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Microbial flocculation by Bacillus mucilaginosus: Applications and mechanisms
1State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550002, People's Republic of China. bin2368@vip.163.com
Bioresource Technology
|October 31, 2007
Summary
Bacillus mucilaginosus effectively flocculates wastewater, removing significant chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and suspended solids (SS). This microbial flocculation mechanism involves bridging and charge neutralization, offering a sustainable wastewater treatment solution.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Wastewater Treatment
Background:
- Microbiological flocculation is a promising approach for sustainable wastewater treatment.
- Understanding the mechanisms of microbial flocculation is crucial for optimizing its application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microbiological flocculation of wastewater using a Bacillus mucilaginosus strain.
- To elucidate the flocculation mechanism and optimize treatment conditions.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of Bacillus mucilaginosus (GY03 strain) using morphology and 16S rDNA sequencing.
- Wastewater treatment experiments with optimized conditions derived from orthogonal experiments.
- Mechanism investigation using Coomassie brilliant blue reaction, Anthrone reaction, TLC, SEM, and FTIR.
Main Results:
- Optimized microbial flocculant achieved high removal rates: COD (up to 74.6%), BOD (up to 77.4%), and SS (up to 93.6%) across different wastewater types.
- Bacillus mucilaginosus GY03 effectively treated domestic, brewage, and pharmaceutical wastewater.
- Experimental observations suggest bridging and charge neutralization as key flocculation mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Bacillus mucilaginosus is an effective microbial flocculant for various industrial wastewaters.
- The study provides insights into the mechanisms of microbial flocculation, aiding in process optimization.
- This research offers a sustainable and efficient method for wastewater remediation.
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