Increased extracellular polymeric substances production contributes for the robustness of aerobic granular sludge during long-term intermittent exposure to 2-fluorophenol in saline wastewater

Industrial effluents often contain organic pollutants and variable salinity levels, making their treatment challenging. The high content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is thought to protect microbial communities from stressful conditions. Ammonium phosphate removal, EPS production, morphology were assessed a lab-scale AGS reactor operated during 138 days at continuous low or moderate levels (1.41–6.46 g/L NaCl) intermittent short-term loadings fluoroorganic pollutant, 2-fluorophenol (2-FP, 20 mg/L). 2-FP was not degraded throughout operation. removal efficiency drastically affected whenever stressor present, decreasing 99 % non-detectable conversion but completely recovering after feeding ceased. Phosphate initially disturbed by exposure stress conditions, recovered with time, even when stressors still present. Complete did occur periods nitrite temporarily accumulated nitrification started recover. composition concentration varied operation, 133 34 mg/g VSS AGS, phases thereafter 176 mg/gVSS AGS. Breakage granules into smaller ones occurred two different operational moments due presence. presence wastewater had more immediate detrimental effects on nutrients than production. system capacity recover nutrient performance withdrawal inlet stream reinforced its robustness deal industrial wastewaters.