Nutrient Removal - Total Phosphorus Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts related to Total Phosphorus and its removal in wastewater treatment, including definitions of biological processes and chemical reactions.

Aerobic

A condition in which free and dissolved oxygen (DO) is available in an aqueous environment.

Anaerobic

A condition in which free, dissolved, and combined oxygen is unavailable in an aqueous environment.

Anoxic

A condition in which oxygen is only available in a combined form, such as nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2), or sulfate (SO4) in an aqueous environment.

Fermentation

The process where bacteria degrades organic matter under anaerobic conditions.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide of glucose used as energy storage within cells.

Phosphate-Accumulating Organisms (PAOs)

Microorganisms that uptake and store orthophosphate in excess of their biological requirements.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA)

Energy-rich carbon polymers inside a bacterial cell, converted from readily available organic molecules.

Polyphosphate (Poly-P)

A string of phosphate groups joined together, capable of being accumulated by PAOs.

Selector

A treatment system component that selects for a specific type of microorganism by providing a favored environment.

Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA)

Smaller organic molecules formed during fermentation, utilized by PAOs for energy.

Extended Aeration

A wastewater treatment method that can lead to secondary phosphorus release through biomass decay.

Hydraulic Retention Time (HRT)

The time it takes wastewater to pass through a tank, essential for biological processes.

Nitrification

The biological process where ammonia is converted to nitrates by nitrifying bacteria.

Denitrification

A biological process where nitrate is converted to nitrogen gas by denitrifying bacteria.

Chemical Precipitation

The formation of a solid from a solution during a chemical reaction, commonly used in phosphorus removal.

Alkalinity

The ability of wastewater to neutralize acids, determined by its carbonate, bicarbonate, and hydroxide content.

Eutrophication

Excessive growth of plants and algae in receiving waters primarily due to high nutrient concentrations.

Soluble BOD

The biochemical oxygen demand measured after filtering a sample, indicative of readily biodegradable material.

Struvite

Magnesium ammonium phosphate that can form hard deposits in wastewater systems.

Secondary Release

Phosphorus released from cells not associated with substrate uptake, negatively impacting phosphorus removal.

Total Phosphorus

The sum of all forms of phosphorus in a water sample, measured using acid digestion methods.