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Updated: Jun 12, 2026
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Methods for Facilitating Microbial Growth on Pulp Mill Waste Streams and Characterization of the Biodegradation Potential of Cultured Microbes
Published on: December 12, 2013
Microbial dynamics in a sequencing batch reactor treating alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp and paper process
Peng Zhan1, Jienan Chen, Gang He
1Institute of Biological and Environmental Science and Technology, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, China.
Summary
This study shows that a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) effectively treated alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp (APMP) wastewater, removing 70-80% of chemical oxygen demand. Microbial community analysis using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) revealed dynamic changes linked to treatment efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Environmental biotechnology
- Wastewater treatment
- Microbial ecology
Background:
- Highly concentrated wastewater from the pulp and paper industry, specifically alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp (APMP) processes, poses significant global environmental challenges.
- Effective treatment strategies are crucial to mitigate the environmental impact of APMP wastewater.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the treatment efficiency of APMP wastewater using a sequencing batch reactor (SBR).
- To analyze the microbial community dynamics within the SBR system during wastewater treatment using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis.
Main Methods:
- Application of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for APMP wastewater treatment.
- Analysis of wastewater characteristics and physicochemical parameters using standard methods.
- Extraction, amplification, and RAPD analysis of microbial 16S rDNA from active sludge to assess microbial dynamics.
Main Results:
- The SBR achieved a chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 70.3% to 79.8%, with effluent COD ranging from 176.5 to 266.1 mg/L for influent COD between 685.7 and 907.5 mg/L.
- Ten types of natural plant organic compounds, including monoterpenes, were identified in the wastewater.
- RAPD-PCR analysis revealed high genetic polymorphism (78-100%) in the bacterial community, with four distinct species clusters identified. The Shannon-Weaver index indicated high microbial diversity that correlated with COD removal.
Conclusions:
- The SBR system demonstrates significant efficiency in treating APMP wastewater.
- Random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) is a viable method for studying microbial community dynamics in wastewater treatment systems.
- Microbial community structure and diversity in the SBR system fluctuate over time, correlating with the wastewater treatment performance.
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