Enhancing Effects of Sludge Biochar on Aerobic Granular Sludge for Wastewater Treatment

Sludge biochar can be used as bio-carrier to enhance aerobic granular sludge, however, its impact on the formation and especially long-term stability of granules has not been fully investigated. In this paper, sludge was cultivated in two parallel sequencing batch reactors (SBRs), R1 R2, with without addition activated inoculum, respectively. The characteristics, wastewater treatment performance, microbial community structure were examined a 240-day operation, during which experienced dynamic changes including granule formation, maturation, breakage, filamentous proliferation, recovery. Aerobic formed weeks earlier than that presenting larger mean size, higher settling ability biomass retention maturation period. Concurrently, showed denitrification over 80% removal efficiency throughout whole operation During period, ratio food (F/M) below 0.5 gCOD/gVSS d while it ranged between 1.0 R2 due lower retention. elemental analysis more Ca P accumulation from R1, 3% 2.75% 0.91% 0.75% had richness, diversity, excretion extracellular polymer substances (EPSs) abundance denitrifying genera supporting performance. These results demonstrated by using carrier for granulation speed up improve granules. findings disclosed enhancing effects suggesting potential practical application sludge-based reactors.