consider the following conceptual question.In its start-up phase a biological phosphorous removal(BPR) process is not removing phosphorous as anticipated by design calculations.What laborartory analyses would you perform to trouble shoot the problem?Provide a comprehensive explanation to get full points.
Ans- in sewage treatment plants the phosphorus is removed by the organisms which are known as polyphosphate accumulating organisms. These are commonly anaerobes which grow in anerobic conditions. So if the phosphate is not being removed there may be two factors responsible for it. The presence of aerobic conditions in the sewage treatment tank or the absence of PAO( polyphosphate accumulating bacteria) .
The problem can be troubleshoot by detecting the gaseous composition of the sewage tanks. If there is presence of nitrogen or oxygen then it may be the possible reason for the failure of phosphorus removal.
The second thing which may help in troubleshooting the problem is to checking for the growth of the PAO in the tanks. Their absence will directly help in diagnosis of problem as if they are absent it means there will be no phosphorus removal.
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