Abstract
Various analytical methods such as electron microscopy, quinone analysis, and 16S rDNA sequencing studies were used to investigate the microbial communities and to identify the microorganisms responsible for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in an anaerobic/aerobic sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with acetate. Electron photomicrographs showed that oval-shaped microorganisms of about $0.7\;{\sim}\;1\;{\mu}m$ in diameter dominated the microbial sludge. These microorganisms contained polyphosphate granules and glycogen inclusions, which suggests that they are a kind of phosphorus accumulating organism. Quinone and 16S rRNA sequence analyses showed that the members of Proteobacteria beta subclass were the most abundant species, which were affiliated with the Rhodocyclus-likes group. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two dominating clones of the beta subclass were most distantly related to Propionivibrio dicarboxylicus DSM 5885 and Rhodocyclus tenuis DSM 109 with about 95% and 96% sequence similarity, respectively. Therefore, it was concluded that the oval-shaped organisms related to the Rhodocyclus-likes group are likely to be responsible for biological phosphorus removal in SBR operation supplied with acetate.
