RESUMO
Three parallel reactors (i.e. R1-R3) were operated with 340â mg-CODâ L-1, 42â mg-TNâ L-1, and 7â mg-TPâ L-1 at 20 ± 1°C. A mature granular sludge developed in 40â d and was stable for the 120â d experimentation period at an average food to microorganism ratio of 0.25 ± 0.08â g-CODâ g-VSS-1â d-1. Reactor biomass had higher inorganic content (i.e. 0.78-0.80â g-VSSâ g-TSS-1) than effluent biomass (i.e. 0.88-0.92â g-VSSâ g-TSS-1). Average granule diameter was 0.7-1.0â mm. Maximum phosphorus uptake and release rates averaged 4 ± 3 and 4 ± 2â mg-Pâ g-VSS-1â h-1, respectively. Maximum observed nitrification rates averaged 1.9 ± 0.6â mg-Nâ g-VSS-1â h-1. Phosphorus kinetics were similar between R1-R3 (i.e. P = 0.5309-0.6870) while nitrification kinetics varied significantly (i.e. P = 0.0002) even though conditions were the same. Effluent phosphate was on average 0.2 ± 0.4â mg-Pâ L-1 while total inorganic nitrogen removal averaged 60 ± 10% resulting in an average effluent of 17â mg-Nâ L-1. Aerobic granular sludge was capable of reliable nutrient removal from low-strength wastewater without volatile fatty acid source and at high dissolved oxygen concentrations.