Effects of pressurized aeration on organic degradation efficiency and bacterial community structure of activated sludge treating saline wastewater

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of moderate pressure on organic matter removal efficiency and microbial population of activated sludge treating saline wastewater. The activated sludge was cultivated with a gradual increase of salt concentrations under gage pressure of 0.3 MPa for 71 days. Microbial diversities of activated sludge sampled in different stages of domestication were investigated by Illumina sequencing technology. Results showed that pressurized aeration could improve the treatment efficiency and the dehydrogenase activity (DHA) of activated sludge, especially at high salinity (35, 50 g NaCl L−1). Bacterial richness and community diversity of activated sludge in the pressurized reactor were significantly higher than those in the control reactor. Microbial population structures were quite different between the two reactors. More species originating from fresh wastewater biological treatment process would survive and remain in pressurized activated sludge.