Biotechnological potential of indigenous microorganisms and plants for the treatment of industrial and agricultural wastewaters

¹ RUDN University, 6, Miklouho-Maklaya, Moscow, 117198, Russia
² Institute of North Industrial Ecology Problems – Subdivision of the Federal Research Centre Kola Scientific Centre of Russian Academy of Science, Laboratory of Microorganism Ecology, 14A, Akademgorodok, Apatity, 184209, Russia

^* Corresponding author: myazin_va@pfur.ru

Abstract

In this study was assessed the biotechnological potential of indigenous microorganisms isolated from wastewater in the North-West of Russia. Bioreactor anaerobic treatment using sulfate-reducing microbial associations reduced the sulfate content in wastewater from 456 to 19 mg/l at a wastewater feed rate into the laboratory reactor of 100 ml/day and a reactor capacity of 700 ml. Subsequent additional water treatment by rhizofiltration for 5 days reduced the potassium content in water from 188 to 78 mg/l. The ratio of water volume to plant biomass was 15:1. The pH value at all stages of biological purification was in the optimal range (6.3- 8.5) for the functioning of sulfate-reducing bacteria and plant growth. Thus, the possibility of successful treatment of wastewater by sulfate- reduction in a bioreactor and rhizofiltration was show.