Biological researches

NEW UNIQUE AND UNIVERSAL ENVIRONMENTPROTECTION BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR VALUABLE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURE FROM INDUSTRIAL AND HOUSEHOLD WASTE

Institute of Microbiology and Virology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Oleksandr Tashyrev

Fig. 1. Nowadays microbial nature protection biotechnologies unfortunately are not widely implemented, for the reason, that technologies are based on empirical selection of microorganisms and the conditions providing detoxification of xenobiotics.

We developed new universal biotechnologies for purification of industrial wastewaters on the basis of thermodynamic prognosis interaction of microorganisms with the basic classes of xenobiotics - toxic metals, radionuclide and synthetic organic compounds.

Fig. 2. The main principle for development of universal nature protection biotechnologies is that microbial transformation of xenobiotics takes place only in zone of thermodynamic stability of water. We would like to illustrate this position on an example of chrome. The top border of water stability is determined by an oxidation reaction of water up to molecular oxygen, and the other border is reaction of reduction of a proton up to molecular hydrogen.

From here follows, that transformation of xenobiotics takes place only in a diapason of standart redox potential (Е′0) from - 414 mV to +814 mV.

For example, the potential of Cr(VI) reduction is equal +555 mV, therefore it can be reduced by microorganisms up to chrome Cr(ІІІ). However, reduction of Cr(ІІІ) compounds there are thermodynamically interdicted, as potentials of reduction reactions of these compounds are below – 414 mV.

Similar results we have got for a wide spectrum of toxic metals (for example, Hg, Cu, Cd) and organic xenobiotics, such as phenol, nitrochorbenzene, chloroaniline, aniline dyes. Named xenobiotics serve as non-specifical electron acceptors for microorganisms.

Fig. 3. During 7 days microorganisms completely reduce chrome(VI) solution in concentration 5000 ppm up to unsolvable chrome (ІІІ) hydroxide.

Fig. 4. During 10 days microorganisms completely reduce copper bivalent cation and precipitate Cu(I) in concentration of 10000 ppm.

Fig. 5. Even such toxic metal as mercury, is quickly uptaken by microorganisms from solution. During 3 days concentration of mercury has decreased from 1000 to 1 ppm.

Fig. 6. In anaerobic conditions microorganisms use the aromatic ring of aniline dyes as nonspecific electron acceptor and reduce them with formation of final products - methane and carbon dioxide.

During 6 days the association of microorganisms purifies solution with high concentration of aniline dye that is 10000 ppm.

Fig. 7. The essentially new base of offered biotechnologies is the granulated microbial preparation that has such properties:

Discontinuity. Granules of a preparation are stable in water solutions ("know-how"), keep its structure during 2-3 years. Therefore granules at any time can be separated easily from a water phase.

Universality. The preparation includes syntrophic associations with extremely wide «metabolic range».

Complete autonomy. The preparation includes all compounds necessary for long-term and effective functioning (i. e. regulators of metabolism, sources of carbon and energy, acceptors and donors of electrons, RedOx and pH-buffers, etc.). Therefore the functioning of granulated microbial preparation does not depend on drain composition, so the preparation is completely autonomic. Biotechnologies based on a granulated preparation do not need any preparation of the drain. Discontinuity of granules allows easily separating, drying up and utilizing by burning.

Profitability. For manufacturing granules ecologically dangerous waste are used. These waste themselves need utilization (a biomass of large-capacity microbiological manufactures, manure, the bird's excrement, the vegetable rests, etc.). Power inputs are minimal for manufacturing of the granulated preparation. Therefore the preparation has the low cost price.

The biotechnologies we developed allow not only fast and effective purifying wastewaters from heavy metals, radionuclide and synthetic organic compounds, but also in all cases getting commercially valuable products.

Fig. 8. For example, during purification of chrome-containing galvanic wastewater in pilot plant, insoluble compounds of chrome are precipitated on preparation granules with a blue color thick layer.

Fig. 9. Also a valuable product of purifying of wastewater is ECOLOGICALLY PURE WATER. Getting of ecologically pure water allows cutting expenses on purchase of water and to pass to the CLOSED INDUSTRIAL CYCLE of WATER SUPPLY.

Fig. 10. Our Biotechnology allows purifying the radioactive waste waters (RWW), for example on the Industrial Complex RADON. The Pilot Plant is very simple and consists of Container with radioactive waste water, 10 Columns with microbial granules (sorbent) inside and Container with purified waste water.

Fig. 11. The Biotechnology provides high-efficient purification of radioactive waste waters, that contains 12 radioactive elements.

Thus, the decreasing of activity of 90Sr and 51Cr – is 6 orders, 60Co – 5 orders, 137Cs – 4 orders.

The efficiency of extraction of 238U, 239Pu and 241Am – is 99,8% and so on.

Fig. 12. It is obviously, that after purification the granules inside of plant have a very high level of radioactivity. We developed ecologically safe method of utilization of granules after purification of radioactive waste waters. Granules after using can be dried up and burned with further getting of a dry radioactive ash with the decreasing of volume in several times.

Fig. 13. Burning of chrome hydroxide containing granules leads to getting of commercially valuable product – crystals of Cr₂O₃, which has abrasive properties.

Fig. 14. New biotechnologies also allow utilizing effectively ecologically dangerous solid organic waste (food, municipal and agricultural). The directed regulation of a microbial metabolism and the concentrated biomass of the mixed microbial communities are used to reach effective waste recycling.

The regulation of a microbial metabolism allows realizing an optimum metabolic pathway for fermentation of solid waste and formation commercially valuable products (methane, hydrogen and ecologically pure water). Fast recycling of waste is carried out due to use of the granulated preparation we developed. Dry granules of preparation contain microbial association of destructors of solid organic waste and necessary regulators of a microbial metabolism in high concentration.

Fig. 15. Biotechnologies on the basis of a regulation of a microbial metabolism (RMM-technology) are characterized with quickly and effectively fermentation of solid organic waste:

During 5-10 days the weight of waste decreases 22-50 times and from 1 kg of waste is synthesizing 8-10 liters of methane.

Nonfermentated organic residues are dried up on air and can be used as fuel.

Fig. 16. Developed RММ - biotechnologies are perspective in future for fast and effective recycling garbage. In closed contour will take place simultaneously as fast destruction of solid wastes as purification of toxic drainage (filtrate).

The end result of RMM-Biotechnology implementation is the bioremediation of Garbage and the valuable products such as CH4 and ecologically pure water.

Fig. 17. Technologies carried out nowadays for garbage recycling take 20 - 30 years while RММ - biotechnology allows fermenting organic garbage during 0,5 or 1 year and simultaneously to get methane as an energy source.

Fig. 18. RММ - biotechnology of fermentation of solid food waste is implemented at the Ukrainian Antarctic station Academician Vernadsky. Waste fermentation cycle does not exceed 5 day.

Fig. 19. Conclusion:

On the basis of theoretical thermodynamic calculations we developed new universal biotechnologies for purification of industrial wastewater and recycling of solid organic wastes;
The theoretical method allows calculating and choosing the most effective method of detoxification of a wide spectrum of xenobiotics;
Mentioned technologies are typical. Therefore they can be duplicated and widely applied for purification of wastewaters and recycling organic waste;
Industrial implementation of biotechnologies will allow prevent polluting environment with such xenobiotics as toxic metals, radionuclides, synthetic and natural organic wastes;
The application of our biotechnologies allow to getting of commercially valuable products: ecologically pure water, concentrate of metals, CH4, dry organic fuel and bioremediated land.