Isolation and screening of fungi to determine potential for ammonia nitrogen treatment in wastewater. Issue 2 (1st March 2007)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guest, R K; Smith, D W
• Is Part Of: Journal of environmental engineering and science. Volume 6:Issue 2(2007)
• Page Start: 209
• Page End: 217
• Publication Date: 2007-03-01
• Subjects: environment; Environmental engineering -- Periodicals; Sanitary engineering -- Periodicals; Environmental engineering -- Canada -- Periodicals; Environnement, Technique de l' -- Périodiques; Technique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Environnement, Technique de l' -- Canada -- Périodiques; Environmental engineering; Sanitary engineering; Canada; Electronic journals; Computer network resources; Periodicals; 628.05
• DOI: 10.1139/s06-050
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1496-2551

Abstract

Abstract : Twenty-two fungi were studied to determine the potential for development of fungal nitrogen treatment (FNT) technology for municipal wastewater. Fungal nitrogen treatment has been hypothesized to have several significant advantages over bacterial nitrification–denitrification systems. The fungi were isolated from the biological nutrient reactor at the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Fungi were screen for nitrogen treatment potential using an aerobic 3 day ammonium concentration decrease test. Seven fungi were found to have potential for nitrogen or phosphorus treatment. The highest average ammonium decreased was 59% with an average initial concentration of 22 mg N L –1 . Fungal nitrogen treatment was also characterized by a lack of production of nitrate or nitrite under aerobic conditions. Data analysis indicated, the ammonium decrease was not consistent with nitrogen assimilation. Key words : fungi, biological nutrient removal, ammonium, nitrification, denitrification.