Bright Singh, I S; Rosamma, Philip; Rejish Kumar, V J; Valsamma, Joseph; Vijai, R(Wiley, March 3, 2011)
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Abstract:
BACKGROUND: A packed bed bioreactor (PBBR) activated with an indigenous nitrifying bacterial consortia was developed
and commercialized for rapid establishment of nitrification in brackish water and marine hatchery systems in the tropics.
The present study evaluated nitrification in PBBR integrated into a Penaeus monodon recirculating maturation system under
different substrate concentrations and flow rates.
RESULTS:Instantnitrificationwasobservedafter integration ofPBBRinto thematuration system.TANandNO2-Nconcentrations
were always maintained below0.5 mg L−1 during operation. The TANandNO2-N removalwas significant (P < 0.001) in all the six
reactor compartments of the PBBR having the substrates at initial concentrations of 2, 5 and 10 mg L−1. The average volumetric
TAN removal rates increased with flow rates from 43.51 (250 L h−1) to 130.44 (2500 L h−1) gTAN m−3 day−1 (P < 0.05). FISH
analysis of the biofilms after 70 days of operation gave positive results with probes NSO 190 ((β ammonia oxidizers), NsV 443
(Nitrosospira spp.) NEU (halophilic Nitrosomonas), Ntspa 712 (Phylum Nitrospira) indicating stability of the consortia.
CONCLUSION: The PBBR integrated into the P. monodon maturation system exhibited significant nitrification upon operation
for 70 days as well as at different substrate concentrations and flow rates. This system can easily be integrated into marine and
brackish water aquaculture systems, to establish instantaneous nitrification