Author(s)

J Nowak, M Lasik, T Miskiewicz & Z Czarnecki

Abstract

The metabolic activity of mixed culture and single bacteria isolates got from it was investigated using Automatic Microorganisms Growth-Analyzer BacTrac 4100 and shake flask experiments using high temperature wastewater from potato industry. The single bacteria isolates metabolic activity and COD reduction of the wastewater was found always less than the mixed population they came from. The conclusion that the direction for optimising thermophilic biodegradation process is rather looking for more active mixed population than selection a single strain for the process led to investigations with other isolated mixed cultures. The process of thermophilic biodegradation is characterised by high oxygen demand so the shake flask experiments showed much less decrease of COD (up to 30%) than that made in the fermenter (up to 70%). The decrease of COD was especially intensive during the period of oxygen consumption by the bacteria for all the four mixed cultures used. Biodegradation of potato industry hot effluents by mixed cultures of thermophilic aerobic bacteria might be especially advantageous to pre-treatment high temperature waste streams without reducing their temperature. 1 Introduction Poland faces the integration with European Community. The European Commission environmental low create the need for new technologies for the remediation of agro-industrial wastes and its stabilization and hygienization.

Keywords