A Study of the Effect of Compatible Solutes on theActivity of an Indigenous Halophilic Bacterial Consortium Used forBiological Treatment of Produced Water

فاقد چكيده فارسي

Halophilic microorganisms are suitable for produced water (PW) treatment because of their ability to grow in saline environments. In this research the effect of compatible solutes onthe growth of a halophilic bacterial consortium (originally enriched from the idigenous populations present in southern Iranian oilfield produced water) in real PW was investigated. Glycine betaine was used as compatible solute and the effect of its addition to filter-sterile and non-sterile produced water obtained from Ahvaz oilfield oil desalination unit was investigated. The results showed that the inclusion of glycine betaine at concentration of 1mM in the PW caused a slight increase in the optical density of the N & P amended PW culture at the end of cultivation, whereas increase in the concentration of glycine betaine to 5mM resulted in significant increase in the rate of growth of the halophilic consortium. In the case where non-sterile PW media was employed the enhanment in growth as a result of addition of 5mM GB was even more pronounced.. However, surprisingly COD analysis of the PW culture media at the end of the tests showed that the enhancement in growth rate as a result of inclusion of glycine betaine in the PW culture media did not translate into higher COD removal.