Abstract

A better understanding of the biology and ecology of the microbial populations in biological reactor systems is the key to developing and optimizing efficient and economic reactor systems. In the study, we have analyzed the diversity and community components of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in five different water treatment processes. All results indicated that the diversity and abundance of AOB were influenced by distinct influent characteristics and system operation. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that the distribution pattern of AOB among different processes showed that genetic types of amoA could separate into three which were municipal wastewater treatment pattern, food industrial wastewater treatment pattern and raw water treatment pattern.

Key words: Ammonia oxidizing bacteria, ammonia monooxygenase gene, activated sludge, granular activated carbon, water treatment processes

Abbreviation

AOB, Ammonia oxidizing bacteria; SBR, sequencing batch reactor; GAC, granular activated carbon; WWTP, wastewater treatment plant; SRT, sludge retention time; COD, chemical oxygen demand; COM, chemical oxygen material.