919, USA

    C. P. L. Grady Jr. & C. D. M. Filipe

Authors
  1. C. P. L. Grady Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. D. M. Filipe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Grady, C.P.L., Filipe, C.D.M. Ecological Engineering of Bioreactors for Wastewater Treatment. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 123, 117–132 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005201528411

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005201528411

Search

Navigation