Molecular analysis of the community structure of nitrifying bacteria in a continuous-flow bioreactor

Levipan, HA; Aspé E.; Urrutia, H

Abstract

We herein report the diversity and relative abundance of chemolithotrophic nitrifying bacteria in a continuous-flow bioreactor using 16S-ribosomal RNA quantitative dot-blot hybridizations. About 14.9% of the total bacterial population, determined by epifluorescence microscopy in the bioreactor suspended phase, was represented by nitrifying bacteria. Of this fraction, ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria accounted for 10% and 90%, respectively, the latter group being mostly Nitrospira-like. On the other hand, the nitrifiers adhesion/colonization capacity on polyethylene surfaces as evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and hybridizations analyses was 12.6% of the total bacterial community adhered. Finally, in spite of the relatively small contribution of nitrifiers to the total bacterial abundance in the bioreactor, we determined a mean ammonia removal rate of 170.48 ± 8.29 mg N l-1 d-1; thus, the low percentage of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, was not limiting the bioreactor performance. © Selper Ltd, 2004.

Más información

Título según WOS: Molecular analysis of the community structure of nitrifying bacteria in a continuous-flow bioreactor
Título según SCOPUS: Molecular analysis of the community structure of nitrifying bacteria in a continuous-flow bioreactor
Título de la Revista: ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
Volumen: 25
Número: 3
Editorial: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
Fecha de publicación: 2004
Página de inicio: 261
Página final: 272
Idioma: English
Notas: ISI, SCOPUS