Microbial community composition and dynamics of moving bed biofilm reactor systems treating municipal sewage.

ABSTRACT: Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) systems are increasingly used for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, yet in contrast to activated sludge (AS) systems, little is known about their constituent microbial communities. This study investigated the community composition of two municipal MBBR wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Wellington, New Zealand. Monthly samples comprising biofilm and suspended biomass were collected over a 12-month period. Bacterial and archaeal community composition was determined using a full-cycle community approach, including analysis of 16S rRNA gene libraries, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and automated ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (ARISA). Differences in microbial community structure and abundance were observed between the two WWT

SUBMITTER: Biswas K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3264111 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature