In the present study the removal of nitrates
from wastewater using
Pseudomonas stutzeri
microorganism
in a Gas–Liquid–Solid bioreactor at the concentration
of 200 ppm was studied for a period of 12 h. The response
surface methodology with the help of central composite
design and genetic algorithm were employed to optimize
the process parameters such as airflow rate, biofilm carrier,
carbon source, temperature and pH which are responsible
for the removal of nitrates. The optimized values of
parameters found from RSM are airflow rate 2.41 lpm,
biofilm carrier 15.15 g/L, carbon source 85.0 mg/L, temperature
29.74
oC, pH 7.47 and nitrate removal 193.16.
The optimized parameters obtained from genetic algorithm
are airflow rate 2.42 lpm, biofilm carrier 15.25 g/L, carbon
source 84.98 mg/L, temperature 29.61
oC, pH 7.51 and
nitrate removal is 194.14. The value of R
2>0.9831
obtained for the present mathematical model indicates the
high correlation between observed and predicted values.
The optimal values for nitrate removal at 200 ppm are
suggested according to genetic algorithm and at these
optimized parameters more than 96 % of nitrate removal
was estimated, which meets the standards for drinking
water.
