Performance and microbial population variation in a plug‐flow A2O process treating domestic wastewater with low C/N ratio

BACKGROUND: In this study, a plug‐flow A²O (anaerobic/anoxic/oxic) reactor, with a working volume of 52.5 L, was employed to investigate the performance of biological nutrients removal and microbial population variations when treating low C/N ratio domestic wastewater. RESULTS: Results showed that TN removal was significantly affected by the shortage of carbon source while phosphorus removal was only slightly affected. The effluent soluble orthophosphate‐phosphorus (SOP) concentration was lower than 0.50 mg L^?1 but the TN concentration was over 20 mg L^?1 when the C/N ratio was 4.43. There was denitrifying phosphorus removal in the anoxic reactor and this was enhanced by increasing the volume ratio of anoxic reactor and maintaining appropriate mixed liquor recycle rate. More than 60% of the SOP were removed in anoxic reactors by denitrifying phosphorus removal when the volume ratio of anaerobic/anoxic/oxic was 1/1.4/1.6 and the mixed liquor recycle rate was 250%. The TN concentration of effluent decreased to 11.34 mg L^?1 and SOP concentration was still lower than 0.5 mg L^?1 in this condition. The main microorganisms found in the process by polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR‐DGGE) and the functional biodiversity are discussed. CONCLUSION: Traditional design and operating parameters of A²O are not appropriate for treating low C/N wastewater. Enhancing the denitrifying phosphorus removal ratio in an A²O process is an effective way to increase the removal rate of N and P from low C/N wastewater. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

混合液回流比对A/A/O工艺反硝化除磷的影响

以生活污水培养驯化污泥的小试规模A/A/O工艺为研究对象，进行了混合液回流比为100%、200%和300%时对反硝化除磷的影响研究，并利用厌氧/缺氧批式试验方法对污泥特性进行单独考察。结果表明，随着混合液回流比的增大，缺氧除磷在系统除磷所起的作用、反硝化聚磷菌缺氧利用单位聚羟基链烷酸（PHAs）的吸磷量和反硝化数量出现先升高后下降，厌氧合成单位PHAs的释磷量和好氧利用单位PHAs的吸磷量并没有受到影响，以200%时反硝化除磷和系统脱氮除磷效果为最好，过高或过低NO₃-N浓度均会影响反硝化聚磷菌的缺氧吸磷速率和PHAs降解速率，但并没有影响其本身所固有的特性。     

改进型分段进水厌氧/缺氧/好氧工艺强化营养物去除

In order to enhance phosphorus removal in traditional step-feed anoxic/oxic nitrogen removal process,a modified pilot-scale step-feed anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (SFA²/O) system was developed,which combined a reactor similar to UCT-type configuration and two-stage anoxic/oxic process.The simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal capacities and the potential of denitrifying phosphorus removal,in particular,were investigated with four different feeding patterns using real municipal wastewater.The results showed that the feeding ratios(Q₁)in the first stage determined the nutrient removal performance in the SFA²/O system.The average phosphorus removal efficiency increased from 19.17% to 96.25% as Q₁ was gradually increased from run 1 to run 4,but the nitrogen removal efficiency exhibited a different tendency,which attained a maximum 73.61% in run 3 and then decreased to 59.62% in run 4.As a compromise between nitrogen and phosphorus removal,run 3 (Q₁=0.45Q_total) was identified as the optimal and stable case with the maximum anoxic phosphorus uptake rate of 1.58mg·(g MLSS)^-1·h^-1.The results of batch tests showed that ratio of the anoxic phosphate uptake capacity to the aerobic phosphate uptake capacity increased from 11.96% to 36.85% with the optimal influent feeding ratio to the system in run 3,which demonstrated that the denitrifying polyP accumulating organisms could be accumulated and contributed more to the total phosphorus removal by optimizing the inflow ratio distribution.However,the nitrate recirculation to anoxic zone and influent feeding ratios should be carefully controlled for carbon source saving.     

Nutrient removal performance of an anaerobic–anoxic–aerobic process as a function of influent C/P ratio

The laboratory scale anaerobic–anoxic–aerobic (A²O) process fed with synthetic brewage wastewater was designed to investigate the effects of changing feed C/P ratio on the performance of biological nutrient removal (BNR) processes. In the experiment, the influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration was kept at approximately 300 mg L^?1 while the total phosphorus concentration was varied to obtain the desired C/P ratio. Results showed that when the C/P ratio was lower than 32, phosphorus removal efficiency increased as C/P ratio increased linearly, while when the C/P ratio was higher than 32, the P removal efficiency was maintained at 90–98%, and effluent P concentration was lower than 0.5 mg L^?1. However, regardless of the C/P ratio, excellent COD removal (90% or higher) and good total nitrogen removal (75–84%) were maintained throughout the experiments. It was also found that very good linear correlation was obtained between COD uptake per unit P released in the anaerobic zone and C/P ratio. In addition, the P content in the wasted activated sludge increased with the decrease in the C/P ratio. Based on the results, it was recommended that the wastewater C/P ratio and its effects be incorporated into BNR design and operational procedures, appropriate C/P ratios were used to achieve the effluent treatment goals. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Evaluation of the parameters affecting nitrogen and phosphorus removal in anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A/A/O) biological nutrient removal systems

Considerable research has been performed on biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems which remove the problematic nutrients, nitrogen and phosphorus, that cause eutrophication. This research focussed on setting up two laboratory‐scale anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A/A/O) systems and investigating their reliability while undergoing various parameter changes. Pump failure, in the first trial, R1, led to a decrease in pH, exposure of the sludge to relatively low nitrate concentrations and reduction of the suspended solids concentration within the system. This adversely affected the phosphorus removal efficiency. Shock loading the system with increased influent phosphate concentrations for 56 days was shown to aid remediation of the phosphorus removal efficiency to values between 65 and 70% (w/w). The second trial, R2, highlighted the presence of bacteria capable of P‐uptake under anoxic conditions (in the presence of nitrate). The characteristic anaerobic P‐release was also evident. The bacteria responsible for phosphate uptake under anoxic conditions are thought to be the denitrifying phosphate removing bacteria (DPB). However, the presence of higher nitrate concentrations retarded the P‐removal efficiency to some extent. Secondary release of P was evident in the clarifier of the A/A/O system during the R2 trial and especially during times of increased nitrate concentrations in the system. Between 20 and 40% (w/w) of the P taken up in the oxic stage of the system was released in the clarifier at various stages throughout the trial. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

A2O工艺缺氧生物磷去除

A lab-scale anaerobic-anoxic-oxic （A^2O） process used to treat a synthetic brewage wastewater was investigated. The objectives of the study were to identify the existence of denitrifying phosphorus removing bacteria （DPB）, evaluate the contribution of DPB to biological nutrient removal and enhance the denitrifying phosphorus removal in A^2O bioreactors. Sludge analysis confirmed that the average anoxic P uptake accounted for approximately 70% the total amount of P uptake, and the ratio of anoxic P uptake rate to aerobic P uptake rate was 69%. In addition, nitrate concentration in the anoxic phase and different organic substrate introduced into the anaerobic phase had significant effect on the anoxic P uptake. Compared with conventional A^2O processes, good removal efficiencies of COD, phosphorus, ammonia and total nitrogen （92.3%, 95.5%, 96% and 79.5%, respectively） could be achieved in the anoxic P uptake system, and aeration energy consumption was saved 25%. By controlling the nitrate recirculation flow in the anoxic zone, anoxic P uptake could be enhanced, which solved the competition for organic substrates among poly-P organisms and denitrifiers successfully under the COD limiting conditions. Therefore, in wastewater treatment plants the control system should be applied according to the practical situation to optimize the operation.     

