Role of Bacillus cereus GS-5 strain on simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorous removal from domestic wastewater in an inventive single unit multi-layer packed bed bioreactor.

This work evaluates the performance efficiency of a newly developed single unit packed bed bioreactor for nutrient removal from domestic wastewater. The packing materials, including dolochar, and a mixture of waste organic solid substance, were immobilized with a simultaneous nitrifying, denitrifying and phosphate removing bacterial strain, Bacillus cereus GS-5 and packed in the bioreactor alternatively in multiple layers. The bioreactor was operated continuously for a period of 70 days using both synthetic and real domestic wastewater (NH-N 30-100 mg/L, NO-N 10-100 mg/L, PO-P 5-20 mg/L and COD 250-1000 mg/L). The innovative single unit bioreactor exhibited simultaneous removal of NH-N (87.1-93.1%), NO-N (69.4-88.4%), PO-P (84-100%), and even COD (69.8-92.1%), in a remarkable disparity to traditional distinct aerobic-anaerobic treatment systems. This work advocated for a promising and feasible application prospect of the developed single unit packed bed bioreactor in domestic wastewater treatment emphasizing on nutrient removal.