World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

, Volume 27, Issue 12, pp 2893–2902 | Cite as

Study of the microbial diversity in a full-scale UASB reactor treating domestic wastewater

  • Rodrigo Mendonça de Lucena
  • Sávia Gavazza
  • Lourdinha Florencio
  • Mario T. Kato
  • Marcos Antonio de MoraisJr
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

Abstract

The microorganisms diversity in a full-scale UASB reactor treating domestic sewage was studied by molecular techniques, with the objective of identifying the population differences associated with the specific methanogenic activity (SMA) of the sludges. Samples were collected at levels A (0.8 m; bottom), B (1.3 m), C (1.8 m), D (2.3 m) and E (2.8 m). Actinobacteria was dominant at the three lower points and should have been primarily responsible for the degradation of organic matter. DNA sequences belonging to Methanomicrobiales order of Archaea domain was detected in all five levels with the majority producing methane from hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Points A and E showed similar bacteria variety. The SMA of point A was the highest (0.374 g COD-CH4/g SSV.d); however, the point E showed much lower value, probably due to the predominance of Proteobacteria phylum, including sulfate-reducing bacteria. In the overall, the results obtained can be considered important because data from full-scale UASB reactors treating domestic sewage remain scarce.

Keywords

Archaea Domestic sewage Microbial diversity Full-scale UASB reactor rRNA-16S library 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors express their special thanks to the colleagues of the Laboratory of Environmental Sanitation of the Federal University of Pernambuco for the analytical help, sampling and field activities. This work has been done with grants from the Brazilian agencies Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP) and Fundação de Amparo a Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE). The public companies COMPESA and URB-Recife are also acknowledged.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Rodrigo Mendonça de Lucena
    • 1
  • Sávia Gavazza
    • 2
  • Lourdinha Florencio
    • 3
  • Mario T. Kato
    • 3
  • Marcos Antonio de MoraisJr
    • 1
    • 4
  1. 1.Interdepartment Reserch Group on Metabolic EngineeringFederal University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil
  2. 2.Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Academic Center of AgresteFederal University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil
  3. 3.Laboratory of Environmental Sanitation, Department of Civil EngineeringFederal University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil
  4. 4.Laboratory of Microbial Genetics, Department of GeneticsFederal University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil

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