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Performance and Bacterial Population Composition of an n-Hexane Degrading Biofilter Working Under Fluctuating Conditions

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Abstract

In this work, several conditions of pH and inlet load (IL) were applied to a scale laboratory biofilter treating n-hexane vapors during 143 days. During the first 79 days of operation (period 1, P1), the system was fed with neutral pH mineral medium (MM) and the IL was progressively decreased from 177 to 16 g m−3 h−1. A maximum elimination capacity (EC) of 30 g m−3 h−1 was obtained at an IL of 176.9 ± 9.8 g m−3 h−1. During the following 64 days (period 2, P2), acidic conditions were induced by feeding the biofilter with acidic buffer solution and pH 4 MM in order to evaluate the effect of bacterial community changes on EC. Within the acidic period, a maximum EC of 54 g m−3 h−1 (IL 132.3 ± 13 g m−3 h−1) was achieved. Sequence analysis of 16S rDNA genes amplified from the consortium revealed the presence of Sphingobacteria, Actinobacteria, and α-, β- and γ-Proteobacteria. An Actinobacteria of the Mycobacterium genus had presence throughout the whole experiment of biofiltration showing resistance to fluctuating pH and IL conditions. Batch tests confirm the bacterial predominance and a negligible contribution of fungi in the degradation of n-hexane.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank CONACYT for its financial support to Sonia Arriaga (SEP-CONACYT-CB-2009-133930 Grant). Edgardo Valenzuela Reyes is thankful to CONACYT for the Bachelor scholarship (Number: 17434). The use of the analytical infrastructure of LINAN and LANBAMA are also acknowledged. Special gratitude is expressed to M.Sc. Gladis Labrada, M.Sc. JP. Rodas, M.Sc. Dulce Partida, and M.Sc. Guillermo Vidriales for their technical assistance. We thank Dr. Aitor Aizpuru and Anne Jennifer Eckerly for their suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. División de Ciencias Ambientales, IPICyT, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Lomas 4ta. Sección, C. P. 78216, San Luis Potosí, México

    Edgardo Valenzuela-Reyes & Sonia Arriaga

  2. División de Biología Molecular, IPICyT, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Lomas 4ta. Sección, C. P. 78216, San Luis Potosí, México

    Sergio Casas-Flores & Isabel Isordia-Jasso

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  1. Edgardo Valenzuela-Reyes
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  2. Sergio Casas-Flores
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  3. Isabel Isordia-Jasso
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  4. Sonia Arriaga
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Correspondence to Sonia Arriaga.

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Valenzuela-Reyes, E., Casas-Flores, S., Isordia-Jasso, I. et al. Performance and Bacterial Population Composition of an n-Hexane Degrading Biofilter Working Under Fluctuating Conditions. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 174, 832–844 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-014-1079-8

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