Removal of Ammonium and 4-Methylphenol from Synthetic Wastewater by Cell-Free Extracts of Nitrifying Sludge

• Published in: Water, air, and soil pollution Vol. 226; no. 12; pp. 1 - 8
• Main Authors: Covarrubias-Vallejo, J, González-Blanco, G, Prado-Barragán, A, Beristain-Cardoso, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.12.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Ammonium; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Calcium; calcium alginate; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental monitoring; Enzymes; Hydrogeology; Nitrification; Nitrogen; Oxidation; Phenols; Proteins; Sludge; Soil Science & Conservation; Trace elements; wastewater; Water Quality/Water Pollution; Ammonium; Alginate; Kinetic; 4-Methylphenol
• ISSN: 0049-6979; 1573-2932
• DOI: 10.1007/s11270-015-2696-8

The feasibility of using cell-free extracts of nitrifying sludge to treat synthetic wastewater containing 4-methylphenol and ammonium was examined. Nitrifying cells were broken by sonication and encapsulated into calcium alginate. Cell-free extracts (CFE) of nitrifying sludge oxidized 4-methylphenol threefold faster than whole-cells, but CFE were not able to oxidize ammonium. The CFE encapsulated into calcium alginate (CFEA) displayed partial nitrification and 4-methylphenol oxidation. Five hours was enough to oxidize 100 % of ammonium and 4-methylphenol, at volumetric rates of 20.80 mg N/L h and 42.86 mg C/L h, respectively. It is inferred that an interaction between the CFE and calcium alginate resulted in the protection of the enzymes.