title: Biodegradation of nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and ferric-NTA complex by aerobic microbial granules.
abstract: Development of mixed-culture microbial granules under aerobic conditions in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR), capable of completely degrading a recalcitrant metal chelating agent is reported. In laboratory-scale reactor studies, the microbial granules degraded 2mM of free nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) and Fe(III)-NTA completely in 14 and 40 h, respectively. Free NTA was degraded at a specific rate of 0.7 mM (gMLSS)(-1)h(-1), while Fe(III)-NTA was degraded at a specific rate of 0.37 mM (gMLSS)(-1)h(-1). Achievement of significant degradation rates of NTA and ferric-NTA in double-distilled water suggests that the microbial metabolism is not constrained by lack of essential elements. Efficient degradation of recalcitrant synthetic chelating agents by aerobic microbial granules suggests their potential application in a variety of situations where heavy metals or radionuclides are to be co-disposed with metal chelating agents.
authors.affiliation: Water and Steam Chemistry Laboratory, BARC Facilities, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu 603102, India.
authors.forename: Y V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Nancharaiah
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schwarzenbeck
authors.forename: T V K
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Narasimhan
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Wilderer
authors.forename: V P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Venugopalan
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019149:Bioreactors; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D009571:Nitrilotriacetic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry*; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D009571:Nitrilotriacetic Acid; C020326:ferric nitrilotriacetate