Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Innovative method of culturing bdelloid rotifers for the application of wastewater biological treatment

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aims to establish a simple and efficient method for the mass culture of bdelloid rotifers, which is the basis for the application of bdelloid rotifers as biological manipulators to improve wastewater biological treatment performance. A common bdelloid rotifer, Habrotrocha sp., in a wastewater biological treatment system was selected as the culture target. Rotifers fed on flour could reproduce faster than those fed traditional food such as Chlorella vulgaris or mixed bacteria. As a rotifer food, flour has the advantages of simple preparation, effortless preservation, and low cost compared to live Chlorella vulgaris or mixed bacteria, so it is more suitable for the mass culture of rotifers. The optimal rotifer culture conditions using flour as food were also studied. According to the experimental results, the recommended rotifer culture conditions are a flour particle size of 1 µm, a flour concentration of 6 × 106 cell/mL, a temperature of 28°C, a pH level of 6.5 and salinity of 100–500 mg/L. In addition, the sludge volume index in the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) with the addition of cultured rotifers was 59.9 mL/g at the end of operation and decreased by 18.2% compared to SBR without rotifer, which indicates that the cultured rotifers still retained the function of helping to improve sludge settling. This function may be related to the rotifer’s role in inhibiting bacteria from producing loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances in the SBR.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amaral A L, Leal C S, Vaz A I, Vieira J C, Quinteiro A C, Costa M L, Castro L M (2018). Use of chemometric analyses to assess biological wastewater treatment plants by protozoa and metazoa monitoring. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 190(9): 1–15

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • APHA (1998). Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater Analysis. 20th ed. Washington DC: American Public Health Association/American Water Works Association/Water Environment Federation

    Google Scholar 

  • Baer A, Langdon C, Mills S, Schulz C, Hamre K (2008). Particle size preference, gut filling and evacuation rates of the rotifer Brachionus “Cayman” using polystyrene latex beads. Aquaculture (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 282(1–4): 75–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bledzki L A, Ellison A M (1998). Population growth and production of Habrotrocha rosa Donner (Rotifera: Bdelloidea) and its contribution to the nutrient supply of its host, the northern pitcher plant, Sarracenia purpurea L. (Sarraceniaceae). Hydrobiologia, 385(1/3): 193–200

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter B P, Morris C F, Anderson J A (1999). Optimizing the SDS sedimentation test for end-use quality selection in a soft white and club wheat breeding program. Cereal Chemistry, 76(6): 907–911

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Deneke R (2000). Review of rotifers and crustaceans in highly acidic environments of pH values ⩽3. Hydrobiologia, 433(1/3): 167–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ding G, Li X, Lin W, Kimochi Y, Sudo R (2017). Enhanced flocculation of two bioflocculation-producing bacteria by secretion of Philodina erythrophthalma. Water Research, 112: 208–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding G, Zhang Z, He Y, Tang L, Peng L, Cao L, Xu Y, Yi X, Li X, Sudo R (2019). Preliminary study on the function of Philodina sp. in biological wastewater treatment. Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 39 (10): 3356–3363 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu B, Qi R, Yang M (2013). Systematic analysis of microfauna indicator values for treatment performance in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant. Journal of Environmental Sciences-China, 25(7): 1379–1385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y Q, Wei W, Gao M, Zhou Y, Wang G X, Zhang Y (2019). Effect of pure oxygen aeration on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of activated sludge treating saline wastewater. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 123: 344–350

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H J, Lee J S, Hagiwara A (2018). Phototactic behavior of live food rotifer Brachionus plicatilis species complex and its significance in larviculture: A review. Aquaculture (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 497: 253–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lansing A I, Lamy F (1961). Fine structure of the cilia of rotifers. Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology, 9(4): 799–812

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapinski J, Tunnacliffe A (2003). Reduction of suspended biomass in municipal wastewater using bdelloid rotifers. Water Research, 37(9): 2027–2034

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leasi F, De Smet W H (2020). Thalassic rotifers from the United States: Descriptions of two new species and notes on the effect of salinity and ecosystem on biodiversity. Diversity (Basel), 12(1):1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee N M, Welander T (1996). Reducing sludge production in aerobic wastewater treatment through manipulation of the ecosystem. Water Research, 30(8): 1781–1790

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X Y, Yang S F J W R (2007). Influence of loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the flocculation, sedimentation and dewaterability of activated sludge. Water Research, 41(5): 1022–1030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang P, Huang X, Qian Y, Wei Y S, Ding G J (2006). Determination and comparison of sludge reduction rates caused by microfaunas’ predation. Bioresource Technology, 97(6): 854–861

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ma W C, Zhao L, Liu H L, Liu Q L, Ma J (2017). Improvement of sludge dewaterability with modified cinder via affecting EPS. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 11(6): 19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Makareviciene V, Sendzikiene E, Gaide I (2021). Application of heterogeneous catalysis to biodiesel synthesis using microalgae oil. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 15(5): 97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Melone G, Ricci C (1995a). Rotatory apparatus in Bdelloids. Hydrobiologia, 313–314(1): 91–98

