Kinetics of Biological Phosphorus Release

Abstract

Experimental observations indicate that the magnitude of biological excess P uptake is linked strongly to the magnitude of P release in the anaerobic reactor. A theory describing the kinetics of P release is presented in terms of the readily biodegradable COD in the influent, the non-polyP heterotrophic mass, the anaerobic mass fraction and the reactor flow regime. Observed P release conforms well to that predicted over a wide range of wastewater characteristics and process conditions.