Influence of temperature on microbial colonisation of clayey schist as a support media of a submerged filter for groundwater denitrification

The effect of temperature on biofilm formation and denitrification activity was evaluated. Assays were made in a lab-scale submerged filter for the denitrification of polluted groundwater, with and without a previous inoculation. The inoculation was carried out with a selected strain of Pseudomonas mandelii. Different temperatures were tested: 5, 10, 20 and 30 degrees C. Biofilm observations were made, and monitoring of the denitrification capacity of the system was maintained during the experiment. Our results showed that both colonisation of the support material of the filter and biofilm maturity have a dependency with temperature, with an optimum temperature of 20 'C if the system was previously inoculated with the Pseudomonas mandelii strain. For a correct achievement of the denitrification process, a previous inoculation of the system is essential. Although the development of a biofilm from the natural microbiota present in the groundwater is possible, it is not capable to adequately denitrify polluted groundwater. In terms of the correct achievement of the denitrification process, temperature affects the operation of the system at cold environments, although the use of Pseudomonas mandelii strain A103 allows denitrification at 10-30 degrees C with very good results (above 90% removal), affecting only to the time needed for the stabilisation of the system.