Biological Nitrogen Removal Database

A manually curated data resource for microbial nitrogen removal


Marine systems


Experimental setup


Influent:Marine aquarium

Denitrification system:Fish-culture systems

Denitrifying reactor:Fluidized bed

Medium:Alginate beads

Culture taken from:Pseudomonas sp. JR12

Organism (s) cultured:Cichlids (Oreochromis mossambicus)

Respiration:nan

Electron donor:Immobilized starch

Electron acceptor:Nitrate


Experimental Information


Input NO3-N (mg/l):nan

Nitrate removal rate (mg NO3-N/l/h):nan

Denitrification rate (gNO3-N removed/m3/day):62

Microorganisms identified:nan

Molecular tools:nan


Information about Article


Major findings:Alginate beads containing an immobilized denitrifying bacterium and immobilized starch can be used for removal of nitrate from water systems.

Authors:Tal et al., 2003

Title:Nitrate Removal in Aquariums by Immobilized Pseudomonas.

Pubmed link:Link

Full research link:Link

Abstract:Biological denitrification of nitrate to nitrogen gas was examined in a freshwater and a marine aquarium. Nitrate removal in the aquarium water was accomplished with denitrifiers immobilized in a freeze?dried, alginate?starch matrix. Starch served as a bacterial carbon source and cellular matrix?strengthening filler. Freeze?dried beads were placed in canisters through which nitrate?rich aquarium water was recirculated. The freshwater aquarium (100 L) contained goldfish (Carassius auratus ) at a total biomass of 390 g, whereas cichlids (Oreochromis mossambicus ) were kept at a similar stocking density in the marine aquarium. Denitrification resulted in low ambient nitrate concentrations in both aquariums. The specific nitrate removal rate of the freshwater beads was significantly higher (50 ?g of NO3?N/bead/day) than that of seawater beads (5 ?g of NO3?N/bead/day). Differences in ambient nitrate concentrations between both aquariums and diffusion limitation of nitrate to the active denitrification sites within the beads might explain these observed differences.