Inorganic nitrogen and phosphate removal from water by free-living and polyvinyl-immobilized Phormidium laminosum in batch and continuous-flow bioreactors

• Published in: Enzyme and microbial technology Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 395 - 401
• Main Authors: Garbisu, Carlos, Hall, David O., Llama, M.J., Serra, Juan L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 1994; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biological treatment of waters; bioreactors; Biotechnology; Environment and pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; immobilized cells; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Nitrate uptake; nitrite uptake; Phomidium laminosum; Phormidium laminosum; phosphate uptake; polyvinyl foam; phosphate uptake; Phomidium laminosum; nitrite uptake; Nitrate uptake; bioreactors; polyvinyl foam; immobilized cells; Performance evaluation; Phosphates; Drinking water treatment; Nitrites; Elimination; Nitrates; Uptake; Biological purification; Continuous process; Bioreactor; Batchwise; Cyanobacteria; Bacteria; Entrapped microorganism
• ISSN: 0141-0229; 1879-0909
• DOI: 10.1016/0141-0229(94)90154-6

The aim of this research was an initial study of the feasibility of using polyvinyl (PV)-immobilized cyanobacteria for the removal of nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate from polluted potential drinking water. Batch and continuous-flow air-agitated and packed-bed bioreactors were used. Continuous-flow air-agitated bioreactors showed N removal efficiencies of up to 90% for residence times of 14 h in short-term experiments. If N-starved cells were to be used practically for the removal of N and phosphate from water, several bioreactors would need to be set up in parallel, alternating cycles of N-starvation and N-supply, to maintain the system operating continuously with N-starved cells. The continuous-flow air-agitated bioreactor running at 45°C showed higher efficiency of N removal from water than the continuous-flow packed-bed bioreactor at room temperature. However, the packed-bed bioreactor seemed to give slightly better results when phosphate removal was considered. No significant leakage of cells was observed in any of the bioreactors during operation.