Elucidation of microbial characterization of aerobic granules in a sequencing batch reactor performing simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal at varying carbon to phosphorus ratios.

An aerobic granules simultaneous nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal (SNDPR) system was evaluated in terms of the reactor performance and microbial population dynamics with decreasing C/P ratios from 50 to 16. The effects of C/P ratios on organic carbon and nutrients removal were investigated, as well as the alpha diversity of the bacterial community and bacterial compositions by using Illumina MiSeq pyrosequencing technology. Finally, the relative abundances and distribution patterns were identified and assessed given the key functional groups involved in biological nutrients removals to reveal the effects of C/P ratios to aerobic granules in the SNDPR from the molecular level.