Phosphorus and ammonium removal characteristics from aqueous solutions by a newly isolated plant growth-promoting bacterium

ABSTRACT

An indigenous plant growth-promoting bacterium isolated from Peganum Harmala rhizosphere in the arid ecosystem was found to solubilize and accumulate phosphates. This isolate was identified as Pseudomonas sp. (PHR6) by partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Controlled batch experiments on nutrients removal by this isolate in mineral medium showed relatively high efficiencies after 24 h of aerobic incubation with average values of 117.59 and 335.38 mg gVSS⁻¹ for phosphorus (P-PO₄) and nitrogen (N-NH₄), respectively. Furthermore, the strain performed heterotrophic nitrification ranging from 48.81% to 84.24% of the total removed nitrogen. On the other hand, the experimental results showed that a short idle period (24 h) significantly enhanced P accumulation (up to 95%) and N assimilation (up to 50%) of the total removed amounts. However, long idle period (20 days) revealed firstly aerobic phosphorous release phase succeeded by another removal one within 24 h of incubation. Overall, the idle treatment enhances P removal efficiency from the mineral liquid medium without significant effects on N-NH₄ removal performance. The isolated strain showed also significant nutrient removal ability from synthetic wastewater providing an accumulated fraction of 98% from the total removed phosphorus amount. This study highlights the potential contribution of the selected rhizobacterium PHR6 to both environmental nutrient recycling and pollution control especially regarding phosphorus.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Phosphorus accumulating rhizobacteria
• idle period
• phosphorus removal
• ammonium removal
• environmental fitness

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are thankful to the Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for financial support.