A2O工艺缺氧生物磷去除

A lab-scale anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A2O) process used to treat a synthetic brewage wastewater was investigated. The objectives of the study were to identify the existence of denitrifying phosphorus removing bacteria (DPB), evaluate the contribution of DPB to biological nutrient removal and enhance the denitrifying phosphorus removal in A2O bioreactors. Sludge analysis confirmed that the average anoxic P uptake accounted for approximately 70% the total amount of P uptake, and the ratio of anoxic P uptake rate to aerobic P uptake rate was 69%. In addition, nitrate concentration in the anoxic phase and different organic substrate introduced into the anaerobic phase had significant effect on the anoxic P uptake. Compared with conventional A2O processes, good removal efficiencies of COD, phosphorus, ammonia and total nitrogen (92.3%, 95.5%, 96% and 79.5%, respectively) could be achieved in the anoxic P uptake system, and aeration energy consumption was saved 25%. By controlling the nitrate recirculation flow in the anoxic zone, anoxic P uptake could be enhanced, which solved the competition for organic substrates among poly-P organisms and denitrifiers successfully under the COD limiting conditions. Therefore, in wastewater treatment plants the control system should be applied according to the practical situation to optimize the operation.     

Enhanced biological nutrient removal in modified carbon source division anaerobic anoxic oxic process with return activated sludge pre-concentration☆

A pilot-scale modified carbon source division anaerobic anoxic oxic (AAO) process with pre-concentration of returned activated sludge (RAS) was proposed in this study for the enhanced biological nutrient removal (BNR) of municipal wastewater with limited carbon source. The influent carbon source was fed in step while a novel RAS pre-concentration tank was adopted to improve BNR efficiency, and the effects of an influent carbon source distribution ratio and a RAS pre-concentration ratio were investigated. The results show that the removal efficiency of TN is mainly influenced by the carbon source distribution ratio while the TP removal relies on the RAS pre-concentration ratio. The optimum carbon source distribution ratio and RAS pre-concentration ratio are 60%and 50%, respectively, with an inner recycling ratio of 100%under the optimum steady operation of pilot test, reaching an average effluent TN concentration of 9.8 mg·L?1 with a removal efficiency of 63%and an average TP removal efficiency of 94%. The mechanism of nutrient removal is discussed and the kinetics is analyzed. The results reveal that the optimal carbon source distribution ratio provides sufficient denitrifying carbon source to each anoxic phase, reducing nitrate accumulation while the RAS pre-concentration ratio improves the condition of anaerobic zone to ensure the phosphorus release due to less nitrate in the returned sludge. Therefore, nitrifying bacteria, denitrifying bacteria and phosphorus accumulation organisms play an important role under the optimum condition, enhancing the performance of nutrient removal in this test.     

多点进水改良型复合A2/O处理低C/N污水

以低C/N比城市生活污水为研究对象,重点考查了改良A²/O工艺的脱氮除磷性能。原水按一定比例分配给厌氧池和缺氧池,以合理分配厌氧释磷和缺氧反硝化所需的碳源;在好氧池和缺氧池中分别投加填料,以稳定系统的硝化和反硝化效果,提高系统的脱氮性能;厌氧池和缺氧池出水都直接进入好氧池。在进水COD/TN平均为5.54,HRT为11 h,SRT为15 d,MLSS为3000～4000 mg·L^-1,污泥回流比为50%条件下,通过三种不同进水分配比以及三种混合液回流比的对比试验研究,得到系统最佳进水分配比5:5,对分配脱氮和除磷所需碳源更加合理;而混合液回流比为200%,过高会破坏缺氧池的溶解氧环境,过低又会导致缺氧池反硝化作用不能充分发挥。在最优工况下COD、NH₃-N、TN和TP出水水质分别为29.7、0.1、11.8和0.42 mg·L^-1,平均去除率分别达到87.8%、99.7%、72.4%和91.3%,出水优于国家GB 18918-2002一级A排放标准,并且在缺氧池中发生了明显的反硝化除磷现象。     

