Internal porosity of mineral coating supports microbial activity in rapid sand filters for groundwater treatment.

ABSTRACT: A mineral coating develops on the filter grain surface when groundwater is treated via rapid sand filtration in drinking water production. The coating changes the physical and chemical properties of the filter material, but little is known about its effect on the activity, colonization, diversity, and abundance of microbiota. This study reveals that a mineral coating can positively affect the colonization and activity of microbial communities in rapid sand filters. To understand this effect, we investigated the abundance, spatial distribution, colonization, and diversity of all and of nitrifying prokaryotes in filter material with various degrees of mineral coating. We also examined the physical and chemical characteristics of the mineral coating. The amount of mineral coating correlated p

SUBMITTER: Gulay A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4249022 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature