Purification of Aquarium Water by PVA Gel-Immobilized Photosynthetic Bacteria during Goldfish Rearing

• Published in: Biotechnology and bioprocess engineering 2009, 14(2), , pp.238-247
• Main Authors: Jeong, S.K. (Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea), Cho, J.S. (Doosan Ecobiznet, Yongin, Republic of Korea), Kong, I.S. (Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea), Jeong, H.D. (Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea), Kim, J.K. (Pukyong National University, Busan, Republic of Korea), E-mail: [e-mail]
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Aquariums; Bacteria; Biotechnology; Carassius auratus; Chemical engineering; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; circulating filter system; Feces; Filtration; immobilized photosynthetic bacteria; Industrial and Production Engineering; long-term goldfish rearing; Metabolism; Nitrates; Nitrogen dioxide; Organic matter; Photosynthesis; Polyvinyl alcohol; polyvinyl alcohol bead; PURIFICACION DEL AGUA; PURIFICATION DE L'EAU; Studies; WATER PURIFICATION; Water quality; 생물공학
• ISSN: 1226-8372; 1976-3816
• DOI: 10.1007/s12257-008-0195-0

This study was conducted to evaluate the ability of a PVA-gel beads filtration (PVA) system using photosynthetic bacteria to purify water. To accomplish this, duplicate long-term goldfish rearing experiments were conducted using four different types of aquarium systems (COF, PSB, EMC, and PVA). The results revealed that the concentrations of NH₄+-N on the day of a goldfish's death were significantly higher than the concentrations on other days for all the aquarium systems. In addition, the mean concentration of NH₄+-N during goldfish rearing occurred in the following order: COF system greater than EMC system greater than PSB system greater than PVA system. Furthermore, the mean values of all other ion concentrations (NO₃--N, NO₂--N, and PO₄²--P) were found to be lowest in the PVA system. As a result, there was more prominent decomposition of organic matter in the aquarium tank containing the PVA system, as well as less turbid aquarium water and more active goldfish. Additionally, the PVA-gel beads resulted in almost complete denitrification, even after six-months of goldfish rearing. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report that PVA gel-immobilized photosynthetic bacteria have the ability to purify water. Overall, the results of this study indicate that this immobilized photosynthetic bacteria system has the potential for use as a component in circulating filtration systems.