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Start of funding 01.07.2017
Removal of ammonia/ammonium from waste waters using Euglena
PD Dr. Michael Lebert
Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg
Cell Biology Division - Department Biology
Dr. Rocco Mancinelli
Standard
Ammonia/Ammonium contamination of fresh water has become a severe problem and is heavily reducing the access to fresh water all over the world.
We propose in the project the usage of a green, photosynthetic protist, Euglena mutabilis, to remove the contamination. Conventional removal techniques result in the production of nitrate from ammonia. Nitrate itself is toxic and can contaminate aquifers, or be denitrified to nitrous oxide, a powerful greenhouse gas. We propose to use Euglena mutabilis to feed on the ammonia/ammonium as well as the organics in wastewater converting them to biomass. This will reduce or eliminate ammonia/ammonium availability for nitrification to nitrate and its transformation to nitrous oxide by denitrification and anaerobic ammonia oxidation. Additionally, the biomass produced may be used as a food additive for cattle and fish.