Chemostat studies on iron removal from ferric citrate medium by aerobic culture ofAeromonas sp.

Abstract

Abstract Iron resistant isolate (F16) of Aeromonas sp. capable of removing 68% iron from synthetic ferric citrate medium [Fe(III) ‐ 650 mg 1‐1] in aerobic batch cultures was used in continuous studies in three parallel 2–1 chemostats operated at 27–29°C with hydraulic retention time of 36–72 h and feed iron concentration of 100–650 mg 1‐1 for a period of 100 days. Maximum iron removal efficiency of 99.6% was obtained at 72 h retention time with specific iron removal rate of 9.5 mg g‐1 h‐1; the efficiency was 20–60% for 36‐ 48 h retention period.