Carbon Substrate Utilisation Profile of a High Concentration Effluent Degrading Microbial Consortium

• Published in: Environmental technology Vol. 27; no. 8; pp. 863 - 873
• Main Authors: Jena, S., Jeanmeure, L. F. C., Dhamwichukorn, S., Wright, P. C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01.08.2006; Selper
• Subjects: 2-Propanol - metabolism; Amino acids; Applied sciences; Bacteria - metabolism; Bands; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; BIOLOGTM; Bioreactors; Biotechnology; Carbon; Carbon - metabolism; CARBON SUBSTRATES; Chemical engineering; CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND; Colony Count, Microbial; Crack opening displacement; CROSS CORRELATION ANALYSIS; Degradation; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Effluents; Electrophoresis; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General purification processes; Industrial Waste; Inoculation; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Microorganisms; MIXED CONSORTIUM; Others; Oxygen - metabolism; Oxygen demand; Plates; Pollution; Reactors; Samples; Solvents; Statistical analysis; Statistical methods; Various methods and equipments; Waste water; Wastewaters; Water treatment and pollution; Biodegradation; mixed consortium; cross correlation analysis; Pollutant behavior; Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis; Density; Waste water; Biological purification; Organic solvent; Bioreactor; Correlation analysis; Chemical oxygen demand; Industrial waste water; BIOLOG; Cross correlation; Water quality; carbon substrates
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593332708618696

This paper presents the carbon substrate utilisation profile of a group of microorganisms responsible for the biodegradation of a highly concentrated industrial effluent. A 1 litre bioreactor was used to study this consortium's biodegradation potential, with the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the waste being reduced by 90% from 24000 mg l −1 within 456 hours. This study also demonstrates that the consortium is capable of degrading organic solvents, such as isopropanol, at concentrations of 260 mg l −1 . The population distribution and biochemical behaviour were also characterised using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and Biolog TM Eco Plates at various stages of bioreactor operation. The DGGE results indicated that the dominant bands of the microbial population profile were stable at various operational stages, and that only a few bands varied with time. Moreover, four Biolog TM Eco plates were inoculated with samples drawn from the bioreactor at 0, 24, 72 and 120 hours after inoculation. Based on this Biolog TM Eco Plate profiling, a carbon source utilisation analysis was conducted to group the substrates according to their colour development patterns. Patterns were quantified via measurement of well optical density. Subsequently, cross-correlation statistical techniques were used to establish the existence of recurrent behavioural responses from each carbon source to the various wastewater samples. From the cross correlation, an attempt was made to classify the metabolic potential for future biodegradation processes. Carbohydrates, amino acids and carboxylic acids were the most predominant groups of sole carbon substrates showing similar growth behaviour in the consortium.