Biodegradation of Ammoniacal Nitrogen to Nitrite in an Industrial Effluent using Nitrosomonas species: First stage in Nitrification

The present study involves the degradation of ammoniacal nitrogen using Nitrosomonas species as nitrifying bacteria in the first stage of nitrification process. The effects of various parameters such as an effluent medium ratio, pH, temperature and ammonium concentration on the nitrification process were studied with synthetic ammoniacal water as well as industrial effluent from a local steel plant. The maximum biodegradation rate was observed when the effluent is diluted to 50% with the medium, in the pH range of 8.3-8.8 and at the temperature of 30°C. Moreover, the study also reveals that the rate of biodegradation is same irrespective of the initial concentration of ammoniacal nitrogen in both synthetic and effluent samples. This study serves as a basis for the development of a cost effective biotreatment system for the removal of ammonium from industrial effluents.