Abstract |
A 1.0 mgd wastewater treatment plant, designed for biological phosphorus removal within an activated sludge system, was evaluated over a variety of operating conditions during its first year of operation. A maximum phosphorus removal rate 0.026 pounds of phosphorus removed per pound of COD removed was measured at one particular cell residence time. High influent phosphorus concentrations, however, reduce the plant's probable performance to less than 50 percent phosphorus removal at optimum conditions. Phosphorus removal apparently occurs through a combination of metabolic and physical-chemical mechanisms. The specialized plant design has caused several severe operating problems and capital and operating expenditures are significantly greater than reported for conventional activated sludge treatment. (Author) |