Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Comparison of Scale in a Photosynthetic Reactor System for Algal Remediation of Wastewater
Published on: March 6, 2017
Comparative evaluation of the microbial community in biological processes treating industrial and domestic
A P Degenaar1, A Ismail, F Bux
1Centre for Water and Wastewater Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa.
Aims:
Comparison of the microbial composition and process performance between laboratory scale processes treating domestic and vegetable oil wastewaters.
Methods And Results:
Two laboratory scale modified Ludzack-Ettinger processes were operated under similar operating conditions. One process was fed domestic wastewater and the other an industrial wastewater, vegetable oil effluent. Nitrogen removal capacities of the processes were similar. The industrial process exhibited a lower COD removal capacity and oxygen utilization rate, although a greater mixed liquor volatile suspended solids concentration was observed in the industrial process. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes EUBmix, ALF1b, BET42a, GAM42a and HGC69a revealed that 81% and 72% of total cells stained with 4', 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) within the domestic and industrial processes respectively bound to EUBmix. This indicated a slightly lower Eubacterial population within the industrial process. The alpha-proteobacteria was the dominant community in the industrial process (31% of EUBmix), while the beta-proteobacteria dominated the domestic process (33% of EUBmix).
Conclusions:
The findings served to establish a difference in the microbial population between the processes. Therefore, the class alpha-proteobacteria could play a primary role in the degradation of vegetable oil effluent.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
This research will aid in process design and retrofitting of biological processes treating vegetable oil effluent.
More Related Videos
16:33Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes
Published on: December 12, 2013
09:49Use of a Battery of Chemical and Ecotoxicological Methods for the Assessment of the Efficacy of Wastewater Treatment Processes to Remove Estrogenic Potency
Published on: September 11, 2016
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Methods to Assess Microbial Communities
Methods to Assess Microbial Populations
Introduction to Microbial Ecology