Influence of salt addition to stimulating biopolymers production in aerobic granular sludge systems

The influence of salt addition to stimulating biopolymers production in aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems was evaluated. The control systems (R1: acetate and R2: propionate) initially obtained less accumulation of mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS), indicating that the osmotic pressure in the salt-supplemented systems (R3: acetate and R4: propionate) contributed to biomass growth. However, the salt-supplemented systems collapsed between days 110 and 130 of operation. R3 and R4 showed better performance regarding nutrients removal due to the greater abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria and phosphate-accumulating organisms. Salt also contributed to the higher production of biopolymers such as alginate-like exopolymers (ALE) per gram of volatile suspended solids (VSS) (R1: 397 mgALE∙gVSS−1, R2: 140 mgALE∙gVSS−1, R3: 483 mgALE∙gVSS−1, R4: 311 mgALE∙gVSS−1). Amino acids like tyrosine and tryptophan were better identified in extracellular polymeric substances extract from salt-operated reactors. This study brings important results in the context of resource recovery by treating saline effluents. [Display omitted] •Salt addition did not negatively influence the granulation with non-adapted sludge.•Salt concentration up to 7.5 g L−1 favored biomass growth.•Salt-added systems can achieve optimal carbon and nutrient removals.•Salt supplementation favored greater production of biopolymers.•Salt supplementation enriched important microbial groups for granulation.