Sz-Chwun John Hwang

Decolorization of the textile dyes by newly isolated bacterial strains

Six bacterial strains with the capability of degrading textile dyes were isolated from sludge samples and mud lakes. Aeromonas hydrophila was selected and identified because it exhibited the greatest color removal from various dyes. Although A. hydrophila displayed good growth in aerobic or agitation culture (AGI culture), color removal was the best in anoxic or anaerobic culture (ANA culture). For color removal, the most suitable pH and temperature were pH 5.5-10.0 and 20-35 degrees C under anoxic culture (ANO culture). More than 90% of RED RBN was reduced in color within 8 days at a dye concentration of 3,000 mg l(-1). This strain could also decolorize the media containing a mixture of dyes within 2 days of incubation. Nitrogen sources such as yeast extract or peptone could enhance strongly the decolorization efficiency. In contrast to a nitrogen source, glucose inhibited decolorization activity because the consumed glucose was converted to organic acids that might decrease the pH of the culture medium, thus inhibiting the cell growth and decolorization activity. Decolorization appeared to proceed primarily by biological degradation.

Decolorization of azo dye using PVA-immobilized microorganisms

A microbial consortium having a high capacity for rapid decolorization of azo dye (RED RBN) was immobilized by a phosphorylated polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) gel. The immobilized-cell beads exhibited a color removal capability of 75%, even at a high concentration of RED RBN (500 mg l(-1)) within 12 h using flask culture. The continuous operation was conducted at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 5-20 h in which the dye loading rate ranged from 240 to 60 mg dye h(-1). A removal efficiency exceeding 90% was obtained at the HRT higher than 10 h. No recognizable destruction of bead appearance was observed in the 6-month operation. Examination of the mechanism of the decolorization process by cell beads indicated that it proceeded primarily by biological decolorization associated with partial adsorption of the dye onto the entrapped cells and gel matrix. Microscopic observation revealed that the microbial consortium contained in the gel beads was at least made up of three kinds of bacterial species. From the economical viewpoint, alternative cheaper nitrogen sources such as fish meal, soybean meal, pharmamedia and vita yeast powder were examined.

Waste Gas Treatment in Biofilters

Biofiltration of polluted gas streams containing malodorous triethylamine (TEA) was studied. The experiments were conducted in a laboratory-scale reactor with a mixture of sieved compost and chaff particles as the filter material on which the microorganisms were immobilized. The concentrations of TEA in the inlet gas varied from 0.32 to 3.45 g/m3 (78 ppmv to 841 ppmv), while the superficial velocity of the inlet gas ranged from 60.1 to 322.2 m/hr. The removal efficiency of triethylamine in the biofilter decreased as the gas velocity or TEA concentration in the inlet gas increased. Moreover, the elimination capacity of this biofilter could reach up to 140 g/(m3 hr). When the loading of TEA exceeded this critical value, substrate inhibition occurred and the elimination capacity decreased. A mathematical model predicting the removal efficiency of the pollutant was also developed in this study. The inhibitory effect of the substrate on the growth rate of the biomass was considered in this model. The proposed model could accurately represent the experimental data obtained in this study.

Degradation of dimethyl-sulfoxide-containing wastewater using airlift bioreactor by polyvinyl-alcohol-immobilized cell beads

Airlift bioreactor containing polyvinyl-alcohol-immobilized cell beads was investigated for its capability of biodegradation of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) in term of sludge characteristics including the strategy of acclimation with sucrose and the protection of microorganism from poisoning of DMSO by PVA cell beads. Media condition with sucrose at 50 mg L(-1) was beneficial to the biodegradation of DMSO in the fresh PVA entrapped-sludge, but became insignificant in the acclimated one as for tolerance of DMSO toxicity. The removal efficiency of DMSO had the highest rate at 1.42-kg DMSO per kilogram of suspended solid per day after series acclimation batches in the oxygen-enriched airlift bioreactor treated with the 1187.4 mg L(-1) of DMSO. Microbial consortium was required for the complete biodegradation of DMSO without any dimethyl sulfide produced. Pseudomonas sp. W1, excreting extracellular monooxygenase identified by indole, was isolated to be one of the most effective DMSO-degrading microorganism in our airlift bioreactor.

