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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1971 October; 22(4): 571-577
Copyright © 1971 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Metabolic Factors Affecting Enhanced Phosphorus Uptake by Activated Sludge

Department of Microbiology and Medical Technology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721

ABSTRACT

Activated sludges obtained from the Rilling Road plant located at San Antonio, Tex., and from the Hyperion treatment plant located at Los Angeles, Calif., have the ability to remove all of the orthophosphate normally present in Tucson sewage within 3 hr after being added to the waste water. Phosphorus removal was independent of externally supplied sources of energy and ions, since orthophosphate and ³²P radioactivity were readily removed from tap water, glass-distilled water, and deionized water. Phosphorus uptake by Rilling sludge in the laboratory appears to be wholly biological, as it has an optimum pH range (7.7 to 9.7) and an optimum temperature range (24 to 37 C). It was inhibited by HgCl₂, iodoacetic acid, p-chloromercuribenzoic acid, NaN₃, and 2, 4-dinitrophenol (compounds that affect bacterial membrane permeability, sulfhydryl enzymes, and adenosine triphosphate synthesis). Uptake was inhibited by 1% NaCl but was not affected by 10^–3M ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (a chelating agent for many metallic ions).