High-performing enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) utilizing controlled communities of bacteria in novel biocatalyst composites

Phosphorus pollution is a serious problem for aquatic environments globally. To improve water quality, some regions are implementing stricter discharge limits for phosphorus. Many existing biological technologies cannot reliably achieve new targets due to the complex factors influencing the bacteria responsible for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). This study demonstrated robust phosphorus removal from wastewater via EBPR using controlled bacterial communities in hydrophilic polymeric composites, known as MicroNiche Engineered biocatalysts, in bench and pilot-scale sequencing batch reactors, achieving an effluent target of 0.1 mg-P/L as orthophosphate without sludge handling. Metagenomic analysis tracked the taxonomic groups known to contain polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), such as Rhodocyclaceae and Comamonadaceae families and the Tetrasphaera, Dechloromonas, and Thauera genera, within the microbial communities contained in the biocatalysts. Findings revealed community compositions differed slightly depending on the starting and operating parameters of the reactor but that PAOs were retained across operational changes.