Phosphate Removal with Biocultures
The menace of Phosphate- How to deal with it using Biocultures?

Phosphates are one of the prominent water pollutants, as designated by the NGT in 2019. A Suo-motu cognizance was also taken by the NGT on detergents and especially phosphate accumulation in rivers and water bodies, causing toxic foam, algal deposition, and eutrophication. Phosphates also exert odour and color. Strict limits have been issued to control phosphate accumulation. However, at the wastewater treatment levels, phosphate removal is a bit tough job as it requires multiple stages, effective bioculture solutions, and technical expertise to do so. 

Although chemical and physical separation are essential, it is the bioculture that act as  game changers in phosphate reduction.👉 Want to know how to integrate biocultures in your treatment process? Contact Us to learn more.

Let’s explore the effectiveness and correct mechanism of phosphate removal using biocultures:

1.What are Phosphates?

Phosphates (PO₄³⁻)  are chemical compounds that contain phosphorus.  In industry, mostly chemical intermediates and food processing units have a high amount of phosphates.

2.Why is it a problem for ETP/STP?

  • Poor effluent quality: NGT and most pollution control boards are very stringent in the phosphate levels in the final outlet. If the criteria are not met, it may lead to a bad ESG report and even shutdowns.
  • Eutrophication: Phosphates promote excessive algal deposition and plant growth, leading to depletion of oxygen in receiving water bodies.
  • Effect on biological treatment: High phosphate content may disturb the biological/microbial population. It leads to even growth of filamentous bacteria, leading to sludge bulking, poor biomass settling, and compromising the efficiency of BOD/COD removal.
  • Increased Chemical Dosing costs: High phosphate = higher chemical use → higher sludge production → more dewatering and disposal costs.
  • Risk of Struvite Scaling:  in systems with high phosphate and ammonia, struvite (MgNH₄PO₄) may precipitate, causing scaling in pipes, pumps, and digestors, increasing OPEX and CAPEX.
3. Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR)

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes are designed to culture communities of microorganisms in MLSS that have the Phosphorus Treatment and Removal Technologies. It involves use of specific microbial strains and put in ETP as biocultures. The strains absorb phosphate and are PAOs (polyphosphate-accumulating organisms). These are likely to comprise a variety of bacterial subpopulations, including Acinetobacter, Rhodocyclus, and some morphologically identified coccus-shaped bacteria.

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal
An ideal EBPR process starts with:

  • Anaerobic Zone: The PAOs are first subjected to an Anaerobic environment where Biodegradable COD is fermented into VFA (Volatile Fatty Acids), particularly acetate and propionate, which serve as food for PAOs. PAOs thus metabolize polyphosphate reserve and release phosphorus.
  • Aerobic Zone: In the Aerobic zone, the PAOs take up the released phosphates by multiplying and oxidizing carbon reserves built in the anaerobic phase. Here, WAS (Waste Activated Sludge ) and RAS (Return Activated Sludge) play a very important role.
Critical factors for the success of EBPR:

  • Influent Characteristics:  a minimum influent BOD:P ratio of 25:1 is necessary in order to provide adequate conditions for PAOs to thrive. Note that this ratio is applicable to the influent of the anaerobic phase of the EBPR process.
  • Integrity of the Anaerobic zone: Establishing and maintaining strict anaerobic conditions in the anaerobic zone is critical for PAOs to be able to consume VFAs and store carbon compounds. The presence of oxygen or nitrates will disrupt the process by placing PAOs at a competitive disadvantage with other bacterial populations.
  • Variability: Variability in flows can result in variable anaerobic and aerobic contact times, which can disrupt the process. Flow and load variability can also impact the influent BOD:P ratio. 
  • Dissolved Oxygen: Excessive dissolved oxygen should not travel back to the anaerobic zone hence, DO should be maintained between 0.5 to 1.0 mg/l at the end of the aeration zone.
Conclusion: 

Phosphate removal is different from conventional ETP operations. It requires the right microbes, technical know-how, and physical and chemical treatments. And when physical and chemical treatments are combined with biocultures, can enhance phosphate removal by up to 90%, and also improve microbial population management in wastewater.Ready to revolutionize your wastewater treatment system with biocultures? Contact Us today for customized solutions.

Inference: Phosphorus Treatment and Removal Technologies

To know more Call us @ 7769862121 or Mail : sales@teamonebiotech.com

Seasonal Microbial Shifts Wastewater Treatment
Beating the Seasonal Drift — How a Textile Unit Stabilized ETP Performance with T1B Aerobio Bioculture
 
Background

A mid-sized textile dyeing and processing unit in Gujarat struggled with recurrent seasonal drift in ETP and it’s biological performance. Contact us today to learn how T1B Aerobio can revolutionize your ETP’s performance and help you overcome seasonal challenges effectively.

