Biotechnological potential of indigenous microorganisms and plants for the treatment of industrial and agricultural wastewaters

In this study was assessed the biotechnological potential of indigenous microorganisms isolated from wastewater in the North-West of Russia. Bioreactor anaerobic treatment using sulfate-reducing microbial associations reduced the sulfate content in wastewater from 456 to 19 mg/l at a wastewater feed rate into the laboratory reactor of 100 ml/day and a reactor capacity of 700 ml. Subsequent additional water treatment by rhizofiltration for 5 days reduced the potassium content in water from 188 to 78 mg/l. The ratio of water volume to plant biomass was 15:1. The pH value at all stages of biological purification was in the optimal range (6.3- 8.5) for the functioning of sulfate-reducing bacteria and plant growth. Thus, the possibility of successful treatment of wastewater by sulfate- reduction in a bioreactor and rhizofiltration was show.