Dairy industry wastewater: Low pH Nutrient Remediation. Dr. Niall O’ Leary

Acetate PHA Poly-P Glycogen + T.C.A. e-e- Ortho-PO 4 Acetic Acid ATP (a) Anaerobic Phase PHA Poly-P Glycogen Ortho-PO 4 O2O2 CO 2 +H 2 O ATP (b) Aerobic Phase Conventional Biological Phosphorus Removal Problems: Requires anaerobic/aerobic cycling Requires readily utilisable C sources Instability:- prone to spontaneous failure Competition by glycogen accumulators

Acid shock induced approach Microbial Survival response => diversity, Aerobic, Non-C source dependent, Non competitive Sequencing batch reactors 2L working volume Hydraulic retention time: 10hrs Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids: 6mg/L Temp: ~21 o C pH: 5.5 – 6.1

Waste source: Dairy Ingredients processing plant: Casein and whey products; diverse carbohydrate, protein and lipid components (High season effluent: COD:2000mg/L, PO4:- 55mg/L, NH4-N:- 60mg/L) 2000/100/251500/75/25 pH SRT PO 4 Removal 65-80mg/L (pH 7.5) (pH 5.5)

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