Starter culture of Pseudomonas veronii strain B for aerobic granulation

Aggregation of bacterial cells is used in formation of microbial granules. Aerobically grown microbial granules can be used as the bio-agents in the treatment of wastewater. However, there are problems with start up of microbial granulation and biosafety of this process. Aim of this research was selection and testing of safe microbial strain with high cell aggregation ability to shorten period of microbial granules formation. Five bacterial strains with cell aggregation index higher than 50% have been isolated from the granules. Strain of Pseudomonas veronii species was considered as most probably safe starter culture for granulation because other strains belonged to the species known as human pathogens. The microbial granules were formed after 3 days of cultivation in case when P. veronii strain B was applied to start-up aerobic granulation process using model wastewater. The granules were produced from activated sludge after 9 days of cultivation. Microbial aggregates produced from starter culture of P. veronii strain B were more compact (sludge volume index was 70 ml/g) than those produced from activated sludge (sludge volume index was 106 ml/g). It is a first proof that application of selected safe starter pure culture with high cell aggregation ability can accelerate and enhance formation of microbial granules.