Cultivation of Aerobic Granular Sludge under Selective Pressure in a Sequencing Batch Reactor

Aerobic granules were cultivated in the sequencing batch reactor at 15-25 degrees C, pH 7.0 +/- 0.1. Settling time decreased from 5 minutes to 1 minute gradually. As increasing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH3-N in influent, COD removal efficiency and mixed liquid suspended solids of the reactor increased. Sludge volume index decreased continuously for a few days and then stabilized at 22 ml g(-1). Selective pressure induced by settling velocity was proved to play a crucial role in activated sludge granulation. Based on the continuously measured data, the granulation process was divided into three phases, granules namely initiating, developing and maturating.