Method and equipment for treating microcystin-containing water

1. A method for treating microcystin-containing water which detoxifies microcystin in the microcystin-containing water, the method comprising the step of:

bringing the microcystin-containing water into contact with Sphingomonas bacterium to degrade biologically the microcystin in the microcystin-containing water, wherein:

the Sphingomonas bacterium is a strain MDB1, which is deposited with International Patent Organism Depositary, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, under Accession No. FERM BP-10448.

2. The method for treating microcystin-containing water as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the Sphingomonas bacterium is sprayed over a water surface of a closed-water area so as to make contact with the microcystin-containing water, the closed-water area being a source of the microcystin-containing water.

3. The method for treating microcystin-containing water as defined in claim 2 , wherein:

the Sphingomonas bacterium is sprayed over the water surface of the closed-water area at a concentration of 10 8 cells/m 2 or higher.

4. The method for treating microcystin-containing water as defined in claim 1 , wherein:

the Sphingomonas bacterium is immobilized so as to make contact with the microcystin-containing water.

5. The method for treating microcystin-containing water as defined in claim 4 , wherein:

the Sphingomonas bacterium is immobilized by being attached to an immobilizing material.

6. The method for treating microcystin-containing water as defined in claim 4 , wherein:

the Sphingomonas bacterium is immobilized by being entrapped in an immobilizing material.

7. A method for treating microcystin-containing water which detoxifies microcystin in the microcystin-containing water, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing the microcystin-containing water into a treatment section;

degrading biologically the microcystin in the microcystin-containing water introduced into the treatment section by bringing the microcystin-containing water into contact with a plurality of immobilized members which immobilize Sphingomonas bacterium;

aerating the treatment section; and

discharging treated water from the treatment section,

wherein the Sphingomonas bacterium is a strain MDB1, which is deposited with International Patent Organism Depositary, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, under Accession No. FERM BP-10448.

8. The method for treating microcystin-containing water as defined in claim 7 , further comprising the steps of:

culturing the Sphingomonas bacterium; and

supplying a culture solution of the cultured Sphingomonas bacterium to the treatment section at a predetermined interval and in a predetermined amount of cell concentration of the Sphingomonas bacterium.

9. The method for treating microcystin-containing water as defined in claim 7 , wherein:

the source of the introduced microcystin-containing water is a closed-water area.