Which two nutrients are commonly deficient in industrial wastewater, leading to nutrient limitation?

Which two nutrients are commonly deficient in industrial wastewater, leading to nutrient limitation?

• A. Oxygen and carbon
• B. Nitrogen and Phosphorus
• C. Sodium and potassium
• D. Chloride and sulfate

Answer: (B)

Microorganisms that treat wastewater need carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to grow and reproduce. In many industrial wastewaters, there’s plenty of carbon (organic matter) but not enough of the inorganic nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. When these nutrients are in short supply, microbial growth is limited despite abundant carbon, so the overall biological treatment slows down or fails to achieve desired removal. That’s why nitrogen and phosphorus are the nutrients most often deficient, leading to nutrient limitation. Other substances like oxygen or salts aren’t the limiting nutrients in the typical sense for this context.

Microorganisms that treat wastewater need carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus to grow and reproduce. In many industrial wastewaters, there’s plenty of carbon (organic matter) but not enough of the inorganic nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. When these nutrients are in short supply, microbial growth is limited despite abundant carbon, so the overall biological treatment slows down or fails to achieve desired removal. That’s why nitrogen and phosphorus are the nutrients most often deficient, leading to nutrient limitation. Other substances like oxygen or salts aren’t the limiting nutrients in the typical sense for this context.