The biotechnologists presented the results of their work in the collection of materials of the All-Russian Scientific and Practical Conference with International Participation "Chemistry, Ecology, Urbanism".
"Before being reused or discharged into the general water supply system, the wastewater is thoroughly cleaned and checked for toxic substances. But the possibilities of the existing technologies are still limited. They do not act fast enough and do not always cope with high concentrations of harmful compounds. Our task was to isolate and study the cultures of microorganisms and search for methods of intensification of biological purification that can accelerate this process and increase its efficiency", notes Anastasia Lobanova, one of the developers, graduate student of the Chemistry and Biotechnology Department of Perm PolytechUniversity.
The researchers have isolated a "community" of microorganisms from the wastewater of biological treatment facilities of one of the regional industrial enterprises. They conducted experiments to study the rate and degree of absorption of formaldehyde by the microorganisms. The bacteria use it as a food source. The scientists used the microorganisms in their pure form and fixed on a carrier. They compared the results and found that not only does the use of a carrier increase the quality of water purification, but it also significantly speeds up the process.
"The industrial enterprises use various methods to reduce the concentration of organic substances in wastewater. In particular, such methods include fixation of microorganisms on carriers, granulation of activated sludge or creation of biofilms. We are developing a technology that will increase the efficiency of water purification by almost 50%. The results of our experiments allow us to expand the range of studies, as well as apply the developed techniques to a wider range of pollutants that can also become a source of nutrition for microorganisms. The complex technology will be a closed cycle, from cultivation of microorganisms to their disposal", says Olga Bakhireva, scientific supervisor of the developers, associate professor of the Chemistry and Biotechnology Department, Candidate of Chemical Sciences of Perm PolytechUniversity.
The development of biotechnologists can be used at enterprises that produce adhesives, resins and plastics. The technology is also promising for use in woodworking and paint and varnish industries. The wastewater there is characterized by an increased concentration of harmful substances such as formaldehyde, methanol, phenol, and other organic compounds, so the scientists.