ItemBook Chapter

Polyhydroxyalkanoates as potential tools for denitrification of wastewater

Title
Polyhydroxyalkanoates as potential tools for denitrification of wastewater
Creator
Umesh, Mridul; Santhosh, Adhithya Sankar; James, Nilina; Grigary, Sneha; Stanly, Liya Merin; Suresh, Sreehari
Description
Denitrification is the main process in water and wastewater treatment which plays the critical role in mitigating nitrate contamination and ensuring environmental and public health safety. Introduction of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in water treatment systems enables widening of its application in denitrification processes. Emphasising the importance of denitrification in water treatment helps to prevent the surge of nitrate concentrations, thereby hindering eutrophication and maintaining the balance of aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, there is an increasing urgency for the development of sustainable and efficient denitrification techniques to address contemporary challenges in water quality management. PHAs are produced by a variety of microorganisms under limited nutritional conditions and present themselves as promising candidate for denitrification due to their favourable characteristics which include biocompatibility, biodegradability and ability to store carbon and energy. The current chapter delves with the mechanisms governing denitrification employing PHA along with the intricate biochemical pathways and metabolic processes involved. PHA serves a dual role as both a carbon source and an electron donor in denitrifying bacteria, aiding in the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas in anaerobic environments. The chapter furthermore addresses various factors such as substrate availability, microbial community composition, and environmental parameters which are affecting the efficiency of PHA-mediated denitrification. Despite the potential advantages, challenges impede the widespread adoption of PHA in denitrification processes. Technical constraints such as substrate availability, yield of PHA and reactor design, coupled with economic factors such as production costs, present significant barriers. Future research endeavours should prioritise optimising processes, surmounting technical and economic hurdles, and comprehending the ecological ramifications for water and wastewater treatment systems using PHA. Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025. All rights reserved.
Source
Polyhydroxyalkanoates: Sustainable Production and Biotechnological Applications II: Agriculture, Industry, and Environment;pp.91-110
Date
01-01-2025
Publisher
Springer Nature
Subject
Denitrification; PHA; Polyhydroxyalkanoates; Sustainable waste management; Wastewater treatment
Coverage
Umesh M., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Santhosh A.S., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India; James N., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Grigary S., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Stanly L.M., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India; Suresh S., Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Rights
Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library
Relation
ISBN: 978-981961992-4; 978-981961991-7;
Format
online
Language
English
Type
Book chapter

Citation

Umesh, Mridul; Santhosh, Adhithya Sankar; James, Nilina; Grigary, Sneha; Stanly, Liya Merin; Suresh, Sreehari, “Polyhydroxyalkanoates as potential tools for denitrification of wastewater,” CHRIST (Deemed To Be University) Institutional Repository, accessed June 18, 2026, https://archives.christuniversity.in/items/show/24133.

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