Author(s)

Fang Fang^1,2, Hui Chen¹, Jing-Yang Luo^1*, Zhe-Ying Zhu¹, Jia-Shun Cao¹

¹Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, China.
²Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Exposure and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.

In this study, the influence of azo dye of methyl red (MR) on COD, dye and phosphorus removal and the transformation of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) and glycogen of phosphate accumulating organisms in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system were investigated. The results indicated COD and dye removal efficiencies were decreased from 97.9% to 72.8% and 99.7% to 82.0%, respectively, when MR concentration was increased from 0 to 40 mg/L. Low MR concentration (5 mg/L) had no influence on P removal and transformation of PHA and glycogen. However, P removal, PHA production and consumption, and glycogen replenishment were seriously inhibited at high MR concentration, while glycogen hydrolysis was simulated at MR concentration of 20 and 40 mg/L. The transformations of PHA and glycogen at aerobic condition were more sensitive to those at anaerobic condition at high MR concentration. These results demonstrated dye and its intermediate products would inhibit the metabolism of polyphosphate accumulating organisms, which should be taken into account in future work.

Activated Sludge, Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR), Glycogen, Methyl Red (MR), Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)

Fang, F. , Chen, H. , Luo, J. , Zhu, Z. and Cao, J. (2018) Influence of Azo Dye on Metabolism of Phosphorus Accumulating Organisms Linked to Transformation of Intracellular Storage Products. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 6, 1-10. doi: 10.4236/gep.2018.65001.