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Published on: April 22, 2016
Selection of microbial consortia for treating metal-working fluids
C J van der Gast1, C J Knowles, M Starkey
1Microbial Diversity Group, Natural Environment Research Council, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology-Oxford, Virology and Environmental Microbiology, Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SR, UK.
Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology
|June 25, 2002
Summary
This study developed a microbial consortium for treating industrial effluent from metal-working fluids (MWFs). The consortium effectively utilizes or tolerates all MWF components, including biocides and benzotriazole.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Industrial biotechnology
Background:
- Waste metal-working fluids (MWFs) present complex treatment challenges due to chemical mixtures.
- Understanding microbial community structure is key to developing effective bioremediation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of a microbial consortium construction strategy for treating industrial effluent.
- To characterize microbial communities in waste MWFs to inform consortium design.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic and genotypic analyses (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) analysis, Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE)) were used to identify microbial species.
- Metabolic potential, including assimilation and co-contaminant tolerance, was assessed for bacterial isolates.
- A consortium was constructed using three selected isolates: Clavibacter michiganensis, Methylobacterium mesophilicum, and Rhodococcus erythropolis.
Main Results:
- Microbial communities in spent MWFs exhibited low diversity and high similarity across different sources.
- Only 9 bacterial species were identified among 65 isolates, with genotypic and phenotypic methods showing congruent results.
- The constructed consortium demonstrated the ability to utilize or tolerate all tested MWF components, including biocides and benzotriazole.
Conclusions:
- A strategy for constructing microbial consortia based on understanding native microbial communities is effective for industrial effluent treatment.
- The developed consortium, comprising C. michiganensis, M. mesophilicum, and R. erythropolis, offers a viable solution for managing MWF waste.
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