Simultaneous nitrification and phosphate removal by bioaugmented aerobic granules treating a fluoroorganic compound

Abstract The presence of toxic compounds in wastewater can cause problems for organic matter and nutrient removal. In this study, the long-term effect a model xenobiotic, 2-fluorophenol (2-FP), on ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite oxidizing (NOB) phosphate accumulating organisms (PAO) aerobic granular sludge was investigated. Phosphate (P) ammonium (N) removal efficiencies were high (>93%) and, after bioaugmentation with 2-FP degrading strain FP1, completely degraded. Neither N nor P affected by 50 mg L−1 feed stream. Changes granule bacterial communities followed. Numerical analysis denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles showed low diversity ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene an even distribution species. PAOs, including denitrifying PAO (dPAO), AOB present granules, although dPAO population decreased throughout 444 days reactor operation. results demonstrated that granules bioaugmented FP1 successfully removed N, simultaneously.