Ma LWang FW Yu YC Liu JZ Wu YH. Cu removal and response mechanisms of periphytic biofilms in a tubular bioreactor. Bioresource Technology 2017 doi: 10.1016-j.biortech.2017.07.014
Abstract
This work studied Cu removal and response mechanisms of periphytic biofilms in a tubular bioreactor. Periphytic biofilms immobilized in a tubular bioreactor were used to remove Cu from wastewater with different Cu concentrations. Results showed that periphytic biofilms had a high removal efficiency (max. 99%) at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 h under initial Cu concentrations of 2.0 and 10.0 mg L-1. Periphyton quickly adapted to Cu stress by regulating the community composition. Species richness evenness and carbon metabolic diversity of the periphytic community increased when exposed to Cu. Diatoms green algae and bacteria (Gammaproteobacteria and Bacteroidia) were the dominant microorganisms and responsible for Cu removal. This study indicates that periphytic biofilms are promising in Cu removal from wastewater due to their strong adaptation capacity to Cu toxicity and also provides valuable information for understanding the relationships between microbial communities and heavy metal stress.
