Efficient aerobic granular sludge production in simultaneous feeding and drawing sequencing batch reactors fed with low-strength municipal wastewater under high organic loading rate conditions

To establish rapid and efficient aerobic granular sludge (AGS) production for augmentation strategy to mainstream activated sludge process, AGS production was evaluated under high organic loading rate (OLR) conditions in a side-stream simultaneous feeding and drawing sequencing batch reactor (SFD-SBR) fed with low-strength municipal wastewater. Specifically, three SFD-SBRs were operated under different OLRs (≥ 1.3 kg-tCOD m−3 d−1) with a 100% volume exchange ratio (VER). Rapid granulation (SVI30