Photosynthetically oxygenated acetonitrile biodegradation by an algal-bacterial microcosm: a pilot-scale study.
A 43-L column photobioreactor was tested for the treatment of acetonitrile using a symbiotic consortium consisting of a Chlorella sorokiniana strain and a Comamonas strain. Complete biodegradation of 1 g acetonitrile/l was achieved in 79 hours under continuous illumination at 500 microE/m(2)s and 26 degrees C. When the photobioreactor was operated at 26 degrees C under a 14/10 hours light/dark illumination regime at 500 microE/m(2)s, complete mineralization of 1 g acetonitrile/l was achieved in 111 hours. However, when acetonitrile was supplied at 2 g/l, the biodegradation process was severely inhibited by the increase of pH and NH4+ concentration during cultivation. In addition to saving energy for aeration, the microalgae assimilated 33% of the NH4+ released during acetonitrile biodegradation, which significantly reduces the need for subsequent nitrogen removal.
Muñoz
R
R
Department of Biotechnology, Center for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden. Raul.Munoz@biotek.lu.se
Rolvering
C
C
Guieysse
B
B
Mattiasson
B
B
D000097:Acetonitriles / Q000378:metabolism*; D000641:Ammonia / Q000032:analysis; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D002708:Chlorella / Q000378:metabolism; D020585:Comamonas / Q000378:metabolism; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010788:Photosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
D000097:Acetonitriles; D008903:Minerals; D000641:Ammonia; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen; C032159:acetonitrile