Microbial removal of NOX at high temperature by a novel aerobic strain Chelatococcus daeguensis TAD1 in a biotrickling filter

The removal of NO X at high temperature by Chelatococcus daeguensis TAD1 in a biotrickling filter was studied. Media components of the recycling liquid were screened using Plackett–Burman design and then were optimized using response surface methodology, which enhanced the efficiency of nitrate removal by TAD1. The optimal medium was used to perform long-term experiments of NO X removal in a biotrickling filter under high concentrations of O 2 and NO in simulated flue gas. Results showed that the biotrickling filter was able to consistently remove 80.2–92.3% NO X when the inlet NO concentration was 600 ppm under the conditions of oxygen concentration ranging between 2% and 20% and empty bed residence time (EBRT) being 112.5 s. Analyses by polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE) indicated that TAD1 was always predominant in the biofilm under a flue gas environment. Overall, the present study demonstrated that utilizing a biotrickling filter inoculated with the aerobic denitrifier TAD1 to remove NO X at high temperature was practically feasible.