Effect of elevated salt concentrations on the aerobic granular sludge process: linking microbial activity with microbial community structure.

ABSTRACT: The long- and short-term effects of salt on biological nitrogen and phosphorus removal processes were studied in an aerobic granular sludge reactor. The microbial community structure was investigated by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) on 16S rRNA and amoA genes. PCR products obtained from genomic DNA and from rRNA after reverse transcription were compared to determine the presence of bacteria as well as the metabolically active fraction of bacteria. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to validate the PCR-based results and to quantify the dominant bacterial populations. The results demonstrated that ammonium removal efficiency was not affected by salt concentrations up to 33 g/liter NaCl. Conversely, a high accumulation of nitrite was observed above 22 g/li

SUBMITTER: Bassin JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3208997 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature