Role of Bacillus cereus GS-5 strain on simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorous removal from domestic wastewater in an inventive single unit multi-layer packed bed bioreactor

Abstract

This work evaluates the performance efficiency of a newly developed single unit packed bed bioreactor for nutrient removal from domestic wastewater. The packing materials, including dolochar, and a mixture of waste organic solid substance, were immobilized with a simultaneous nitrifying, denitrifying and phosphate removing bacterial strain, Bacillus cereus GS-5 and packed in the bioreactor alternatively in multiple layers. The bioreactor was operated continuously for a period of 70 days using both synthetic and real domestic wastewater (NH4+-N 30–100 mg/L, NO3−-N 10–100 mg/L, PO43−-P 5–20 mg/L and COD 250–1000 mg/L). The innovative single unit bioreactor exhibited simultaneous removal of NH4+-N (87.1–93.1%), NO3−-N (69.4–88.4%), PO43−-P (84–100%), and even COD (69.8–92.1%), in a remarkable disparity to traditional distinct aerobic-anaerobic treatment systems. This work advocated for a promising and feasible application prospect of the developed single unit packed bed bioreactor in domestic wastewater treatment emphasizing on nutrient removal.