Question

A strain of bacteria in wastewater treatment plant utilize acetate as the carbon source and electron donor, use carbon dioxide as the electron acceptor, and use ammonia as the nitrogen source.
(1) Use three “-trophic” words to describe the physiology of this strain of bacteria.

(2) Calculate the biomass yield (Y) based on microbial energetics principles.

(3) Compare the biomass yield of this bacteria you calculated to the aerobic bacteria example we discussed in class. Which bacteria has higher biomass yield? Why?

Answer 1

1)Microbial Physiology

carbon is obtained from organic compounds such as acetate- Heterotrophs

Bacterias that obtain energy from the oxidation of inorganic compounds, but cannot fix carbon dioxide (CO₂) - chemolithoheterotrophs

Nitrifying Bacteria   have the nitrogen source as Ammonia (oxidation of inorganic nitrogen compounds.)- chemolithotrophic

2) Here’s the link to an article that explains biomass yield according to energetics .It’s a concept that needs to be understood from a thorough description and it’s almost impossible to explain here.Thanks for considering.

http://wemt.snu.ac.kr/lecture%202012-2/ENV/Ch%202/2012%20Ch2-2%20Bacterial%20Energetics%20[%ED%98%B8%ED%99%98%20%EB%AA%A8%EB%93%9C].pdf