Two different types of bacteria are used to separate nitrogen from ammonia and phosphorus from phosphates in water treatment plants. A new type of bacteria that can be used in treatment facilities has been discovered.
Although there are various facilities and procedures for the cleaning and recycling of waste water, it is of great importance to clean nitrogen and phosphorus, which are the main pollutants of water, from waste water, and this process is followed by a 2-stage process. Now, scientists aim to be able to do this in one step.
Today, 2 different types of bacteria are used to separate nitrogen from ammonia and phosphorus from phosphates in some of the routine waste water treatment plants. Performing these procedures in 2 separate processes can be expensive in terms of both cost and labor.
Single facility
Researchers at The National University of Singapore discovered that a strain of bacteria called SND5, belonging to the Thauera sp strain, can neutralize nitrogen and phosphorus.
Scientists accidentally determined that a small amount of the aforementioned two elements was present in a tank at a waste water treatment facility in Singapore, and as a result, the aforementioned bacteria were discovered.
Scientists state that thanks to the aforementioned bacteria, wastewater can be cleaned in one operation instead of 2 processes, and thus cleaning process can be performed with much less cost. In addition, it is thought that the need for aeration of wastewater will decrease, as the bacteria require relatively less oxygen, and thus, the water can be cleaned with much less cost in terms of both electricity and number of facilities.