Single and Combined Effects of Copper and Nickel on Nitrification Organisms in Batch Units

Abstract

Nickel and copper are widely encountered in the industrial wastewaters. The purpose of this batch experimental study was to evaluate single and combined effects of copper and nickel on the nitrification organism activities. Trace amounts of Cu²⁺ stimulate the activity of nitrifiers and ARRs increased from 0.225 to about 0.5 mg NH₄-N/mg MLSS.day on the first day by elevating Cu²⁺ concentrations from zero to 0.05 mg/L, respectively. Nitrification inhibition was not observed during the experimental studies for the studied Cu²⁺ concentrations. The ARRs of the nitrification organisms were also found to have decreased by about 16 to 21 fold upon addition of Ni²⁺. Additions of Ni²⁺ negatively affect the ammonium oxidation and reaction was not detected during the operations of third day. The ARR values for the studied initial Ni²⁺ concentrations were lower than the blank sample. The simultaneous presences of Ni²⁺-Cu²⁺ negatively affect the activity of nitrification organisms. In order to achieve the same ammonium oxidation level as compared with the blank sample, it needs more reaction times. The experimental results indicated that it is possible to treat industrial wastewater Ni²⁺ and Cu²⁺ with individually or together. The toxicity of heavy metal could be minimized by increasing the microorganisms in the biological reactor.

Keywords

• Copper,Nickel

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