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Growth Characteristics of Photosynthetic Bacteria Cultured in Anaerobic Digestate of Sewage Sludge to be Used as Fertilizer

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Abstract

Purpose

Following anaerobic co-digestion of various types of organic waste in wastewater treatment plants, the digestate can be directly used as fertilizer, particularly at small facilities. Cultivation of photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) using this digestate is promising for improving fertilizer quality. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the growth characteristics of PSB in sewage samples.

Methods

Laboratory-scale PSB cultivation experiments were performed using culture medium or sewage samples. Carotenoids, pufM copy numbers, and microbial structures were analyzed.

Results

Rhodospirillaceae grew in the filtrate of digested sludge samples, whereas it did not grow in the unfiltered digested sludge samples. Addition of acetate at 400 mg/L per day promoted the growth of PSB. Comparison of the carotenoids, pufM copy numbers, and microbial structures in the culture liquids showed that carotenoid measurements can be performed to monitor PSB growth. The specific growth rate of PSB in the digested sludge samples was approximately 0.3 day−1 when the suspended solid concentration was < 1 g/L but decreased to 0.2 day−1 when this concentration was 10 g/L.

Conclusion

PSB can be cultivated in sewage samples containing other types of bacteria, particularly at low suspended solid concentrations. This technology can enhance fertilizer utilization, contributing to regional recirculation of energy and resources from small-scale waste and wastewater treatment systems.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author.

Code Availability

Not applicable (Data transparency) (software application or custom code).

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the staff of the local governments and the wastewater treatment facilities for their kind support. This work was supported by the Osaka Bay Regional Offshore Environmental Improvement Center, Mayekawa Houonkai Foundation and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI Grant Number 20H04386.

Funding

(1) Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Award Number: 20H04386 | Recipient: Taira Hidaka. (2) Osaka Bay Regional Offshore Environmental Improvement Center. Award Number: 020006 | Recipient: Taira Hidaka. (3) Mayekawa Houonkai Foundation. Award Number: None | Recipient: Taira Hidaka.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, C1-2, Kyoto-Daigaku-Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Kyoto, 615-8540, Japan

    Taira Hidaka, Satoshi Suzuki & Fumitake Nishimura

  2. Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, 1-2 Yumihama, Otsu, 520-0811, Japan

    Fumitake Nishimura

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  1. Taira Hidaka
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Hidaka, T., Suzuki, S. & Nishimura, F. Growth Characteristics of Photosynthetic Bacteria Cultured in Anaerobic Digestate of Sewage Sludge to be Used as Fertilizer. Waste Biomass Valor 13, 1579–1588 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-021-01598-5

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