Simultaneous phosphorus and nitrogen removal with different C/N ratios in a low oxygen aeration system: Microorganisms and mechanisms

In this study, a combined system with simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal was operated in continuous low oxygen aeration mode, and the effect of lower oxygen aeration (dissolved oxygen [DO] 0.5–1.5 mg/L) on its performance was examined. The combined system consisted of sludge and high‐efficiency biological packing and was operated using four carbon/nitrogen ratios (C/N) with being 10:1, 8:1, 6:1, 10:1. Experimental results showed that the combined system could perform an efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal under low DO and C/N ratio of 8:1 condition, and removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4+‐N, and PO43−‐P were 80.01%, 99.03%, and 89.51%, respectively. High‐throughput analysis indicated that the functional species of denitrifying bacteria, including Ferruginibacter Azospira, Comamonas, Bacilli, Hyphomicrobium, Thauera, and Comamonadaceae, were important participants in biological nutrient removal. Meanwhile, Acinetobacter was enriched in the combined system, which contributed to phosphorus removal. Practitioner Points A combined system was operated firstly under continuous low oxygen condition. The lower dissolved oxygen (DO) of the combined system was maintained at 0.50–1.5 mg/L level. The combined system could realize simultaneous phosphorus and nitrogen removal under C/N ratio of 8:1. Several functional bacteria were enriched in the coupled systems. A combined system with sludge and packing was operated firstly under continuous low oxygen aeration conditions to realize simultaneous phosphorus and nitrogen removal. Three C/N ratios were set to verify the advantages of the combined system. The combined system could realize efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal under the lower dissolved oxygen. Different from the traditional functional microbial flora structure, the denitrifying bacteria including Ferruginibacter, Azospira, Comamonas, Bacilli, and others were acclimated to biological nitrogen removal.