Using a Microbial Consortium to Treat Alkaline Black Liquor
Author Information
Author(s): Yang Chunyu, Cao Guangchun, Li Yang, Zhang Xiaojun, Ren Hongyan, Wang Xia, Feng Jinhui, Zhao Liping, Xu Ping
Primary Institution: State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University
Hypothesis
Can a constructed microbial consortium effectively treat alkaline black liquor with high pollution loads?
Conclusion
The constructed microbial consortium significantly reduced the color and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of alkaline black liquor, demonstrating its potential for wastewater treatment.
Supporting Evidence
- Thirty-eight strains of bacteria were isolated from the black liquor storing pool.
- After treatment, about 35.4% of color and 27.3% of COD were removed.
- The pH of the black liquor decreased from 11.0 to 7.8 after treatment.
Takeaway
Scientists created a team of bacteria to clean up a dirty liquid from paper making, and it worked really well!
Methodology
The study involved isolating bacteria from black liquor, constructing a consortium, and testing its effectiveness in reducing pH, color, and COD in batch treatments.
Limitations
The study primarily focused on a specific type of black liquor and may not be generalizable to all wastewater types.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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