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Updated: Apr 24, 2026

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities
Published on: December 25, 2015
Effect of high electron donor supply on dissimilatory nitrate reduction pathways in a bioreactor for nitrate removal
Anna Behrendt1, Sheldon Tarre2, Michael Beliavski2
1Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Microsensor Group, Bremen, Germany.
Abstract:
The possible shift of a bioreactor for NO3(-) removal from predominantly denitrification (DEN) to dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) by elevated electron donor supply was investigated. By increasing the C/NO3(-) ratio in one of two initially identical reactors, the production of high sulfide concentrations was induced. The response of the dissimilatory NO3(-) reduction processes to the increased availability of organic carbon and sulfide was monitored in a batch incubation system. The expected shift from a DEN- towards a DNRA-dominated bioreactor was not observed, also not under conditions where DNRA would be thermodynamically favorable. Remarkably, the microbial community exposed to a high C/NO3(-) ratio and sulfide concentration did not use the most energy-gaining process.
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