Induced rapid release and uptake of phosphate by microorganisms.

Cultures of bacteria and of mixed microorganisms are able to release actively a large proportion of their phosphorus to the medium in a matter of hours when kept under anoxic conditions. Only phosphorus is lost, probably as orthophosphate and apparently mostly from the acid-soluble fraction of the cells. The process, which is completely reversible upon aeration, has a change in rate (for a change of 10 degrees C) of 2 to 2.5.