The collaborative effect of Chlorella vulgaris-Bacillus licheniformis consortia on the treatment of municipal water

Abstract In this study, the effects of nutrient and dissolved organic matter removal, stress resistance (DNA methylation), and the algae-bacteria dynamic ratio of algal-bacterial consortia in actual municipal wastewater were investigated. Results indicate that the presence of a Chlorella vulgaris - Bacillus licheniformis consortium had profound effects. The removal rates of total nitrogen, ammonium, orthophosphate phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand were 88.82%, 84.98%, 84.87% and 82.25%, respectively. Protein-like substances, which are difficult to degrade in the natural water environment, were significantly degraded in actual municipal wastewater. Furthermore, the microbial diversity was measured. The algal-bacterial consortium did not disrupt the microbial in-situ diversity of the actual municipal wastewater under suitable conditions. The global nuclear DNA methylation level peaked at 7.80%. These results help to understand the effects of algal-bacterial consortia on nutrient and pollutant removal and adaptability in actual municipal wastewater.