APPLICATION OF ENZYMATIC-ACTIVITY MEASUREMENTS TO BIOLOGICAL PHOSPHATE REMOVAL FROM WASTE-WATER

Activity measurements of enzymes have been used in the research. Prope rties of microorganism populations of activated sludge have been estim ated by this method. During the experiments, the activity of the follo wing enzymes catabolising polyphosphate changes were measured: polypho sphatases, adenylate kinase, AMP:PP phosphotransferase. In order to de signate the phosphorous release and uptake rare, a batch test has been carried out together with the activity measurement. Activated sludge for the experiments was taken from three substantially different waste water treatment plants (WWTP). The enzymatic activities of the activat ed sludges which come from different WWTP indicate a high ability of m icroorganisms to change polyphosphates. The interpretation of the resu lts shows good correlations of polyphosphatase and AMP:PP phosphotrans ferase activity with the phosphate release rate. The results of the ex periments indicate the suitability of the activity measurement for def ining potential possibility of a microorganism population to carry out biological phosphate removal by the activated sludge method. (C) 1997 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.