Pao

Phosphate minerals have long been used for the production of phosphorus-based chemicals used in many economic sectors. However, these resources are not renewable and the natural phosphate stocks are decreasing. In this context, the research of new phosphate sources has become necessary. Many types of wastes contain non-negligible phosphate concentrations, such as wastewater. In wastewater treatment plants, phosphorus is eliminated by physicochemical and/or biological techniques. In this latter case, a specific microbiota, phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), accumulates phosphate as polyphosphate. This molecule can be considered as an alternative phosphate source, and is directly extracted from wastewater generated by human activities. This review focuses on the techniques which can be applied to enrich and try to isolate these PAOs, and to detect the presence of polyphosphate in microbial cells.

Each time i leave the steep slope of Nesodden behind me, the west side of the peninsula which enters the Oslofjord like, nomen omen, a long nose, or the long snout of an alligator half immersed in sea water, its russet, brown rocks unshaved, shaggy with pines, rocks coming from Precambrian times, 250 million years ago, sedimentary rocks, and i head over to the five islands of Steilene, i have the feeling i am abandoning earth to reach a planet that is holding a secret.