Wisconsin DNR Wastewater Operator Certification: Total Phosphorus Re-
moval
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_jr1l58
1. What is aerobic condition? a condition in which free and dissolved oxygen (DO) is
available in an aqueous environment.
2. What is anaerobic condition? a condition in which free, dissolved, and combined oxygen
is unavailable in an aqueous environment.
3. What is anoxic condition? a condition in which oxygen is only available in a combined
form such as nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2) or sulfate (SO4) in
an aqueous environment.
4. What is fermentation? the process where bacteria degrades organic matter under
anaerobic conditions.
5. What is glycogen? a polysaccharide of glucose which is an energy storage
inside a cell.
6. What are phosphate-accumu- microorganisms (bacteria) that uptake and store or-
lating organisms (PAO)? thophosphate in excess of their biological requirements.
7. What are polyhydroxyalka- energy-rich carbon polymers inside a bacterial cell, convert-
noates (PHA)? ed from readily available organic molecules.
8. What is polyphosphate (poly-P)? a string of phosphate (PO4) groups joined together, capa-
ble of being accumulated by PAOs.
9. What is a selector in wastewater part of the treatment system that selects for a specific type
treatment? of microorganism by providing a favorable environment.
10. What is soluble biochemical a sample filtered through a 0.45 μm filter, including VFAs
oxygen demand (BOD)? and organic material that will ferment.
11. What is substrate in the context the food or chemical on which an organism depends for
of wastewater treatment? growth, such as organic matter in wastewater.
, Wisconsin DNR Wastewater Operator Certification: Total Phosphorus Re-
moval
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_jr1l58
12. What are volatile fatty acids smaller organic molecules formed during fermentation,
(VFA)? typically including acetic acid and propionic acid.
13. What are VFAs in wastewater? Volatile fatty acids, such as acetic acid and propionic acid,
formed during fermentation.
14. What is the role of VFAs in EBPR? provide food for phosphorus-accumulating organisms
(PAOs).
15. What are major industrial Dairies, food processors, metal finishers, hospitals, schools,
sources of phosphorus? car washes.
16. What is the importance of BOD A BOD/phosphorus ratio of at least 20:1 or a COD/phos-
or COD in EBPR? phorus ratio of at least 45:1 is needed for effective phos-
phorus removal.
17. What is the significance of VFA Soluble and readily available VFAs are essential for PAOs to
content in EBPR? form and store polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).
18. What is the basic theory of relies on a microbial population that uptakes orthophos-
EBPR? phate in amounts greater than their growth requirements.
19. How does the anaerobic selec- It allows PAOs to uptake VFAs while releasing orthophos-
tor function in EBPR? phate into the mixed liquor.
20. What reactions occur in the PAOs use poly-P and glycogen to uptake VFAs, converting
anaerobic zone of EBPR? them to PHA and releasing orthophosphate.
21.
, Wisconsin DNR Wastewater Operator Certification: Total Phosphorus Re-
moval
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_jr1l58
What happens in the aerobic PAOs use PHA for metabolism and growth while restoring
zone of EBPR? glycogen and polyphosphate supplies.
22. What is the phosphorus and In the anaerobic zone, BOD decreases as VFAs are taken up
BOD profile through a treat- and orthophosphate increases.
ment plant?
23. How do anaerobic conditions fa- PAOs can uptake readily available VFAs, giving them a com-
vor PAOs? petitive advantage over other bacteria.
24. What is denitrification? A biological process where bacteria convert nitrate (NO3-)
to nitrogen gas (N2) under anoxic conditions.
25. What is nitrification? A biological process where nitrifying bacteria convert am-
monia (NH3) into nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) under
aerobic conditions.
26. What is struvite? A hard, insoluble crystal formed from magnesium ammoni-
um phosphate (MgNH4PO4(H2O)6).
27. Why are anoxic zones used in To denitrify recycle streams and prevent nitrates from inter-
EBPR? fering with the anaerobic selector.
28. What is the importance of hy- More VFA= Shorter HRT, Less VFA= Longer HRT
draulic residence time (HRT) in
EBPR?
