Behavior of total phosphorus removal in an intelligent controlled sequencing batch biofilm reactor for municipal wastewater treatment

► Phosphorus is successfully removed in sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR). ► SBBR controlled by an intelligent control system (ICS) performs better. ► No significant anaerobic phosphorus release is observed in ICS-SBBR. ► Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) is the main energy source. ► Biochemical metabolism of phosphorus removal in ICS-SBBR is elucidated.