Capacity of Hydrophobic Carriers to Form Biofilm for Removing Hydrocarbons from Polluted Industrial Wastewater: Assay in Microcosms

This study describes the capacity of different sorbents to form stable biofilms under highly hydrocarbon-polluted conditions and the degrading capacity of the microbiota present in the biofilm. With this aim, microcosms were designed in a 1 L beaker with 400 mL of culture medium or polluted wastewat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water, air, and soil pollution air, and soil pollution, 2018-06, Vol.229 (6), p.1-13, Article 175
Main Authors: Rodríguez-Calvo, Alfonso, Silva-Castro, Gloria Andrea, Robledo-Mahón, Tatiana, González-López, Jesús, Calvo, Concepción
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Bacteria
Biofilms
Capacity
Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts
Cork
Culture media
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Environmental monitoring
Hydrocarbons
Hydrogeology
Hydrophobicity
Industrial pollution
Industrial wastes
Industrial wastewater
Microbiota
Microbiota (Symbiotic organisms)
Microcosms
Pollution
Polypropylene
Soil Science & Conservation
Sorbents
Wastewater
Wastewater pollution
Wastewater treatment
Water pollution
Water Quality/Water Pollution
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Summary:This study describes the capacity of different sorbents to form stable biofilms under highly hydrocarbon-polluted conditions and the degrading capacity of the microbiota present in the biofilm. With this aim, microcosms were designed in a 1 L beaker with 400 mL of culture medium or polluted wastewater and an amount equivalent of 200 mL of the selected sorbent carrier, made of cork and/or polypropylene meltblown. The culturable bacteria adhered to the sorbent carrier were quantified, and the time course of the hydrocarbon concentration was studied together with the formation of a biofilm on the carrier’s surface. The results revealed a different performance of the carriers in terms of bacterial adhesion, significantly reduction in the hydrocarbon content in water at the end of the assays, and a biofilm tolerance to high hydrocarbon concentration in the polluted water. From these results, it was concluded that the use of a sorbent, hydrophobic cork, or meltblown polypropylene, together with indigenous microbiota, constitutes a promising technology for the treatment of hydrocarbon-polluted water.
ISSN:0049-6979
1573-2932
DOI:10.1007/s11270-018-3826-x