High Performance Nitrifying Sludge for High Ammonium Concentration and Low Temperature Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Compositions of bacteria which are effective for the nitrification of wastewater, particularly at low temperatures, are described. The compositions are comprised of 35 strains or populations of at least partially characterized isolated bacteria. These compositions may be used to treat wastewater contaminated with animal fecal waste and/or ammonia. In use, wastewater is contacted with the bacterial composition of the invention under aerobic conditions and for a period of time effective to oxidize ammonia therein.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A composition comprising a mixture of isolated bacteria selected from the group consisting of:
   Nitrosomonas  sp. strain HPNS.1,     Mycetocola  sp. strain HPNS.2,     Chitinophaga  sp. strain HPNS.3,   Unclassified sp. strain HPNS.4,     Castellaniella  sp. strain HPNS.5,     Sejongia  sp. strain HPNS.6,     Kaistella  sp. strain HPNS.7,     Pedobacter  sp. strain HPNS.8,     Nitrosomonas  sp. strain HPNS.9,     Comamonas  sp. strain HPNS.10,     Subtercola  sp. strain HPNS.11,     Comamonas  sp. strain HPNS.12,     Castellaniella  sp. strain HPNS.13,     Thermomonas  sp. strain HPNS.14,     Adhaeribacter  sp. strain HPNS.15, and     Comamonas  sp. strain HPNS.16,   
       of the High Performance Nitrifying Sludge Culture HPNS, deposited as NRRL deposit accession number no. NRRL B-50298. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1  comprising NRRL deposit accession no. NRRL B-50298. 
     
     
         3 . A composition comprising substantially all of the bacterial strains comprising NRRL deposit accession no. NRRL B-50298. 
     
     
         4 . A method for treating wastewater comprising contacting water with the composition of  claim 1  under aerobic conditions and for a period of time effective to oxidize ammonia therein. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said water comprises wastewater. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said water is contacted with said composition effective to oxidize at least 50% of said ammonia in said water. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said contacting comprises inoculating said water with said composition and incubating in a biological reactor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said reactor comprises a suspended-growth reactor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said reactor comprises an attached growth reactor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said reactor comprises a fluidized bed reactor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said conditions comprise a temperature between about 5° C. and 40° C. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said conditions comprise a temperature between about 5° C. and 20° C.