US EPA

2020105 

Journal Article 

Distribution of Nitrosomonas-Related Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria and Nitrobacter-Related Nitrite-Oxidizing Bacteria in Two Full-Scale Biological Nutrient Removal Plants 

Ramdhani, N; Kumari, S; Bux, F 

2013 

1 

Water Environment Research
ISSN: 1061-4303
EISSN: 1554-7531 

85 

4 

374-381 

English 

23697242 

10.2175/106143013X13596524516022 

WOS:000320170500011 

The dominant nitrifying bacterial communities and nitrification performance of two biological nutrient removal plants were evaluated. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was used to detect and quantify the dominant nitrifying bacteria and polymerase chain reaction; cloning and sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes was done for phylogenetic analysis. Fluorescent in situ hybridization-confocal scanning laser microscopy studies revealed the presence and dominance of Nitrosomonas-related ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and Nitrobacter-related nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB); however, a significant variation in AOB/NOB ratios was recorded. The plant with an overall higher AOB/NOB ratio (> or = 1.0) and dissolved oxygen concentration (1.8 to 2.5 mg/L) showed a higher nitrification rate. This study has also shown the co-existence and variation in phylogenetically diverse Nitrosomonas-related AOB and Nitrobacter-related NOB at these two plants. These dissimilar, distinct distribution patterns of nitrifying communities could be attributed to wastewater characteristics and the process configuration, which, in turn, would have also affected the nitrification performance of the systems. 

ammonia-oxidizing bacteria; biological nutrient removal; fluorescent in situ hybridization; nitrite-oxidizing bacteria; nitrification