Effect of COD/N ratio on growth and adaptation of nitrifying bacteria

Acclimation of nitrifying bacteria using inorganic carbon source (bicarbonate) and organic carbon source (bicarbonate + glucose) was performed in this study. Sequential batch reactors were inoculated by activated sludge (mixed culture of heterotrophic and nitrifying bacteria), and fed by synthetic wastewater contain high concentration of ammonium (1000 mg·L-1). Adapted nitrifying bacteria, only using bicarbonate as carbon source, caused nitrification at a rate of 41 mg L-1 h-1. The second reactor, which using bicarbonate and glucose as carbon source due to high C/N ratio resulting high growth of heterotrophic bacteria and result revealed a minor effect on nitrifying bacteria, and complete removal of ammonium occurred