厌氧段HRT对A2N工艺反硝化除磷脱氮效果的影响

为了考察厌氧段水力停留时间（HRT）对A2N工艺反硝化除磷脱氮效果的影响，采用连续流双污泥反硝化除磷脱氮装置以生活污水为处理对象，研究了厌氧段在不同HRT时系统的除磷脱氮效果，以及厌氧段不同HRT对系统处理过程的影响。结果表明，厌氧段是A2N工艺实现反硝化除磷脱氮的关键阶段。当厌氧段的HRT过长时，虽然溶解性PO4^3-的总释放量增加，但是后续的缺氧吸磷量和总氮的去除量并没有相应地增加。厌氧段的HRT时间过短，反硝化聚磷菌（DPB）在此对进水中易降解COD（CODRB）吸收不完全，导致后续缺氧吸磷量下降，同时影响了系统的除磷和脱氮效果。在处理实际生活污水水质时，厌氧段的HRT为2h即可满足除磷和脱氮要求。     

Parametric study of the factors influencing simultaneous denitrification and enhanced biological phosphorus removal

In this study, the effect of various factors such as C:N ratio, carbon source, percentage P content in the sludge influencing the simultaneous denitrification and enhanced biological phosphorus removal was investigated in batch tests on bean and tomato waste sludge from an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor–anoxic/aerobic system and municipal sludge from a circulating fluidized bed bioreactor. A correlation between the change in redox potential and rate of P release was developed. Interestingly, maximum P release was observed at positive redox potential in some of the batch tests. Simultaneous denitrification and P release under anoxic conditions was observed during all the batch tests. Sludge acclimatization improved the efficiency of the sludge and proved independency of maximum specific denitrification rate and P content of sludges. The contribution of denitrifying PAOs to anoxic P uptake was determined through the denitrification control test at an initial level of PO₄‐P of 100–120 mg dm^?3. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Pilot‐scale anaerobic/anoxic/oxic/oxic biofilm process treating coking wastewater

BACKGROUND: Biological treatment efficiency of coking wastewater is rather poor, especially for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia‐nitrogen (NH$_{4}^{+}$ ‐N) removal due to its complex composition and high toxicity. RESULTS: A pilot‐scale anaerobic/anoxic/oxic/oxic (A²/O²) biofilm system has been developed to treat coking wastewater, focusing attention on the COD and NH$_{4}^{+}$ ‐N removal efficiencies. Operational results over 239 days showed that hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the system had a great impact on simultaneous removals of COD and NH$_{4}^{+}$ ‐N. At HRT of 116 h, total removal efficiencies of COD and NH$_{4}^{+}$ ‐N were 92.3% and 97.8%, respectively, reaching the First Grade discharge standard for coking wastewater in China. Adequate HRT, anoxic removal of refractory organics and two‐step aerobic bioreactors were considered to be effective measures to obtain satisfactory coking effluent quality using the A²/O² biofilm system. The correlation between removal characteristics of pollutants and spatial distributions of biomass along the height of upflow bioreactors was also revealed. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that it is feasible to apply the A²/O² biofilm process for coking wastewater treatment, achieving desirable effluent quality and steady process performance. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

The beneficial role of intermediate clarification in a novel MBR based process for biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal

BACKGROUND: A novel membrane bioreactor (MBR) is described, employing an intermediate clarifier. Unlike the established function of a final clarifier in a conventional biological nutrient removal system, the role of an intermediate clarifier has rarely been studied. Thus, this work focused on explaining the fate of nutrients in the intermediate clarifier, as influenced by the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the preceding anaerobic bioreactor. RESULTS: The system was tested with two different anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic biomass fractions of 0.25/0.25/0.5 (run 1) and 0.15/0.35/0.45 (run 2) using synthetic wastewater. The major findings of the study were that phosphorus (P) removal was affected by the role of the intermediate clarifier. In run 1, P was removed at a rate 0.16 g d⁻¹ in the intermediate clarifier while in run 2, additional P was released at 0.49 g d⁻¹. The nitrogen (N) removal efficiencies were 74 and 75% for runs 1 and 2 respectively, while P removal was 91 and 96%. P uptake by denitrifying phosphate accumulating organisms (DPAOs) accounted for 41–52% of the total uptake in the MBR. CONCLUSIONS: This study found that the intermediate clarifier assisted chemical oxygen demand (COD), N, and P removal. With respect to the fate of P, the intermediate clarifier functioned as an extended anaerobic zone when the HRT of the preceding anaerobic zone was insufficient for P release, and as a pre‐anoxic zone when the anaerobic HRT was adequate for P release. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