29. The ability to utilize VFAs and store PHA.
moval
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_jr1l58
1. What is aerobic condition? a condition in which free and dissolved oxygen (DO) is
available in an aqueous environment.
2. What is anaerobic condition? a condition in which free, dissolved, and combined oxygen
is unavailable in an aqueous environment.
3. What is anoxic condition? a condition in which oxygen is only available in a combined
form such as nitrate (NO3), nitrite (NO2) or sulfate (SO4) in
an aqueous environment.
4. What is fermentation? the process where bacteria degrades organic matter under
anaerobic conditions.
5. What is glycogen? a polysaccharide of glucose which is an energy storage
inside a cell.
6. What are phosphate-accumu- microorganisms (bacteria) that uptake and store or-
lating organisms (PAO)? thophosphate in excess of their biological requirements.
7. What are polyhydroxyalka- energy-rich carbon polymers inside a bacterial cell, convert-
noates (PHA)? ed from readily available organic molecules.
8. What is polyphosphate (poly-P)? a string of phosphate (PO4) groups joined together, capa-
ble of being accumulated by PAOs.
9. What is a selector in wastewater part of the treatment system that selects for a specific type
treatment? of microorganism by providing a favorable environment.
10. What is soluble biochemical a sample filtered through a 0.45 μm filter, including VFAs
oxygen demand (BOD)? and organic material that will ferment.
11. What is substrate in the context the food or chemical on which an organism depends for
of wastewater treatment? growth, such as organic matter in wastewater.
, Wisconsin DNR Wastewater Operator Certification: Total Phosphorus Re-
moval
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_jr1l58
12. What are volatile fatty acids smaller organic molecules formed during fermentation,
(VFA)? typically including acetic acid and propionic acid.
13. What are VFAs in wastewater? Volatile fatty acids, such as acetic acid and propionic acid,
formed during fermentation.
14. What is the role of VFAs in EBPR? provide food for phosphorus-accumulating organisms
(PAOs).
15. What are major industrial Dairies, food processors, metal finishers, hospitals, schools,
sources of phosphorus? car washes.
16. What is the importance of BOD A BOD/phosphorus ratio of at least 20:1 or a COD/phos-
or COD in EBPR? phorus ratio of at least 45:1 is needed for effective phos-
phorus removal.
17. What is the significance of VFA Soluble and readily available VFAs are essential for PAOs to
content in EBPR? form and store polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA).
18. What is the basic theory of relies on a microbial population that uptakes orthophos-
EBPR? phate in amounts greater than their growth requirements.
19. How does the anaerobic selec- It allows PAOs to uptake VFAs while releasing orthophos-
tor function in EBPR? phate into the mixed liquor.
20. What reactions occur in the PAOs use poly-P and glycogen to uptake VFAs, converting
anaerobic zone of EBPR? them to PHA and releasing orthophosphate.
21.
, Wisconsin DNR Wastewater Operator Certification: Total Phosphorus Re-
moval
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_jr1l58
What happens in the aerobic PAOs use PHA for metabolism and growth while restoring
zone of EBPR? glycogen and polyphosphate supplies.
22. What is the phosphorus and In the anaerobic zone, BOD decreases as VFAs are taken up
BOD profile through a treat- and orthophosphate increases.
ment plant?
23. How do anaerobic conditions fa- PAOs can uptake readily available VFAs, giving them a com-
vor PAOs? petitive advantage over other bacteria.
24. What is denitrification? A biological process where bacteria convert nitrate (NO3-)
to nitrogen gas (N2) under anoxic conditions.
25. What is nitrification? A biological process where nitrifying bacteria convert am-
monia (NH3) into nitrite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) under
aerobic conditions.
26. What is struvite? A hard, insoluble crystal formed from magnesium ammoni-
um phosphate (MgNH4PO4(H2O)6).
27. Why are anoxic zones used in To denitrify recycle streams and prevent nitrates from inter-
EBPR? fering with the anaerobic selector.
28. What is the importance of hy- More VFA= Shorter HRT, Less VFA= Longer HRT
draulic residence time (HRT) in
EBPR?
29. The ability to utilize VFAs and store PHA.