Biofiltration of waste gases containing both ethyl acetate and toluene using different combinations of bacterial cultures

To investigate the microbial degradation of ethyl acetate and toluene mixtures in biofiltration, three strains were selected, identified and studied in a shake-flask culture, and finally inoculated into biofilters. These strains, namely AC6, TO3 and B5, can degrade different substrates at a different rate. The results showed that competitive inhibition from substrate and microbial community would affect the toluene degradation efficiency. Owing to substrate competition, the toluene degradation efficiency of strain B5 would decrease in the presence of high concentration of ethyl acetate. However, the addition of strain AC6 would alleviate such inhibition because it could remove ethyl acetate rapidly. Microbial community competition from strain AC6 or B5 would impede the toluene degradation efficiency of strain TO3 unless a large amount of strain TO3 was inoculated. In biofiltration, strain B5 would be a better choice for inoculation into biofilters than strains AC6 and TO3, as it would grow rapidly under a low concentration of ethyl acetate.

Increasing algal biofuel production using Nannocholropsis oculata cultivated with anaerobically and aerobically treated swine wastewater

For mass production of Nannocholropsis oculata, a cheap nutrition source such as swine wastewater is required. The use of a combination of anaerobically/aerobically treated swine wastewater (AnATSW) was compared to artificial 3×f/2 medium in terms of algal growth rate and oil content. For microalgae cultured in 0-50% (v/v) AnATSW, a biomass of 0.94-3.22 g L(-1) was reached in 5 days. For microalgae cultured in 3×f/2 medium with vitamins, the lipid productivity was 0.122 g L(-1) d(-1) although its oil content reached 48.9%. Culturing N. oculata in 0-50% AnATSW resulted in an optimal lipid productivity of 0.035-0.177 g L(-1) d(-1). Only vitamins improved algal production of more oxidatively stable compositions of unsaturated oils. These oils were similar to the chemical structure of rapeseed oil based on analysis of the bis-allylic-position-equivalent value (30.64-46.13) and the iodine value (90.5-117.46). These oils were similar to coal based on the calculated low-heating-value of 17.6-22.9 MJ/kg.

Water Transformation in the Media of Biofilters Controlled by Rhodococcus fascians in Treating an Ethyl Acetate-Contaminated Airstream

Abstract Biofilters do not provide much water for bacteria to grow. To use them efficiently and properly, it is essential to understand the kinetics of water transformation and to control moisture levels. This study aims to clarify whether the metabolism of microorganisms will improve the water-holding capacity of media or will intensify drying. This experiment was conducted in duplicate, that is, both with and without bacterial inoculation. Both the constant water content mode and the declining water content mode show that microbial growth in a log phase will enhance drying. In contrast, the bacteria growing in a logarithmic decline phase will improve water-holding capacity. Basically, water evaporation can result from the latent heat obtained from microbial respiration or from the physical temperature difference between the unsaturated air and the wet media. Two ways that biofilters can gain water are from water incorporated into bacteria cells and from water obtained from the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Treatment of acetone waste gases using slurry-phase airlift embedded with polyacrylamide-entrapped cell beads.

Abstract Acetone is the most common chemical used in the Hsinchu Science Park in Taiwan. The three-phase airlift biore-actor was designed to absorb acetone into the 39 L of medium solution and then degraded by 2-L polyacryl-amide (PAA)-entrapped Thiosphaera pantotropha cell beads. The airlift medium was successfully regenerated and circulated for more than 5 months. The elimination capacity of 350-part per million (ppm) acetone at 10 L ∙ min−1 was 258.4 g · m−3hr−1 (160.4 g-C · m−3hr−1) with 100% removal efficiency in Stage II, higher than previously reported biofiltration results. The maximum chemical oxygen demand:nitrogen ratio of 100:2.9 is achieved, and a balanced nutrient state was indicated by the change in redox potential. The pH of the system was maintained at neutral because of the strong buffer agent added to the medium (final buffer intensity, β=1.18 ×10-2 M). The PAA-entrapped cell beads could also provide a good barrier for high salinity gradient environment and the inoculum source to maintain steady operation of the system.