Preservation Property and Decay Kinetic of Polyurethane Immobilized Nitrifying Bacteria Pellets

The preservation methods of polyurethane immobilized nitrifying bacteria pellets which had been enriched in laboratory were provided. Factors such as temperature, pH and light, which affect the nitrification activity of polyurethane immobilized pellets, were investigated. The result showed that dark, deionized water and low temperature is suitable for polyurethane immobilized nitrifying bacteria pellets’ long term preservation.


Introduction
The ammonia degradation and preservation ability of nitrifying bacteria products were two important factors affecting its commercialization [1] [2].The previous researchers have confirmed the polyurethane immobilized nitrifying bacteria pellets have a higher nitrification activity [3] [4].How to effectively keep the high activity of nitrifying bacteria pellets for long-term storage is an urgent problem in its technology application [5] [6].Because active decay of nitrifying bacteria in the preservation process is complex, it depends on lots of environmental factors [7].Few studies on the decline of nitrifying bacteria and the research of immobilized nitrifying bacteria products preservation process have not been reported [8] [9].This study examined the light, temperature, pH, and other major factors, which affect preservation activity of immobilized nitrifying bacteria pellets, to find out the best preservation methods.This study will optimize

Preparation of Nitrifying Bacteria Pellets
Activated sludge was obtained from the aeration tank of Minhang municipal wastewater treatment plant, Shanghai, which was utilized as seed sludge for acclimating nitrifying bacteria and acclimated in laboratory for 2 months.The suspensions of nitrifying bacteria were concentrated to the density of 20 g/L and mixed with a polyurethane prepolymer emulsion.Then N, N, N', N'-tetramethylenediamine as a promoter and potassium persulfate as initiator were added to the beaker.Consequently; the polyurethane immobilized nitrifying bacteria in the form of an elastic gel were obtained.The resulting polymerized gel carrier was cut into 3 × 3 × 3 mm cubes by the special cutting machine and then washed thoroughly with distilled water [10].

Relative Activity of Nitrifying Bacteria Pellets
Nitrifying bacteria are oxygen-consuming bacteria.The change of nitrifying bacteria pellets activity during the preservation process was measured by oxygen uptake rate.The respiration rate was obtained by measuring the oxygen uptake of pellets with a dissolved oxygen meter at 25˚C.The change of nitrifying bacteria particles activity in the preservation process was tested using the following method.Inorganic synthetic wastewater saturated with oxygen was placed in a 100 mL incubation flask along with 20 mL of pellets.They were then stirred.The respiration rate was obtained by measuring the decrease in dissolved oxygen concentration.The relative activity of preservation pellets was calculated by Equation (1).
( ) where R r is relative activity (%), R 1 is the respiration rate of pellets preservated for a certain time (mg-O 2 /L-pellet•h) and R 0 is the respiration rate of the pellets before preservation (mg-O 2 /L-pellet•h).

Calculation and Model Fitting
After determination of polyurethane immobilized nitrifying bacteria pellets' respiratory activity interval a certain time, the decay rate (K m ) and half-life (t 1/2 ) fitting model was calculated according to Equation (2).
( ) where R r is relative activity (%), K m is the decay rate (day −1 ) and t is the preservation time (day).
Y. M. Dong

Effects of Light on the Preservation Activity of Nitrifying Bacteria Pellets
Light have a negative impact on the nitrifying bacteria [11].Experimental results of effects of light on pellets activity are shown in Figure 1 days under dark condition, respectively.The half-life in dark was almost two times longer than it in light conditions, but still less than 2 months.Therefore, the method of room temperature away from light is only suitable for short-term preservation of nitrifying bacteria pellets.

Effects of pH Values on the Preservation Activity of Nitrifying Bacteria Pellets
Nitrifying bacteria on is very sensitive to the changes of environmental pH value.
Bacteria grows well in slightly alkaline environment [11].The optimum pH range of nitrification bacteria was 7.0 -8.5 [12].Preservation activity of nitrifying bacteria pellets under different pH values were determined, and fitted according to equation ( 2).The experimental results of the decay rate (K m ) and half-life (t 1/2 ) are shown in Figure 1(b).Under alkaline conditions was better for pellets preservation, half-life of almost 50 days when pH of 7.5.But pellets' activity half-life was 56 day when they stored in deionized water.Analyze the reasons may be that phosphate buffer added to improve the system in the ionic strength have an adverse effect on the activity of nitrifying bacteria pellets.As can be seen from the above results, particles can maintain activity better in deionized water for preservation.

Effects of Temperature on the Preservation Activity of Nitrifying Bacteria Pellets
Temperature has a greater impact on the growth and preservation of nitrifying bacteria.Generally believed that the suitable temperature range of nitrifying bacteria growth of 20˚C -30˚C [13]

Effects of Freeze on the Preservation Activity of Nitrifying Bacteria Pellets
In order to extend the preservation time of polyurethane immobilized nitrifying bacteria pellets as long as possible, the storage temperature was further reduced below 0˚C to −20˚C.The experimental sample particles divided into two parts, which half were directly frozen, the other half added 10% (w/w) glycerol as a

Discussion
Table 1 summarizes the key results of preservation experiment.Through the impact analysis of the different preservation conditions including light, pH, temperature and freeze on the polyurethane immobilized nitrifying bacteria pellets, the data of decay rate, fit factor and the half-life were listed in Table 1.
Three appropriate means were acquired for nitrifying bacteria pellets preservation through the determination of the activities of nitrifying bacteria which had been preserved at different conditions.The first is dark at room temperature deionized water conservation method room temperature whose half-life of nitrifying activity is 56 days, which is suitable for nitrifying bacteria pellets' short term (1 -2 months) preservation.The second is 4˚C refrigeration dark deionized water conservation, whose half-life of nitrifying activity is 124 days, which is suitable for nitrifying bacteria pellets medium term (3 -6 months) preservation.
And the third is a method by cryopreservation with glycerol at −20˚C, whose

Conclusion
The result showed that dark, deionized water and low temperature is suitable for polyurethane immobilized nitrifying bacteria pellets' long term preservation.
Though this way, we can significantly reduce the decay index and prolong half-life of nitrifying bacteria pellets by changing conditions.The results also provided theoretical basis and implementation for nitrifying bacteria products' storage and transportation.
(a).As shown in Figure 1, the decay rate (K m ) and half-life (t 1/2 ) of particles preservation in the light place were 0.0464 day −1 and 15 days, and the values were 0.0123 day −1 and 56 [14] [15].The respiratory activity of nitrifying bacteria particles, which were placed in different temperature (4˚C, 20˚C, 30˚C, 35˚C and 40˚C) were determined and calculated according to equation(2) fitting model.The results of the decay rate (K m ) and half-life (t 1/2 ) are shown in the Figure1(c).At 4˚C, 20˚C, 30˚C, 35˚C and 40˚C condition, nitrifies particles activity of 4˚C decayed slowest.With increasing temperature, the decay rate was accelerated from 0.0056 day −1 to 0.0333 day −1 and half-life was shorted from 124 days to 12 days of 4˚C to 30˚C.This also showed that the lower temperature was better for keeping preservation activity of nitrifying bacteria particles.In summary, the preservation at 4˚C temperature conditions, the nitrifying bacteria particles can achieve longer time (3 -6 months) storage.Y. M. Dong DOI: 10.4236/gep.2018.6600796 Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection

Table 1 .
Decay kinetic parameters of the nitrifying activity at different preservation conditions.Geoscience and Environment Protection half-life of nitrifying activity is 462 days, which is suitable for nitrifying bacteria pellets' long term (1 -2 years) preservation.