The effect of media on evaluating the phosphate uptake capacity of activated sludge bacterial isolates

Abstract

Since the identification of Acinetobacter calcoaceticus as the primary agent responsible for biological phosphorus removal, much research has been conducted to either confirm or refute this claim. The majority of these studies was conducted under defined laboratory conditions using various artificial media; as a result, many conflicting reports exist regarding the role of A. calcoaceticus and other activated sludge isolates in their possible roles as true polyphosphate-accumulating bacteria. This study was therefore conducted to determine the effect of media type on biological phosphate removal when performed in the laboratory under defined conditions. Five isolates were obtained from a full-scale biological nutrient removal activated sludge system and a previously identified A. calcoaceticus isolate was inoculated into three different media types. The inoculated media were subjected to anaerobic and aerobic conditions to stimulate the phosphate removal mechanism. The test micro-organisms released phosphate, under anaerobic conditions, in the three test media.

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