Optimization of Nitrification Process by a Bacterial Consortium in the Submerged Biofiltration System with Ceramic Bead Carrier

Abstract

Laboratory-scale solid phase submerged system was developed to study the process of ammonium biodegradation. Ceramic beads were found to be an appropriate carrier material for the attachment of thePNN bacterial consortium (Pseudomonas sp., Nitrosomonas sp., Nitrobacter sp.) exhibiting nitrification/denitrification activity. This consortium was previously isolated from a biological activated sludge process at a fish factory wastewater treatment plant. Three organic amendments -molasses, humic acid extract, and malt extract -were used for the ceramic bead pretreatment. Molasses significantly enhanced (p<0.05) the process of bacteria attachment onto the ceramic carrier and further ammonium removal from the bulk liquid media. The addition of 0.45% fructose to the column notably enhanced ammonium oxidation, as demonstrated by more rapid formation of nitrites in the medium when compared to the sets without sugars. The results of this study could be incorporated in a larger-scale test of a biofiltration column using wastewater from a fish processing factory.

Characteristics of a Ceramic Carrier after Wastewater Treatment Process in the Model Column Cascade with Ethanol Addition

“…Recently, certain groups of heterotrophic-nitrifying bacteria such as Pseudomonas spp., Alcaligences spp. etc., were reported to have heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification ability [4,[37][38][39]. In this experiment two feeding strategies were compared, i.e.…”

“…Some increase of P-PO 4 3-, i.e. from 40.7 mg L -1 to 67.1 mg L -1 was found in Column III in the 4 th cycle after 7 days of treatment (Fig.…”

“…4). The increasing of P-PO 4 3-and at the same time the N-NH 4 + may indicate that the equilibrium of solubility of low soluble phosphates changes. Some authors show [42] that with decrease of pH the solubility of phosphate compound (struvite) increases.…”

“…Our previous experiments showed the advantages of ceramic beads as a carrier for nitrifying bacteria in the submerged biofiltration system [4]. The present study was aimed at combining both nitrification and phosphorus accumulation processes using synthetic wastewaters treated consequently in the cascade of three columns, which were designed for nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus accumulation processes, respectively.…”

“…The characteristics of the filter media have a great impact on the treatment efficiency and, to a great extent, determine *Address correspondence to these authors at the Institute of Microbiology and Biotechnology, University of Latvia, 4 Kronvalda Blvd., Riga LV-1010, Latvia; E-mail: andrejs54@inbox.lv construction and operation costs [3,4]. A broad spectrum of technological approaches is used for immobilization of microorganisms, including various organic and inorganic materials.…”