The isolated strains were initially screened using solid media for their nitrifying activities. Among them two of the bacteria displayed the highest removal of ammonium without much accumulation of nitrite and nitrate. The isolates were identified as Acinetobacter based on biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA sequence. One of these two isolates, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus HUST-C8 strain, showed 88 % ammonium removal from industrial fertilizer wastewater | Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology 56 (2) (2018) 216-223 DOI: AMMONIA-REMOVAL EFFICIENCY OF A NOVEL ACINETOBACTER CALCOACETICUS STRAIN ISOLATED FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER OF NINH BINH COAL NITROGENOUS FERTILIZER PLANT Do Bien Cuong*, Hoang Ngoc Han, Pham Van Thiem School of Biotechnology and Food Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, 1 Dai Co Viet Road, Ha Noi, Viet Nam * Email: ; dobiencuongibft@ Received: 30 June 2017; Accepted for publication: ???? Abstract. Ammonium removal from wastewater has recently become a major concern of fertilizer manufacturers and industrial zones in Vietnam. Using aerobic ammonium remover may be an appreciate solution for reduction of treatment cost. This study describes the isolation and characterization of a novel bacterium for ammonium removal under aerobic conditions. Twelve ammonium remover strains were isolated from wastewater of a local fertilizer industry. The isolated strains were initially screened using solid media for their nitrifying activities. Among them two of the bacteria displayed the highest removal of ammonium without much accumulation of nitrite and nitrate. The isolates were identified as Acinetobacter based on biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA sequence. One of these two isolates, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus HUST-C8 strain, showed 88 % ammonium removal from industrial fertilizer wastewater. Keywords: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, aerobic treatment, ammonium removal, fertilizer. Classification numbers: , , . 1. INTRODUCTION Ammonium ions are the primary form of widespread nitrogen pollution in the hydrosphere and cause an acute toxicity to fish and other forms of aquatic life at very low concentration, about - 10 mg/L [1-6]. Furthermore, excess ammonium ions in receiving water can cause a remarkable increase of oxygen demand and biological eutrophication and a source of nitrite and nitrate ions in .
