Robustness of an aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactor for low strength and salinity wastewater treatment at ambient to winter temperatures

[Display omitted] •Aerobic granular sludge was subjected to salt and low temperature.•Distinct effects on biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal were found.•Resilience and robustness of aerobic granules were demonstrated.•Susceptibility of functional bacteria were revealed. Acclimation performances and characteristics of aerobic granular sludge to salt and temperature were investigated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) performing simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal (SNDPR). The aerobic granular SNDPR system was firstly subjected to low salinity (0.5%, w/v) at moderate temperature (> 15 ℃) and subsequent low temperature (< 15 ℃). The shock loading of salinity temporarily deteriorated biological phosphorus removal, while dual stresses of salinity and low temperature induced temporary inhibition on both nitrogen and phosphorus removal. Both salinity and low temperature stimulated the settleability of aerobic granules, accompanied with decreased ratios of protein to polysaccharide (PN/PS). Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed that salinity rarely affected bacterial richness, but significantly decreased the diversity. Whereas low temperature strengthened both bacterial richness and diversity. Phyla Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi and their sub-groups acted as the main halophilic bacteria while Proteobacteria was also psychrophilic. The functional bacteria such as nitrifiers, denitrifiers, and phosphorus removal bacteria exhibited greater tolerance to salt and low temperature than glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs). Overall, the present study demonstrated the resilience and robustness of aerobic granular sludge toward salinity and low temperature, which could aid the knowledge of saline wastewater treatment by aerobic granular sludge.