AOA-SBR工艺用于城市污水同步脱氮除磷

以城市污水为研究对象，考察了不同COD／N／P对厌氧／好氧／兼氧（AOA）．SBR工艺脱氮除磷效果的影响。经过3个月稳定运行，当COD：N：P-800：24：11时，AOA．SBR工艺对污水中有机物、氨氮和磷的去除率分别为100％、84％和93％。实验通过提高有机物浓度削弱聚磷菌（PAOs）与聚糖菌（GAOs）竞争底物的能力，抑制了PAOs好氧放磷速率。当COD=800mg／L时，GAOs和PAOs厌氧乙酸摄取量之比为l：9。此外，实验采用兼氧／好氧吸磷速率比，对反硝化聚磷菌数量（DNPAOs）进行估算，结果表明AOA-SBR工艺比值明显高于A20和AO工艺。因此，通过调节进水有机物浓度，可使DNPAOs在AOA-SBR同步脱氮除磷过程中发挥重要作用。     

耦合内置缺氧区的氧化沟系统强化脱氮除磷的研究(英文)

A novel modified pilot scale anaerobic oxidation ditch with additional internal anoxic zones was operated experimentally, aiming to study the improvement of biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal and the effect of enhanced denitrifying phosphorus removal in the process. Under all experimental conditions, the anaerobic-oxidation ditch with additional internal anoxic zones and an internal recycle ratio of 200% had the highest nutrient removal efficiency. The effluent NH4+-N, total nitrogen (TN), PO43-P and total phosphorus (TP) contents were 1.2mg·L-1 , 13mg·L-1, 0.3mg·L-1 and 0.4mg·L-1, respectively, all met the discharge standards in China. The TN and TP removal efficiencies were remarkably improved from 37% and 50% to 65% and 88% with the presence of additional internal anoxic zones and internal recycle ratio of 200%. The results indicated that additional internal anoxic zones can optimize the utilization of available carbon source from the anaerobic outflow for denitrification. It was also found that phosphorus removal via the denitrification process was stimulated in the additional internal anoxic zones, which was beneficial for biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal when treating wastewater with a limited carbon source. However, an excess internal recycle would cause nitrite to accumulate in the system. This seems to be harmful to biological phosphorus removal.     

碳氮比对AAO-BAF工艺运行性能的影响

AAO-BAF工艺由厌氧-缺氧-好氧反应器和曝气生物滤池组成,属于外硝化反硝化除磷工艺。以实际生活污水为处理对象,通过调节进水COD浓度(从211 mg·L^-1增加到675 mg·L^-1),研究了进水COD和TN的比(C/N)对AAO-BAF工艺运行性能的影响。结果表明,进水有机物浓度低或高,可以通过限制厌氧释磷量或竞争AAO反应器缺氧区的NO₃^-,从而影响工艺的反硝化除磷效果。当进水C/N大于4,小于7时,AAO-BAF工艺对COD、TN和PO₄^3-的去除率分别可达86%、78%和90%以上。很高的C/N(如9.5)会使缺氧区内存在大量挥发性脂肪酸(VFA),导致普通反硝化菌迅速消耗反硝化聚磷菌(DPAOs)的电子受体NO₃^-。     

Performance assessment of a UASB–anoxic–oxic system for the treatment of tomato‐processing wastes

An upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB)–anoxic–oxic system was used to achieve biochemical oxygen demand, NH₄ and total suspended solids (TSS) criteria of 15, 1 and 15 mg dm^?3 at 1.17 days of system hydraulic retention time during treatment of tomato‐processing waste. The incorporation of an anoxic tank was found to affect the improvement in sludge‐settling characteristics, as reflected by about 25–33% reduction in the sludge volume index, along with final effluent TSS and soluble biochemical oxygen demand concentrations of 13 and 9 mg dm^?3, respectively, which met the discharge criteria. Despite incomplete denitrification, sludge settleability was very good (sludge volume index < 60 cm³ g^?1) owing to reduction in volatile suspended solids/TSS ratio from 0.75 to 0.6 as a result of higher alkalinity in the UASB effluent. Also in this study, phosphorus release was observed in the anoxic tank, predominantly due to abundance of acetic acid in the UASB effluent. A phosphate release of 5.4 mg P dm^?3 was observed in the anoxic tank with subsequent P uptake in the following aerobic stage. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of influent C/N ratio,C/P ratio and volumetric exchange ratio on biological phosphorus removal in UniFed SBR process

