Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Protozoan and metazoan communities treating a simulated petrochemical industry wastewater in a rotating disc biological reactor

  • Published:
World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The microfauna of adhered biofilms treating a simulated petrochemical plant wastewater was investigated in relation to the organic loading and the toxicity. Experiments in a six-compartment laboratory rotating biological reactor were performed at organic loadings of 0.99, 1.38 and 1.97g/l.day. The concentration of organic compounds in the artificial wastewater (phenol, acetophenone and styrene), toxicity of the wastewater, number of representative types of microfauna, their biomass and species diversity were monitored along the reactor. During this study 25 species were identified and attributed to seven classes of the three types Sarcomastigophora, Ciliophora and Nemathelminthes. Eight species from 18 ciliates have been reported in the literature as being commonly found inhabitants of aerobic wastewater treatment plants. An inverse relationship between the number of microfauna representatives and the organic loading was found. The presence of the most common species was related to the reactor operating conditions. A correlation between the toxicity of the wastewater measured by the Paramecium express-test and the distribution and abundance of microfauna was established. This express-test made it possible to predict the biological quality of the biofilm of activated sludge. Therefore, it is recommended as one of the control parameters to monitor systems of biological wastewater treatment.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aescht, E. & Foissner, W. 1992 Biology of high-rate activated sludge plant of pharmaceutical company. Archives of Hydrobiology 90, 207-251.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balushkina, E.B. & Vinberg, G.G. 1978 The relation between the mass and the length of the body of the plankton animals. In Experimental and field investigation of biological basis of the lake productivity. pp. 58-72. Leningrad: Zoology Institute Publisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banina, N.N., Kutikova, L.A. & Cololichin, C.Y. 1984 Systematical part. In Fauna of aerotencs, ed. Kutikova, L.A. pp. 136-249. Leningrad: Nauka.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curds, C.R. & Cockburn, A. 1970 Protozoa in biological sewagetreatment processes. II. Protozoa as indicators in activatedsludge process. Water Research 4, 237-249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Esteban, G., Tellez, C. & Bautista, L.M. 1991 Dynamics of ciliated protozoa communities in activated sludge processes. Water Research 8, 967-972.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kahl, A. 1930-1935 Urtiere oder Protozoa. I. Wimpertiere oder Ciliata (Infusorien). Ein Bearbeitung der freileben und ectocommensalen Infusorien der Erde, unter Ausschluss den marinen Tintinnidae. In Die Tierwelt Deutschlands, ed F. Dahl. pp. 1-886. Parts 18(1930), 21(1931), 25(1932), 30(1935). Jena, Germany: Verlag von Gustav Fisher.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinner, N.E., Curds, C.R. & Meeker, L.D. 1988 Protozoa and metazoa as indicators of effluent quality in rotating biological contactors. Water Science and Technology 20, 199-204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luna-Pabello, V.M., Aladro-Lubel, A. & Duran-de-Bazua, C. 1992 Temperature effects on ciliates diversity and abundance in a rotation biological reactor. Bioresource Technology 39, 55-60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luna-Pabello, V.M., Mayen, R., Olvera-Viascan, V., Saavedra, J., & Duran de Bazua, C. 1990 Ciliated protozoa as indicators of a wastewater Treatment system performance. Biological Wastes 32, 81-90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madoni, P. 1986 Protozoa in waste treatment systems. Perspect. Microbiology and Ecology: Proceedings 4th International Symposium, Lubljana, 24-29 August, 1996. Lubljana pp. 86-90.

  • Madoni, P. 1994 A sludge biotic index (SBI) for the evaluation of the biological performance of activated sludge plants based on microfauna analysis. Water Research 28, 67-75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Magejkayte, C.I. 1977 Ciliates. In Definition of freshwater invertebrates of the European part of USSR, eds Kutikova, L.A., & Starobogatov, L.I. pp. 46-97. Leningrad: Gydromet.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Biology Faculty, Kazan University, Lenin Street 18, Kazan, Tatarstan, 420008, Russia

    S.Y. Selivanovskaya, A.M. Petrov, K.V. Egorova & R.P. Naumova

Authors
  1. S.Y. Selivanovskaya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A.M. Petrov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K.V. Egorova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R.P. Naumova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Selivanovskaya, S., Petrov, A., Egorova, K. et al. Protozoan and metazoan communities treating a simulated petrochemical industry wastewater in a rotating disc biological reactor. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology 13, 511–517 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018505107030

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018505107030

Search

Navigation