compounds can be treated more efficiently with a robust community of activated
sludge. Conversely, specialized bacterial species or highly acclimated strains may be
appropriate for individual, bio-resistant contaminants.
You can use combinations of sludge strains that have been acclimated to a type of
water similar to the one to be treated; however, the difficulty for degradation will be
evident, which suggests that it is preferable to use fresh sludge that acclimates faster
(Miller et al. 1988).On the other hand, it is possible to choose to use specialized
strains mixed with common sludge, and it has been shown that the mineralization of
the elements is significantly increased (Kearney et al. 1988). However, it has also
been shown that if a consortium of selected strains is used and its efficiency is
compared against a common mud, no increase in the rate of degradation or the
percentage of mineralization of the compounds is detected (Scott and Ollis 1995). In
conclusion, it is very difficult to have a suitable strain from the beginning of the
operation; it is preferable to make combinations of strains and wait until they
acclimate to the effluent.
Comparison Between Acclimated and Non-acclimated Strains
Acclimation of microorganisms to the substrate of interest is widely used to maximize the elimination efficiency of specific compounds that are difficult to biodegrade. This is achieved by increasing the feed concentration of the compound of
interest over a while to allow the growth of microorganisms that can use the
compound as a carbon source or nutrients. However, the substrate degraded by the
bioculture may not be the original compound to which it was acclimatized, but one
or more reaction intermediates.
The degradation of these intermediates will depend on whether the specific
microorganisms or others present in the microbial community have the necessary
enzymes and the ability to classify them successfully. In some cases, acclimated
crops may have an advantage in the degradation of intermediates due to their
specialized metabolic pathways. Studies have been reported in which a diversified
mullet was contacted and acclimated to the byproducts of the degradation reactions
of the original organic pollutant is more efficient than one that is only acclimated to
the original organic contaminants (Sud et al. 2008). Likewise, it has been reported
that non-acclimated strains are more resistant to by-products since they are easier to
degrade, however, a decrease of some of the species acclimated to the original
compound was also noted (Hu and Yu 1994; Jones et al. 1985), so it can be
concluded that the set of strains will undergo some change throughout the process
since some strains will die while others will become stronger.
Pure Culture
Pure microbial cultures have been cultivated and genetically engineered to degrade
chemical compounds that are generally resistant to biodegradation by conventional
5 Removal of Priority Water Pollutants Using Adsorption and Oxidation. . .
129
sludge. Conversely, specialized bacterial species or highly acclimated strains may be
appropriate for individual, bio-resistant contaminants.
You can use combinations of sludge strains that have been acclimated to a type of
water similar to the one to be treated; however, the difficulty for degradation will be
evident, which suggests that it is preferable to use fresh sludge that acclimates faster
(Miller et al. 1988).On the other hand, it is possible to choose to use specialized
strains mixed with common sludge, and it has been shown that the mineralization of
the elements is significantly increased (Kearney et al. 1988). However, it has also
been shown that if a consortium of selected strains is used and its efficiency is
compared against a common mud, no increase in the rate of degradation or the
percentage of mineralization of the compounds is detected (Scott and Ollis 1995). In
conclusion, it is very difficult to have a suitable strain from the beginning of the
operation; it is preferable to make combinations of strains and wait until they
acclimate to the effluent.
Comparison Between Acclimated and Non-acclimated Strains
Acclimation of microorganisms to the substrate of interest is widely used to maximize the elimination efficiency of specific compounds that are difficult to biodegrade. This is achieved by increasing the feed concentration of the compound of
interest over a while to allow the growth of microorganisms that can use the
compound as a carbon source or nutrients. However, the substrate degraded by the
bioculture may not be the original compound to which it was acclimatized, but one
or more reaction intermediates.
The degradation of these intermediates will depend on whether the specific
microorganisms or others present in the microbial community have the necessary
enzymes and the ability to classify them successfully. In some cases, acclimated
crops may have an advantage in the degradation of intermediates due to their
specialized metabolic pathways. Studies have been reported in which a diversified
mullet was contacted and acclimated to the byproducts of the degradation reactions
of the original organic pollutant is more efficient than one that is only acclimated to
the original organic contaminants (Sud et al. 2008). Likewise, it has been reported
that non-acclimated strains are more resistant to by-products since they are easier to
degrade, however, a decrease of some of the species acclimated to the original
compound was also noted (Hu and Yu 1994; Jones et al. 1985), so it can be
concluded that the set of strains will undergo some change throughout the process
since some strains will die while others will become stronger.
Pure Culture
Pure microbial cultures have been cultivated and genetically engineered to degrade
chemical compounds that are generally resistant to biodegradation by conventional
5 Removal of Priority Water Pollutants Using Adsorption and Oxidation. . .
129