Effect of various sources of organic carbon and high nitrite and nitrate concentrations on the selection of denitrifying bacteria. I. Stationary cultures.

The effect of methanol, ethanol, acetic acid and glucose together with NaNO2 or KNO3 (1,000 mg N/l) on the intensity of denitrification and selection of denitrifying bacteria from the bottom sludge of nitrogenous wastewater reservoir was examined. Denitrification was found to be the most efficient in medium with ethanol or acetic acid. The presence of glucose facilitated the selection of Alcaligenes faecalis whereas the other carbon sources enabled the selection of bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas: methanol -- P. fluorescens, ethanol -- P. mendocina. In medium with acetic acid species selection depends on the form of nitrogen: NaNO2 -- P. fluorescens, KNO3 -- P. aeruginosa.