Lab Test Showing Nitrogen & Phosphorus Reduction Using Aqua-Vive Pond Bacteria
Objective
The purpose of this lab test is to determine the effectiveness of using beneficial pond bacteria cultures to bio-remediate common wastes found in ponds. This will be accomplished through a bench-scale study on pond water, by means of respiromic analysis. This study will monitor the concentration levels of biologically available phosphorus, biologically available nitrogen, and degradable carbon compounds. it will specifically be measuring reactive phosphate (phosphorus), ammonia-nitrogen (nitrogen) and degradable organic carbon (COD), both before each test and after each test. The pond bacteria cultures utilized in this study will consist of a bacterial formulation trademarked under the name Aqua-Vive.
Methodology
Aqua-Vive will be utilized as the bacterial inoculant in the respiromic study and will be evaluated against a Control (with no additions of bacterial inoculants). This will determine the efficacy of applying Aqua-Vive to reduce Phosphorus, Nitrogen and COD levels in pond water. A one 1-liter sample of pond water will be utilized for each test. A 20-milliliter bacterial slurry of Aqua-Vive will be used as the bacterial inoculant. This 20-milliloter slurry will be obtained by removing a 20-milliliter aliquot from a 2-liter sample of distilled water that has been amended with 20 grams of Aqua-Vive. Both the Control and the Aqua-Vive inoculant will be performed at 25 C. An Author Technologies Phase III Respirometer will be used as the aerobic bench-scale reactor, to facilitate the precise measurement of oxygen consumption, as both a rate in mg/l/hr, and as total amount consumed, for each test. The o-PO4, NH3-N and COD concentrations will be measured at the start and conclusion of each test, via a pond water grab sample. Each test will be performed from the same pond water grab sample.
For the purposes of this test only, both the natural levels of o-PO4 and NH3-N will be increased in the pond water sample. This increase is only for the purpose of showing the greatest reduction capabilities possible with Aqua-Vive. No other variables in the pond water sample will be altered in any way, chemically or biologically.
Results
