Enrichment of anammox biomass in a Sequencing Batch Reactor to nitrogen removal from landfill leachate

• Grant number: 13/07474-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: May 01, 2013
• End date: October 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Tiago Henrique Martins
• Grantee: Túlio da Silva Siqueira
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/15984-0 - Bioenergy production from wastewaters and environmental fitting of liquid and solid wastes generated, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 13/24189-5 - Specific anammox activity inhibition by leachate, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

This project aims to enrich bacterial culture capable of oxidizes ammonium to nitrogen (N2) under anoxic conditions, using as inoculum biomass of activated sludge system for wastewater treatment industry Volkswagen-Brazil (São Carlos-SP). The inoculum will be enriched in a specific basal medium containing ammonium, nitrite, and bicarbonate as the sole carbon source. Subsequently, physiological tests will be performed to verify the anaerobic ammonia oxidation ("anammox") varying concentrations of ammonium and nitrite. At the end of enrichment, it will be identified the bacteria present in the biomass by cloning, sequencing, and phylogenetic approach 16S rRNA gene. It is planned for the beginning of 2014 a research fellowship (Bepe) contemplating physiological tests of specific anammox activity, the stage will be held at the University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), under the supervision of Professor Dr. Ramón J. Méndez Pampin. The research group on environmental engineering and bioprocess at this university are well known for research on nitrogen removal by anammox process. This project is linked to the thematic project Bioenergy Production in Wastewater Treatment and Adequacy of Environmental Wastewater and Waste Generated (process 2009/15984-0) and the postdoctoral project Alternative Technology for Treatment of Landfill Leachate (process 2010/11218-9). (AU)