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Bacterial succession and degradative changes by biofilm on plastic medium for wastewater treatment
Author(s) -
Khatoon Nazia,
Naz Iffat,
Ali Muhammad Ishtiaq,
Ali Naeem,
Jamal Asif,
Hameed Abdul,
Ahmed Safia
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of basic microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.58
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1521-4028
pISSN - 0233-111X
DOI - 10.1002/jobm.201300162
Subject(s) - biofilm , extracellular polymeric substance , chemistry , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , microorganism , polysaccharide , food science , wastewater , scanning electron microscope , microbiology and biotechnology , nuclear chemistry , environmental chemistry , bacteria , biology , materials science , organic chemistry , chemical engineering , environmental engineering , composite material , genetics , engineering
Biofilms contain a diverse range of microorganisms and their varying extracellular polysaccharides. The present study has revealed biofilm succession associated with degradative effects on plastic (polypropylene) and contaminants in sludge. The wet weight of biofilm significantly ( p < 0.05) increased; from 0.23 ± 0.01 to 0.44 ± 0.01 g. Similarly, the dry weight of the biofilm increased from 0.02 to 0.05 g. Significant reduction in pathogens ( E. coli and feacal coliforms) by MPN technique (>80%) and in chemical parameters (decrease in COD, BOD 5 of 73.32 and 69.94%) representing diminution of organic pollutants. Energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDS) of plastic revealed carbon and oxygen contents, further surface analysis of plastic by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed emergence of profound bacterial growth on the surface. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy conforms its biotransformation under aerobic conditions after 8 weeks. New peaks developed at the region 1050 and 969 cm −1 indicating CO and CC bond formation. Thus plastic with 6 weeks old aerobic biofilm (free of pathogens, max. weight, and OD, efficient COD & BOD removal ability) is suggested to be maintained in fixed biofilm reactors for wastewater treatment.