Abstract
Introduction
Initial geosmin degradation was closely related to water temperature and natural geosmin concentration of sampling environment. Here, for the first time, we evaluated the biodegradation of geosmin by microorganisms in biofilm from biological treatment unit of actual potable water treatment plant.
Materials and methods
At an initial geosmin concentration of 2,500 ng/l, efficient geosmin removal was confirmed throughout the year. Furthermore, in the presence of mixed musty odor compounds (geosmin and MIB) as carbon source, geosmin degradation was enhanced compared to sole carbon source (geosmin alone).
Results and discussion
PCR-DGGE analysis revealed a rich community structure within the biofilm during rapid geosmin removal period, April. PCA revealed that the significant change in bacterial communities occurred from day 1 to day 2. Two novel geosmin-degrading bacteria were isolated from the biofilm of the biological treatment unit of Kasumigaura Water Purification, Waterworks Department, Japan. They belong to Methylobacterium sp. and Oxalobacteraceae bacterium, respectively.
Conclusions
These studies provide further insights into the unknown microbiological processes that occur during the biological removal of geosmin through water treatment and could facilitate the geosmin bioremediation in contaminated habitats.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the Kasumigaura Water Purification Works Department. This research was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (21310049) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Sumitomo Electronic Industries Group CSR Foundation and the Water Pollution Control and Management Project of China (2008ZX07313-001, 2009ZX07318-008).
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Xue, Q., Shimizu, K., Sakharkar, M.K. et al. Geosmin degradation by seasonal biofilm from a biological treatment facility. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 700–707 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0613-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-011-0613-2