Despite having a decent system design, they were plagued by:

  • Winter ammonia spikes
  • Monsoon washouts
  • Summer bulking
  • Transitional season shock-loads

These issues led to frequent compliance failures and operational stress.

T1B Aerobio-One Stop solution to seasonal drift:

T1B Aerobio – a blend of robust microbes especially bacteria , is the ultimate Thor’s hammer for seasonal cahllenges in any ETP. With a bank of 76+ different strains , T1B Aerobio was customized according to the challenges face by ETP in every season. It also consist various elements and enzymes which make it more efficient and a single solution for various challenges which no ordinary bioculture/microbial culture can deliver.

T1B Aerobio
ETP details:

The industry had primary treatment, biological treatment, and then a tertiary treatment.

Flow150 KLD
Type of processASP
No. of aeration tanks3 
Capacity of aeration tanks650 KL each
Total RT hours
Season-Wise Breakdown of Challenges & Solutions

🌨️ Winter Challenges (Dec–Feb)

Problems:

  • Nitrifier slowdown → High ammonia (>20 mg/L)
  • Low microbial activity → Increased F/M ratio
  • Reduced floc formation → Poor settling, turbid outlet
Solutions:
  • Pre-winter bioaugmentation with cold-active nitrifiers from T1B Aerobio Bioculture.
  • Increased MLVSS through controlled culture addition
  • Fine-tuned aeration to maintain DO around 3 mg/L
  • Reduced F/M by optimizing sludge wasting
Results:

Ammonia was reduced to <5 mg/L within 10 days. Sludge quality improved, and the outlet was consistently clear.

☀️ Summer Challenges (Apr–Jun)
Problems:
  • High temperatures → Oxygen depletion
  • DO <1.5 mg/L → Filamentous bulking
  •  anti-filamentous dominant cultures through T1B Aerobio bioculture to suppress filaments
  • Boosted DO levels by adjusting blower run hours
  • Added foam control microbes to reduce surface scum and bulking
Results:

SVI normalized to 95–100 mL/g. Sludge settling and clarity improved; odor complaints dropped significantly.

🌧️ Monsoon Challenges (Jul–Sep)
Problems:
  • Heavy rainfall → Dilution & shock load
  • Surface runoff → Toxic load spikes
  • MLSS washed out → From 3500 to 1800 mg/L
  • Sudden pH shifts due to drainage ingress
Solutions:
  • Pre-monsoon culture buildup plan to fortify biomass using T1B Aerbio bioculture’s High-MLVSS variant
  • pH stabilization buffer introduced during heavy rains
  • Equalization tank aeration was increased to handle shock loads better
Results:

MLSS restored to 3100 mg/L within 7 days. COD removal stabilized at 90–92%. No emergency bypass required.

🍂 Transitional Season Challenges (Mar, Oct–Nov)
Problems:
  • Frequent influent variability due to batch changes
  • Occasional toxicity due to dyeing chemical overuse
  • Rapid shifts in temperature and pH → Microbial lag
Solutions:
  • Weekly parameter tracking and real-time microbial health checks
  • Targeted detoxifier blend dosing with Aerobio during chemical overload
  • Gradual culture build-up before full-load restart after holidays
Results:

The biological system became more resilient, absorbing fluctuations without crashing. No major deviations in any parameter

Parameter Snapshot Before vs After Aerbio Intervention
ParameterBeforeAfter T1B Aerobio
(Winter)>20 mg/L<5 mg/L
MLSS (Monsoon)~1800 mg/L~3100 mg/L
SVI (Summer)>160 mL/g90–100 mL/g
COD Removal~78%~92%
Outlet ClarityTurbid frequentlyClear, consistent
Odor ComplaintsFrequentAlmost Nil
Conclusion

Microbial performance doesn’t follow a flat line—it fluctuates with the weather. But with a season-wise microbial management plan, your ETP can remain compliant, efficient, and stress-free year-round.T1B’s Aerbio bioculture adapts where standard systems struggle—empowering your ETP to beat the seasonal drift, naturally.

👉 Contact us to implement a customized, season-wise microbial strategy with T1B Aerobio and keep your ETP biologically stable and compliant—year-round.

📧 Email: sales@teamonebiotech.com

🌐 Visit: www.teamonebiotech.com

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