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Melone G, Ricci C (1995b). An uncommon bdelloid rotifer: Abrochtha intermedia (de beauchamp, 1909). Bolletino di zoologia, 62(1): 29–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miquelis A, Rougier C, Pourriot R (1998). Impact of turbulence and turbidity on the grazing rate of the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus (Pallas). Hydrobiologia, 386(1/3): 203–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nandini S, Sarma S S S (2001). Population growth of Lepadella patella (O. F. Muller, 1786 at different algal (C. vulgaris) densities and in association with Philodina roseola Ehrenberg, 1832. Hydrobiologia, 446/447: 63–69

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panahi Y, Darvishi B, Jowzi N, Beiraghdar F, Sahebkar A (2016). Chlorella vulgaris: A multifunctional dietary supplement with diverse medicinal properties. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 22(2): 164–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pellicer-Nàcher C, Domingo-Félez C, Mutlu A G, Smets B F (2013). Critical assessment of extracellular polymeric substances extraction methods from mixed culture biomass. Water Research, 47(15): 5564–5574

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ponce-Palafox J T, Pavia Á A, Mendoza López D G, Arredondo-Figueroa J L, Lango-Reynoso F, Castañeda-Chávez M D R, Esparza-Leal H, Ruiz-Luna A, Páez-Ozuna F, Castillo-Vargasmachuca S G, Peraza-Gómez V (2019). Response surface analysis of temperature-salinity interaction effects on water quality, growth and survival of shrimp Penaeus vannamei postlarvae raised in biofloc intensive nursery production. Aquaculture (Amsterdam, Netherlands), 503: 312–321

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pous N, Barcelona A, Sbardella L, Hidalgo M, Colomer J, Serra T, Salvado V (2021). Zooplankton-based reactors for tertiary waste-water treatment: A pilot-scale case study. Journal of Environmental Management, 278: 111538

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Qu J, Fan M (2010). The current state of water quality and technology development for water pollution control in China. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, 40(6): 519–560

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ratsak C H (2001). Effects of Nais elinguis on the performance of an activated sludge plant. Hydrobiologia, 463: 217–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ricci C (1984). Culturing of some bdelloid rotifers. Hydrobiologia, 112(1): 45–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salvadó H, Palomo A, Mas M, Puigagut J, Gracia M D P (2004). Dynamics of nematodes in a high organic loading rotating biological contactors. Water Research, 38(10): 2571–2578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sankai T, Ding G, Emori N, Kitamura S, Katada K, Koshio A, Maruyama T, Kudo K, Inamori Y (1997). Treatment of domestic wastewater mixed with crushed garbage and garbage washing water by advanced Gappei-shori Johkaso. Water Science and Technology, 36(12): 175–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarma S S S, Nandini S, Morales-Ventura J, Delgado-Martinez I, Gonzalez-Valverde L (2006). Effects of NaCl salinity on the population dynamics of freshwater zooplankton (rotifers and cladocerans). Aquatic Ecology, 40(3): 349–360

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefer E D, Pipes W O (1973). Temperature and the toxicity of chromate and arsenate to the rotifer, Philodina roseola. Water Research, 7(12): 1781–1790

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scragg A, Morrison J, Shales S J E, Technology M (2003). The use of a fuel containing Chlorella vulgaris in a diesel engine. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 33(7): 884–889

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shiny K J, Remani K N, Nirmala E, Jalaja T K, Sasidharan V K (2005). Biotreatment of wastewater using aquatic invertebrates, Daphnia magna and Paramecium caudatum. Bioresource Technology, 96(1): 55–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang H, Ma D F, Shi W Y, Yang Z Y, Cai Y, Gao B Y (2021). Formation of disinfection by-products during sodium hypochlorite cleaning of fouled membranes from membrane bioreactors. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 15(5): 102

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zeng Y, Wei N, Wang Q, Iakovenko N S, Li Y, Yang Y (2020). Bdelloid rotifers (Rotifera, bdelloidea) of China: Diversity and new records. Zookeys, 941: 1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L H, Zheng J, Guo J B, Guan X H, Zhu S Y, Jia Y P, Zhang J, Zhang X Y, Zhang H F (2019). Effects of Al3+ on pollutant removal and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) under anaerobic, anoxic and oxic conditions. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 13(6): 85

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21777092).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China

    Yun He, Jianyong Liu, Chengyuan Shen, Xuewen Yi, Xiaowei Li, Xin Huang & Guoji Ding

  2. Shanghai Environmental School, Shanghai, 200135, China

    Chengyuan Shen

  3. Shanghai Jinshan Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, Shanghai, 200540, China

    Xuewen Yi

  4. Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, Saitama, 347-0115, Japan

    Kokyo Oh

Authors
  1. Yun He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jianyong Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chengyuan Shen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xuewen Yi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiaowei Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Xin Huang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kokyo Oh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Guoji Ding
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guoji Ding.

Additional information

Highlights

• An innovative method of culturing bdelloid rotifer fed on flour was proposed.

• Rotifer fed on flour grew faster than that fed on bacteria or Chlorella vulgaris.

• The optimum mass culture conditions for rotifer fed on flour were investigated.

• The cultured rotifer could improve sludge settleability in the SBR.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

He, Y., Liu, J., Shen, C. et al. Innovative method of culturing bdelloid rotifers for the application of wastewater biological treatment. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 16, 43 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1477-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1477-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation