Effects of Environmental Factors and Heavy Metals on the Growth and Phosphorus Removal of Alcaligenes sp.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to evaluate the effects of environmental factors and heavy metals on the growth and phosphorus removal capacity of Alcaligenes sp., which was well known as one of PAOs(Phosphorus Accumulating Microorganisms). METHODS AND RESULTS: The environmental factors used in this study were temperature, pH and carbon sources, and the heavy metals included Cu, Cd, Zn, As, and Ni. The growth and P removal efficiency of Alcaligenes sp. was maximal as temperature, pH, and carbon source were , 7, and glucose+acetate, respectively. Also, the (median inhibitory Concentration) values of Alcaligenes sp. for the Cu, Cd, Zn, As, and Ni were 5.03, 0.08, 0.73, 282.20 and 4.74 mg/L, respectively. CONCLUSION(S): Based on the results obtained from this study, it appears that the growth and P removal efficiency of Alcaligenes sp. were affected by the environment factors and at the best optimum condition for its growth and P removal efficiency, as the concentrations of heavy metals were gradually increased, its growth was correspondingly decreased.