A study on aerobic lipid substrate elimination by microbial consortium

Abstract

: The purpose of this study was to validate the applicability of specialized microbial consortium for the degradation of lipids in wastewater. An experimental model of the process is proposed that enables prediction of the required batch length. This model can be used for supervision of the process and to control cycles of the batch reactor. The study involved 4 reactors with microbial consortium obtained by inoculation from a commercially available biopreparate. Each reactor was fed a diff erent load of lipid containing substrate. The biodiversity, settling characteristics and COD reductions were measured. The biodiversity of the microbial consortium changed within a range of ±15% depending on lipids concentration, as shown by the Shannon index and increasing amount of β-proteobacteria. Higher concentrations of lipids increased the biodiversity suggesting higher growth of microorganisms capable of utilizing lipids as energy and carbon source by producing lipid hydrolyzing enzymes. High lipid concentrations degrade the settling capabilities of the biomass. Higher lipid concentrations (0.5–2.0 [g