Water Environment Research Article Explores Use Of An Auxiliary Carbon Source For Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal

Read about Issues and Solutions in January 2015 Issue

The open access article for this month’s issue of Water Environment Research (WER) explores the use of an auxiliary carbon source — specifically, spent glycerol resulting from biodiesel production — to stimulate enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) with interesting results.

According to WER Editor-in-Chief Tim Ellis, “the carbon cycling observed was consistent with expectations; however, the release of phosphorus into the bulk solution in the anaerobic zone was less than theory would predict. While the VFA-fed reactors exhibited a more stable EBPR response than the glycerol-fed reactors, the study shows the great potential for improved phosphorus removal using available waste carbon sources.”

Formerly available to subscribers only, selected WER articles such as this one are available free to the public on a monthly basis through an open-access program. Download the open access article, “EBPR Using Crude Glycerol: Assessing Process Resiliency and Exploring Metabolic Anomalies,” by Erik R. Coats, Zachary T. Dobroth, and Cynthia K. Brinkman.

Published by the Water Environment Federation (WEF) since 1928, WER is a popular professional journal that features peer-reviewed research papers and research notes, as well as state-of-the-art and critical reviews on original, fundamental, and applied research in all scientific and technical areas related to water quality, pollution control, and management. Originally known as the Sewage Works Journal, WER is available in both print and online formats and receives approximately 300 new research submissions each year.

About WEF
Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF members, Member Associations and staff proudly work to achieve our mission to provide bold leadership, champion innovation, connect water professionals, and leverage knowledge to support clean and safe water worldwide. For more information, visit www.wef.org.