Abstract
Groundwater is the main water source for many areas in Saudi Arabia and the only source of water in some areas. Many local studies have reported that high nitrate concentrations in some wells of groundwater. To provide safe drinking water, the excess amounts of nitrate have to be removed by bio-denitrification process. This study aims to develop a denitrifying biological filter using denitrifying bacteria immobilized on microbial cellulose for the removal of nitrates from water contaminated with nitrate. Denitrifying bacteria that can form biofilter on microbial cellulose were isolated from different regions in Saudi Arabia and were characterized by molecular techniques. They were evaluated for their ability to analyze nitrates and to develop biofilter to remove nitrates from contaminated water. In the results of this project, an optimal microbial cellulose production was achieved by Gluconacetobacter xylinus ATCC 23768 in the lab, which had facilitated the use of biofilter with the immobilized nitrate-reducing bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The reduction rate of nitrate was reached 1.9mg/L from the starting concentration of 100 mg/L after 18h. Promising results of nitrate removal rate on MC immobilized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa on biofilter at optimized lab conditions of pH, and proper carbon source were achieved. The results suggest that water contaminated with nitrate can be removed by the bio-denitrification process effectively.
Highlights
In the results of this project, an optimal microbial cellulose production was achieved by Gluconacetobacter xylinus ATCC 23768 in the lab, which had facilitated the use of biofilter with the immobilized nitratereducing bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Cheap carbon source like ethanol may be employed, compared to glucose or succinate, which may be relatively more expensive. In this current study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was immobilized on synthesized MC in a biofiltration column
It was shown that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was able to remove nitrate of an initial nitrate concentration of 70mg/ml under constant flow and optimized experimental conditions
Summary
In Saudi Arabia, the primary water supply is the conventional source, which is groundwater, and non-conventional source, which is desalination. In Saudi Arabia, there are thirty-five desalination plants capable of producing potable water from seawater and fresh groundwater. Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest countries that produce desalinized water in the world. The groundwater is used in many regions of the country and sometimes it is the only source of water in some areas. Due to the high number of people and lifestyle, the yearly water needs were enlarged in 1980 from 2,352 MCM (million cubic meters) to 27,239 MCM in 1990. In 1992 the needs increased to 30,000 MCM1,2. The decline in groundwater is due to many misused in industrial, agricultural activities humans in Saudi Arabia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
