Biofilm-based simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorous uptake in wastewater by Neurospora discreta

Tabraiz, Shamas; Aiswarya, N.M.; Taneja, Himani; Aravinda Narayanan, R.; Ahmed, Asma

Abstract

Biological removal of nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater conventionally involves multiple processing steps to satisfy the differing oxygen requirements of the microbial species involved. In this work, simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorous removal from synthetic wastewater were achieved by the fungus Neurospora discreta in a single-step, biofilm-based, aerobic process. The concentrations of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorous in the synthetic wastewater were systematically varied to investigate their effects on nutrient removal rates and biofilm properties. Biofilm growth was significantly (p < 0.05) affected by carbon and nitrogen, but not by phosphorous concentration. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the effects of nutrients on biofilm microstructure, which in turn correlated with nutrient removal efficiencies. The carbohydrate and protein content in the biofilm matrix decreased with increasing carbon and nitrogen concentrations but increased with increasing phosphorous concentration in the wastewater. High removal efficiencies of carbon (96%), ammonium (86%), nitrate (100%), and phosphorus (82%) were achieved under varying nutrient conditions. Interestingly, decreasing the phosphorus concentration increased the nitrification and denitrification rates, and decreasing the nitrogen concentration increased the phosphorus removal rates significantly (p < 0.05). Correlations between biofilm properties and nutrient removal rates were also evaluated in this study.

Citation

Tabraiz, S., Aiswarya, N., Taneja, H., Aravinda Narayanan, R., & Ahmed, A. (2022). Biofilm-based simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorous uptake in wastewater by Neurospora discreta. Journal of Environmental Management, 324, Article 116363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116363

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 22, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Oct 5, 2022
• Publication Date: Dec 15, 2022
• Deposit Date: Feb 12, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 13, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Management
• Print ISSN: 0301-4797
• Electronic ISSN: 1095-8630
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 324
• Article Number: 116363
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116363
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/31158595
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479722019363?via%3Dihub