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Concurrence of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation and Organotrophic Denitrification in Presence of p-Cresol

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Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate the capacity of anaerobic granular sludge for oxidizing ammonium and p-cresol with nitrate as terminal electron acceptor. Kinetics for the anaerobic oxidation of ammonium and p-cresol is described in this paper. The phenolic compound was very efficiently consumed, achieving 65 % of mineralization. Ammonium and nitrate were also consumed at 83 and 92 %, respectively, being the main product N2. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation was promoted owing to accumulation of nitrite, and it allowed the synergy of anaerobic ammonium oxidation and organotrophic denitrification for the simultaneous removal of ammonium, nitrate, and p-cresol. A carbonaceous intermediate partially identified was transiently accumulated, and it transitorily truncated the respiratory process of denitrification. These experimental results might be considered for defining strategies in order to remove nitrate, ammonium, and phenolic compounds from wastewaters.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financed by the Council of Science and Technology of Mexico (CONACYT- CB-2011-01 164746). González-Blanco G, received a Ph.D fellowship from CONACyT-Mexico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Iztapalapa, DF, Mexico

    G. González-Blanco & J. Gómez

  2. División de Ciencias Ambientales, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (IPICyT), Camino a la Presa San José 2055, Col. Lomas 4ª. Sección, San Luis Potosí, SLP, 78216, Mexico

    F. J. Cervantes

  3. Departamento de Recursos de la Tierra, División de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Lerma, Lerma de Villada, Edo, Mexico

    R. Beristain-Cardoso

Authors
  1. G. González-Blanco
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  2. F. J. Cervantes
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  3. R. Beristain-Cardoso
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  4. J. Gómez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Gómez.

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González-Blanco, G., Cervantes, F.J., Beristain-Cardoso, R. et al. Concurrence of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation and Organotrophic Denitrification in Presence of p-Cresol. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 176, 2120–2130 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1702-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-015-1702-3

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