Enhanced denitrification in Paracoccus denitrificans PD1222 by electrical field application

Abstract

Denitrification is an anaerobic respiratory process in which nitrogen oxides, generally nitrates, act as electron acceptors replacing oxygen. Among the many denitrifying bacteria, there is Paracoccus denitrificans; a gram-negative, non-fermentative coccoid microorganism who’s denitrifying respirome has great similarity to the mitochondrial respiratory chain. The present work evaluated the effect of different electrical potentials imposed on the denitrifying process of P. denitrificans using a rotating cylinder electro-bioreactor whose design allowed a homogeneous electrical potential distribution. An electrochemical characterization of the culture medium was carried out to define the potentials where REDOX reactions of an electrochemical nature are despicable (0, 100, 150 and 200 mV), so the results obtained are attributed to the influence of the generated electric field on P. denitrificans. The consumption of N and C sources (nitrate NO3- and succinate C4H6O4= respectively), the production of the intermediate (nitrite NO2-) and gas (nitrogen N2) were monitored. The findings suggest membrane and enzymatic alterations that bolster the overall process, with a notable increase in gaseous nitrogen production under the influence of electrical potentials. This novel approach offers promising implications for enhancing biological denitrification processes.

Keywords: Paracoccus denitrificans, denitrification, electric fields, bioelectrochemical reactor.

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