ISSN:
1432-0614
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
Abstract A denitrifying bacterial biofilm population established on a polypropylene substratum of a fixed-film reactor was characterized by microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence after 120 days of operation. The reactor, operated at pH 7.0, 22°C, and −180 mV with synthetic wastewater containing methanol/nitrate, achieved a denitrification rate of 0.24 mol NO- 3 l-1 day-1 with a removal efficiency for nitrate of 95%–99% at an organic loading rate of 0.325 mol methanol l-1 day-1. The gas produced contained 2%–3% (v/v) methane and 3%–4% (v/v) carbon dioxide in addition to nitrogen. The biofilm contained mainly cells of Methanobrevibacter arboriphilus antigenically related to strain DC, short, flagellated, gram-negatively staining rods of Pseudomonas sp. antigenically related to Pseudomonas stutzeri strain AN11, non-identified pink-pigmented rods and small lemon-shaped cells with mono- and bipolar appendages resembling prosthecate Hyphomicrobium sp. The biofilm analysis provided evidence for a syntrophy between the denitrifying, methylotrophic, bacterial consortium and hydrogenotrophic methanogens, which were identified by antigenic fingerprinting with 17 antibody probes.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002530050452
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