Project Page Views: [ 627 ]
| Project Metadata Element | Details |
| Project Title | Laboratory evaluation of microcompartment-enhanced biological phosphorous removal (MEBPR) as a potential wastewater treatment process |
| Research Area | Sustainability |
| Project Acronym | MEBPR |
| Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Prof Michael Prentice |
| Lead Institution or Organisation | University College Cork (UCC) |
| Lead Country | Ireland |
| Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 51.89348, -8.49206 |
| Lead Funding Entity | Science Foundation Ireland |
| Approximate Project Start Date | 01/01/2012 |
| Approximate Project Finishing Date | 01/04/2013 |
| Project Website (if any) | |
| Links to other Web-based resources | |
| Project Keywords | Biological Phosphorus; Wastewater treatment; Bacteria; Anaerobic growth |
| Project Abstract | Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is a wastewater treatment process employing microbial consortia selected by alternating aerobic/anaerobic incubation with wastewater to remove excess inorganic phosphate. Phosphate accumulates inside bacteria as a polymer (polyphosphate) during aerobic growth. However, phosphate is later released when polyphosphate is broken down during anaerobic growth, requiring multiple aerobic/anaerobic cycles lasting many days before bacteria containing 5-6% phosphorus can be harvested. We have developed a novel technique stabilising polyphosphate in E. coli which achieves a 7% phosphorus content in a single growth cycle. This project will apply this technique to bacteria suitable for growth in wastewater. |