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Removal of phosphate by foam‐immobilized Phormidium laminosum in batch and continuous‐flow bioreactors
Author(s) -
Garbisu Carlos,
Hall David O.,
Serra Juan L.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.280570214
Subject(s) - phosphate , ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid , bioreactor , chromatography , cyanobacteria , chemistry , nitrate , photobioreactor , adsorption , bacteria , dihydroxyacetone phosphate , nuclear chemistry , chelation , biochemistry , inorganic chemistry , biology , organic chemistry , ecology , biofuel , genetics
Free‐living and polyvinyl foam‐immobilized cells of Phormidium laminosum were studied for their phosphate uptake characteristics. Initial phosphate uptake rates yielded hyperbolic curves when plotted against the external phosphate concentration, indicating the existence of a saturatable transport system. The phosphate uptake rates of N‐starved free‐living cyano‐bacteria were also examined and showed that N‐starvation led to lower uptake rates. The addition of nitrate to N‐starved cyanobacteria markedly increased phosphate uptake. Phosphate uptake by free and immobilized cyanobacteria was inhibited in the dark and stimulated by the presence of calcium ions or bicarbonate. No phosphate uptake was observed when a chelating agent, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), was added to the cultures. Several bioreactors were established for initial studies in using immobilized cyanobacteria for the removal of phosphate from water. Three different types of batch fluidized‐bed, as well as two continuous‐flow bioreactors (i.e. fluidized‐ and packed‐bed), were examined. Although cyanobacteria immobilized on the polymer foams did not show high phosphate uptake efficiencies, simultaneous removal of nitrate and phosphate from water by means of N‐starved immobilized cyano‐bacteria appeared to be a promising possibility for future development.