Background to Biological Phosphorus Removal

Abstract

This paper briefly summarizes the early work on phosphorus removal in activated sludge plants in the U.S.A. and observed that such removals only occurred in low SRT plants of the plug flow type and in the Phostrip plants, neither designed for full nitrification. The discovery of simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal, as well as full-scale experiments are discussed. The Phoredox process was proposed utilizing internal recycling for the removal of nitrates and an anaerobic first stage in which the incoming feed is used to obtain the necessary anaerobic conditions, essential as a conditioning step for the uptake of phosphorus. Proposed mechanisms are discussed.