Role of Phosphate-Accumulating Bacteria in Biological Phosphorus Removal from Wastewater.

The review examines the microbiological aspects of the biological phosphorus removal from wastewater. The history of the development of biotechnology and the discovery of the physiological group of phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), which biologically remove phosphorus via the phosphate uptake and storage in the form of intracellular polyphosphates, is briefly described. PAOs are characterized by a cyclic type of metabolism that occurs when the anaerobic/aerobic conditions cyclically change. Under anaerobic conditions, PAOs uptake and store organic compounds through the energy of degradation of intracellular polyphosphates. When anaerobic conditions change to aerobic or an alternative electron acceptor appears, PAOs uptake phosphates and synthesize intracellular polyphosphates using the intracellular polymeric sources of carbon and energy accumulated under anaerobic conditions. The main representatives of the PAOs, their metabolic models, and physiological characteristics are described. The basic principles of the implementation of biotechnology used in the practice of wastewater treatment for phosphorus and other nutrients are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]