Microfauna community during pulp and paper wastewater treatment in a UNOX system

This study characterized the microfauna community during treatment of pulp and paper wastewater in a UNOX system aerated with pure oxygen, and with a high organic loading rate (0.4±0.06kg BOD/kg MLSSday), low sludge retention time (3.73±0.33 day), and high oxygen concentration (≤20mg O2/L) in comparison to municipal treatment systems. In the aeration tank, temperatures were high, averaging 35.7°C (March-May), then 38.9°C (June-August). Effluent quality was acceptable: 180±22mg COD/L, 7.2±2.1mg BOD5/L, and 33±5mg TSS/L. At 35.7°C, 5 taxa were identified in the activated sludge: small flagellates (flagellates