title: Microbial community structures in a horizontal biotrickling filter degrading H2S and NH3.
abstract: In this study, the temporal and spatial differences in the microbial community structures in a horizontal biotrickling filter (HBTF) for simultaneous biodegradation of H(2)S and NH(3) was investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments. Over 90% H(2)S and 95% NH(3) were removed simultaneously under the loadings up to 137gm(-3)h(-1) in most cases. PCR-DGGE fingerprints revealed high population diversity of the biofilm in the HBTF. The microbial community structures in the HBTF could adapt to changing operating conditions, e.g., inlet loadings and substrates starvation, while they were relatively stable under the constant loadings. In addition, the microbial community structures differed as a function of the section of the HBTF during early operational period, while they were much more similar over extended operation.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Blk N1, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore. JIAN0018@ntu.edu.sg
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Joo Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tay
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D018441:Biofilms; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005374:Filtration; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000737:chemistry*; D007218:Industrial Microbiology / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012722:Sewage; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012722:Sewage; D000641:Ammonia; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide