Combined nitrification and denitrification in a single aerated reactor using the aerobic denitrifier Commonas sp. strain SGLY2

A mixed culture of an aerobic denitrifier, named SGLY2, and autotrophic nitrifiers was carried out either in batch culture or in a single continuous, stirred aerobic reactor. The batch assays were used to show the effect of different carbon sources on the nitrifying activity, and to determine the optimum conditions to maintain the strain SGLY2 in the complex microflora. In particular, conditions of discontinuous addition of the carbon source, as well as nitrifying and denitrifying activities were observed under continuous culture with aerobic reduction of the N-oxides produced by autotrophs into nitrous oxide and dinitrogen.