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PVA-alginate immobilized cells for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology

Abstract

The feasibility of an anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process combined with a cell-immobilization technique for autotrophic nitrogen removal was investigated. Anammox biomass was cultivated from local activated sludge and achieved significant anammox activity in 6 months. The development of a mature anammox biomass was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis and off-line activity measurements. The abundance fraction of the anammox bacteria determined by FISH analysis was estimated by software. The anaerobic ammonia oxidizers occupied almost half of the total cells. Additionally, the anammox biomass was granulated as spherical gel beads of 3–4 mm in diameter by using a cell-immobilization technique. The nitrogen removal activity was proved to be successfully retained in the beads, with about 80% of nitrogenous compounds (NH4 +, NO2 − and total nitrogen) removed after 48 h. These results offer a promising technique for the preservation of anammox microorganisms, the protection of them against the unfavorable surroundings, and the prevention of biomass washout towards the implementation of sustainable nitrogen elimination biotechnology. This is the first report on the immobilization of anammox biomass as gel beads.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Science Council of the Republic of China for financially supporting this research under Contract No. NSC 95-2211-E-002-145.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Safety Health and Environmental Engineering, Tungnan University, No.152, Sec.3, Pei-Shen Rd., Shen-Kun Village, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Tsung-Hui Hsia, Yu-Jou Feng & Chun-Ming Ho

  2. Graduate Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Taiwan University, 71 Chou-Shan Rd, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC

    Wen-Po Chou & Szu-Kung Tseng

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  1. Tsung-Hui Hsia
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  2. Yu-Jou Feng
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  3. Chun-Ming Ho
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  4. Wen-Po Chou
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  5. Szu-Kung Tseng
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Correspondence to Yu-Jou Feng.

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Hsia, TH., Feng, YJ., Ho, CM. et al. PVA-alginate immobilized cells for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 35, 721–727 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-008-0336-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10295-008-0336-7

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