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Characterization of Thiobacillus thioparus isolated from an activated sludge bioreactor used for hydrogen sulfide treatment
Author(s) -
Barbosa V.L.,
Atkins S.D.,
Barbosa V.P.,
Burgess J.E.,
Stuetz R.M.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.03032.x
Subject(s) - population , temperature gradient gel electrophoresis , activated sludge , microbiology and biotechnology , bioreactor , hydrogen sulfide , thiobacillus , food science , aeration , microbial population biology , chemistry , sulfide , biology , bacteria , pulp and paper industry , sewage treatment , sulfur , environmental engineering , botany , ecology , environmental science , medicine , organic chemistry , environmental health , 16s ribosomal rna , engineering , genetics
Aims: To compare Thiobacillus thioparus population dynamics in a control and a test activated sludge (AS) bioreactor, used for hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) degradation. Methods and Results: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to confirm the presence of T. thioparus , and real‐time PCR was used to quantify the level of this bacterium in the AS samples. The DGGE analysis showed a band for T. thioparus in all samples, with the band being more prominent in the test sample with H 2 S diffusion. It also showed that although a change occurred in the diversity of the microbial population in the test sludge after 6 weeks of H 2 S diffusion, the microbial community structure of the test and control was still similar. Thiobacillus thioparus ‐specific PCR primers confirmed that 50% of the isolates from both the test and control bioreactors were T. thioparus . The thiobacilli population became more efficient at degrading the diffused H 2 S. This increase in efficiency was confirmed by a significant increase in the number of isolates from the test sludge compared with those from the control sludge, when they were grown in a thiosulfate‐rich liquid medium. Conclusions: It was concluded that the use of AS process for H 2 S removal encourages the population of T. thioparus to increase even at times when the total biomass concentration shows a decrease. Significance and Impact of the Study: The research results give an insight into the dynamics of the microbial population in an AS pilot plant used in a dual role, to treat the wastewater and H 2 S.