| Phosphorus removal from municipal wastewaters is desirable to prevent eutrophication of receiving waters. Biological phosphorus removal is accomplished by the microbial genera Acinetobacter. Under anaerobic conditions, Acinetobacter takes up short-chain volatile fatty acids for storage as poly-;As the energy source for orthophosphate uptake, a measure of volatile fatty acid concentration may be necessary to ensure successful biological phosphorus removal. These acids can best be measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), an expensive piece of equipment not commonly found at municipal wastewater treatment facilities.;This research examines the relationship between volatile fatty acid concentration and truly soluble chemical oxygen demand (TSCOD). This relationship was investigated by operating a 1.3 MG primary clarifier in the activated mode to effect the production of volatile fatty acids through anaerobic fermentation. This research shows that these two parameters are highly correlated and supports the use of TSCOD as a surrogate measure of volatile fatty acid concentration. |
