## 3 Results and Discussion
### Aeration Tank Performance  
This Bio-AS system was supported by biodfoamers, which are polysaccharide constituents that inhibit foam formation through a bridging mechanism that binds the biofilulants and the filamentous bacteria through extracellular polymeric structure and embeds the foam formers within the flocs, thereby depriving them of the nutrients that are available  
Figure 3: Volumetric zones of inhibition of crude biodfoamer produced by the consortium in comparison to biodfoamers produced by co-cultures. Figure 2: Biofoam observed in this study. in the environment. This reduces the excessive growth of the filamentous bacteria and prevents biofoaming. Whereas the synthetic defoamer contains a short alkane chain and can diffuse into the liquid-gas interface and break down the lamellae; however, this defoamer leaves oil residues, which favors the proliferation of filamentous bacteria in the activated sludge system and results in weaker floc compaction [21]. Lipids are determined as fats, oil, and grease, which are long-chain fatty acids that are the constituents of the PSW [3]. A high concentration of FOG reduces dissolved oxygen (DO), resulting in pipe blockages and defloculation of AS into the secondary clarifier. They are degraded at a lower rate than sugars, and their accumulation enhances the growth of filamentous bacteria, resulting in foaming in the AS treatment system [13]. Figure 4A,D,G,J represents the characteristics of the PSW (FOG, protein, TSS, and COD) fed into the AS aeration tank. These attributes fluctuated over time, depicting higher concentrations of FOG, TSS, protein, and COD. These characteristics were influenced by various factors, such as sampling time (slaughtering time) as well as external factors like temperature. Figure 4C illustrates that during an unsteady state, FOG removal was between 53.3% and 85.3% in the Bio-AS compared to 29.6% and 74% achieved in the Syn-AS. During the  
Figure 4: Aeration tank FOG feed (**A**); aerobic tank FOG product concentration (**B**); and reduction profiles (**C**). Protein feed concentration (**D**); aerobic tank protein product concentration (**E**); protein concentration reduction profile (**F**); TSS feed (**G**); product concentration (**H**); reduction profile (**I**); COD feed (**J**); product concentration (**K**); and reduction profile (**L**). All of the above profiles were operated under Bio-AS, Syn-AS, and CAS. transition, state FOG was removed by 84.2% in the Bio-AS, whereas only 73% was removed in the Syn-AS. During the steady state FOG, removal increased from 82.3 to 94% at steady state (day 10) for the Bio-AS, in contrast to the Syn-AS, which acquired 74% and 50% at steady state (on days 4 and 10). Moreover, during the steady state, CAS acquired 72.3% and 62.5% FOG removal (days 4 and 10). The removal of lipids in the Bio-AS was facilitated by the presence of the competitive 48 h acclimated consortium that produced polysaccharide biodefoamers during their growth, which contained multiple charges that attracted the charge of the amphiphilic lipid and facilitated sludge agglomeration. These biopolymers were less affected by environmental conditions; hence, an increase in lipid removal was observed [30]. Furthermore, their presence destabilized the covalent bonds of the lipids and enhanced hydrolyzation [31]. In the Syn-AS system, the FOG removal decreased as the days increased (days 5-10), and this was because the biomass in the AS was still adjusting to the presence of the synthetic defoamer. Additionally, as the days increased, the oily defoamer resulted in sludge bed congestion, which led to an inactive microbial community and a subsequent reduction in the biodegradation of FOG. Furthermore, this revealed that the FOG adsorbed into the sludge, resulting in the overgrowth of saponified hydrophobic microorganisms that cause significant problems downstream, such as sludge deflocculation, foaming, and suspended biomass, which also contributes to increased suspended solids concentration in the reactor [32; 33].