Exploring the effects of organic loading rate and domestic wastewater treatment by algal-bacterial granules under natural daylight conditions.

Algal-bacterial granules or phototrophic granules (PGs) comprising phototrophic microorganisms and bacteria are explored in wastewater treatment for achieving both environmental and economic sustainability. This study describes development of PGs and their use in biological treatment of synthetic and real domestic wastewater (sewage) under natural daylight conditions and low organic loading rate (OLR). Development of PGs was sequentially recorded in a photobioreactor operated in photo-sequencing batch reactor (photo-SBR) mode at a low OLR of 1 kgCOD.m-3 .day-1 and the developed PGs was evaluated for treating synthetic wastewater and real municipal wastewater with 0.14 kg COD m-3 .day-1 . PGs formed in the photo-sequential batch reactor (SBR) were compact and dense and exhibited excellent settling properties. The removal efficiencies were determined to be up to 95%, 93%, 97%, 72%, and 88% for turbidity, COD, TOC, NH4 + -N, and NO2 - -N/NO3 - -N, respectively. Additionally, a reduction in total viable bacterial counts and fecal coliform bacteria up to 1.7 × 103 and 7.8 × 102 cfu.mL-1 , respectively, during treatment of real municipal wastewater was achieved. This study demonstrated cultivation of algal-bacterial granules or PGs and their application for treating real municipal wastewater under natural daylight and tropical climate conditions. Further studies are needed on understanding interactions among phototrophic, autotrophic, and heterotrophic microorganisms of complex algal-bacterial consortium for emerging applications in bioremediation and wastewater treatment. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Phototrophic granules (PGs) were cultivated from algal consortium and activated sludge inoculum in photo sequencing batch reactors. Granular photobioreactor was operated at low OLR of 1 kgCOD.m3 .day-1 for developing well-settling algal-bacterial granules. PGs were stable and showed efficient biological treatment of synthetic wastewater and real sewage. Removals for turbidity, pathogens, and ammonium were at 95%, 3-log, and 72%, respectively, from real sewage.

Nitrate removal from high strength nitrate-bearing wastes in granular sludge sequencing batch reactors.

A 6-L sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated for development of granular sludge capable of denitrification of high strength nitrates. Complete and stable denitrification of up to 5420 mg L(-1) nitrate-N (2710 mg L(-1) nitrate-N in reactor) was achieved by feeding simulated nitrate waste at a C/N ratio of 3. Compact and dense denitrifying granular sludge with relatively stable microbial community was developed during reactor operation. Accumulation of large amounts of nitrite due to incomplete denitrification occurred when the SBR was fed with 5420 mg L(-1) NO3-N at a C/N ratio of 2. Complete denitrification could not be achieved at this C/N ratio, even after one week of reactor operation as the nitrite levels continued to accumulate. In order to improve denitrification performance, the reactor was fed with nitrate concentrations of 1354 mg L(-1), while keeping C/N ratio at 2. Subsequently, nitrate concentration in the feed was increased in a step-wise manner to establish complete denitrification of 5420 mg L(-1) NO3-N at a C/N ratio of 2. The results show that substrate concentration plays an important role in denitrification of high strength nitrate by influencing nitrite accumulation. Complete denitrification of high strength nitrates can be achieved at lower substrate concentrations, by an appropriate acclimatization strategy.

Aerobic granular sludge mediated biodegradation of an organophosphorous ester, dibutyl phosphite.

Dibutyl phosphite, an organophosphorous compound, finds applications in different chemical industries and processes. Here, we report an efficient approach of biodegradation to be eventually used in bioremediation of dibutyl phosphite. Aerobic granules capable of dibutyl phosphite biodegradation were cultivated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The SBR was operated with a 24-h cycle by feeding with dibutyl phosphite as a cosubstrate along with acetate. During the course of the SBR operation, aerobic granules of 0.9 ± 0.3 mm size were developed. Complete biodegradation of 1.4, 2 and 3 mM of dibutyl phosphite was achieved in 4, 5 and 8 h, respectively, accompanied by stoichiometric release of phosphite (H3 PO3). Phosphatase activity in the dibutyl phosphite-degrading granular biomass was 3- and 1.5-fold higher as compared to the activated sludge (seed biomass) and acetate-fed aerobic granules, respectively, indicating involvement in the hydrolysis of dibutyl phosphite. Microbial community analysis by t-RFLP showed the presence of 12 different bacterial types. Two bacterial strains capable of growth on dibutyl phosphite as sole carbon source were isolated and characterized as Acidovorax sp. and Sphingobium sp. The results show that aerobic microbial granules based process is suitable for the treatment of dibutyl phosphite contaminated water.