BACKGROUND: UniFed SBR is a novel process that can achieve high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus removal simultaneously in a simple single SBR tank. In this study, effects of influent C/N ratio, influent C/P ratio and volumetric exchange ratio on biological phosphorus removal in UniFed SBR process were investigated in a lab‐scale UniFed apparatus treating real domestic wastewater. RESULTS: The results showed that phosphorus removal efficiency increased as C/N ratio increased from 27% at 2.8 to 88% at 5.7. For C/N ratios 6.5 and above, complete phosphorus removal could be achieved. When C/N ratios and volumetric exchange ratio were fixed at 6 and 33%, respectively, phosphorus removal efficiency remained at 100% for C/P ratios higher than 33; effluent phosphate concentration was below the detection limit. For C/P ratios lower than 33, phosphorus removal efficiency decreased linearly with C/P ratio. Under the same influent C/N ratio and C/P ratio, the following factors all contributed to better phosphorus removal performance: greater volumetric exchange ratio; more organic substrate for PAOs to utilize, less inhibition by NO_x^? of phosphorus release during the feed/decant period; more PHB synthesized; and more aerobic phosphate uptake. CONCLUSION: High influent C/N ratio, high C/P ratio and high volumetric exchange ratio were beneficial to phosphorus removal in this process. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Full‐scale in situ bioremediation of hexachlorocyclohexane‐contaminated soil

Daramend bioremediation technology was used to treat 1100 tonnes of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)‐contaminated soil at a former lindane manufacturing plant. Half of the site (area A) was treated using a cycled anoxic/oxic treatment, and the other half (area B) was treated under oxic conditions. Each area was divided east to west into five zones. A control area (area C) consisted of strips of soil along the north and east edges of the site. Total HCH concentrations along a west to east gradient ranged from 22 430 to 1069 mg kg^?1 in area A and from 21 100 to 730 mg kg^?1 in area B. Concentrations in area C ranged from 52 to 1427 mg kg^?1. The soil was treated for 371 days, during which time seven anoxic/oxic cycles were completed in area A and regular tillage was performed on area B. Soil samples (one per zone) were collected after 154 and 371 days of treatment. After 371 days, total HCH concentrations were reduced in the most highly contaminated zones of areas A and B by 60% (from 22 430 to 8910 mg kg^?1) and 75% (from 21 100 to 5120 mg kg^?1), respectively. The average HCH reductions for all five zones of areas A and B were 40 and 47%, respectively, with the data indicating decreased concentrations of selected isomers in certain zones of both areas. Less substantial changes in HCH concentrations were observed in control area C. Elevated chloride ion concentrations were observed in zones that had demonstrated HCH removal. This full scale project demonstrated the potential for solid phase bioremediation treatment of soil containing high HCH concentrations. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Understanding the detrimental effect of nitrate presence on EBPR systems: effect of the plant configuration

The interaction between enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EPBR) and biological nitrogen removal may result in EBPR failure in full‐scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This work studies one of the common causes of this failure: the presence of nitrate in the anaerobic phase, which may act as an inhibitor for polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAO) activity or may activate the competition between PAO and denitrifying bacteria for the carbon source. Several batch experiments were performed with different carbon sources (acetic acid, propionic acid and sucrose) at different nitrate concentrations using PAO‐enriched sludge from two different pilot plants: an anaerobic/aerobic sequential batch reactor (SBR) and an anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic (A²/O) continuous plant. The results imply that the operational conditions of the A²/O pilot plant selected a PAO population capable of i) coexisting with nitrate without an inhibitory effect and ii) outcompeting denitrifying bacteria for the carbon source, in contrast to the SBR pilot plant where nitrate had an inhibitory effect on EBPR. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry