51
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Jung MY, Gwak JH, Rohe L, Giesemann A, Kim JG, Well R, Madsen EL, Herbold CW, Wagner M, Rhee SK. Indications for enzymatic denitrification to N 2O at low pH in an ammonia-oxidizing archaeon. ISME JOURNAL 2019; 13:2633-2638. [PMID: 31227816 PMCID: PMC6775971 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a key climate change gas and nitrifying microbes living in terrestrial ecosystems contribute significantly to its formation. Many soils are acidic and global change will cause acidification of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, but the effect of decreasing pH on N2O formation by nitrifiers is poorly understood. Here, we used isotope-ratio mass spectrometry to investigate the effect of acidification on production of N2O by pure cultures of two ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA; Nitrosocosmicus oleophilus and Nitrosotenuis chungbukensis) and an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium (AOB; Nitrosomonas europaea). For all three strains acidification led to increased emission of N2O. However, changes of 15N site preference (SP) values within the N2O molecule (as indicators of pathways for N2O formation), caused by decreasing pH, were highly different between the tested AOA and AOB. While acidification decreased the SP value in the AOB strain, SP values increased to a maximum value of 29‰ in N. oleophilus. In addition, 15N-nitrite tracer experiments showed that acidification boosted nitrite transformation into N2O in all strains, but the incorporation rate was different for each ammonia oxidizer. Unexpectedly, for N. oleophilus more than 50% of the N2O produced at pH 5.5 had both nitrogen atoms from nitrite and we demonstrated that under these conditions expression of a putative cytochrome P450 NO reductase is strongly upregulated. Collectively, our results indicate that N. oleophilus might be able to enzymatically denitrify nitrite to N2O at low pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Young Jung
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, South Korea.,University of Vienna, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Joo-Han Gwak
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, South Korea
| | - Lena Rohe
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Department of Soil System Sciences, Theodor-Lieser-Strasse 4, D-06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Anette Giesemann
- Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Bundesallee 50, D-38116, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Jong-Geol Kim
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, South Korea
| | - Reinhard Well
- Thünen Institute of Climate-Smart Agriculture, Bundesallee 50, D-38116, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Eugene L Madsen
- Department of Microbiology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853-8101, USA
| | - Craig W Herbold
- University of Vienna, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.,The Comammox Research Platform, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Wagner
- University of Vienna, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.,The Comammox Research Platform, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7H, 9220, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Sung-Keun Rhee
- Department of Microbiology, Chungbuk National University, 1 Chungdae-ro, Seowon-Gu, Cheongju, 28644, South Korea.
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52
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Domingo-Félez C, Smets BF. Regulation of key N2O production mechanisms during biological water treatment. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 57:119-126. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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53
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Su Q, Domingo-Félez C, Zhang Z, Blum JM, Jensen MM, Smets BF. The effect of pH on N 2O production in intermittently-fed nitritation reactors. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 156:223-231. [PMID: 30921538 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The effect of pH on nitrous oxide (N2O) production rates was quantified in an intermittently-fed lab-scale sequencing batch reactor performing high-rate nitritation. N2O and other nitrogen (N) species (e.g. ammonium (NH4+), nitrite, hydroxylamine and nitric oxide) were monitored to identify in-cycle dynamics and determine N conversion rates at controlled pH set-points (6.5, 7, 7.5, 8 and 8.5). Operational conditions and microbial compositions remained similar during long-term reactor-scale pH campaigns. The specific ammonium removal rates and nitrite accumulation rates varied little with varying pH levels (p > 0.05). The specific net N2O production rates and net N2O yield of NH4+ removed (ΔN2O/ΔNH4+) increased up to seven-fold from pH 6.5 to 8, and decreased slightly with further pH increase to 8.5 (p < 0.05). Best-fit model simulations predicted nitrifier denitrification as the dominant N2O production pathway (≥87% of total net N2O production) at all examined pH. Our study highlights the effect of pH on biologically mediated N2O emissions in nitrogen removal systems and its importance in the design of N2O mitigation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxian Su
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Carlos Domingo-Félez
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jan-Michael Blum
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Marlene Mark Jensen
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Barth F Smets
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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54
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Kits KD, Jung MY, Vierheilig J, Pjevac P, Sedlacek CJ, Liu S, Herbold C, Stein LY, Richter A, Wissel H, Brüggemann N, Wagner M, Daims H. Low yield and abiotic origin of N 2O formed by the complete nitrifier Nitrospira inopinata. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1836. [PMID: 31015413 PMCID: PMC6478695 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09790-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitric oxide (NO) are atmospheric trace gases that contribute to climate change and affect stratospheric and ground-level ozone concentrations. Ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA) are key players in the nitrogen cycle and major producers of N2O and NO globally. However, nothing is known about N2O and NO production by the recently discovered and widely distributed complete ammonia oxidizers (comammox). Here, we show that the comammox bacterium Nitrospira inopinata is sensitive to inhibition by an NO scavenger, cannot denitrify to N2O, and emits N2O at levels that are comparable to AOA but much lower than AOB. Furthermore, we demonstrate that N2O formed by N. inopinata formed under varying oxygen regimes originates from abiotic conversion of hydroxylamine. Our findings indicate that comammox microbes may produce less N2O during nitrification than AOB.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Dimitri Kits
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Man-Young Jung
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Julia Vierheilig
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Division of Water Quality and Health, Krems, 3500, Austria
- Interuniversity Cooperation Centre for Water and Health, Krems, 3500, Austria
| | - Petra Pjevac
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christopher J Sedlacek
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shurong Liu
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- The Comammox Research Platform, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Craig Herbold
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Y Stein
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Andreas Richter
- The Comammox Research Platform, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Terrestrial Ecosystem Research, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Holger Wissel
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences-Agrosphere (IBG-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Brüggemann
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences-Agrosphere (IBG-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Michael Wagner
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
- The Comammox Research Platform, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Holger Daims
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- The Comammox Research Platform, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria
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55
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Su Q, Domingo-Félez C, Jensen MM, Smets BF. Abiotic Nitrous Oxide (N 2O) Production Is Strongly pH Dependent, but Contributes Little to Overall N 2O Emissions in Biological Nitrogen Removal Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:3508-3516. [PMID: 30816038 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxylamine (NH2OH) and nitrite (NO2-), intermediates during the nitritation process, can engage in chemical (abiotic) reactions that lead to nitrous oxide (N2O) generation. Here, we quantify the kinetics and stoichiometry of the relevant abiotic reactions in a series of batch tests under different and relevant conditions, including pH, absence/presence of oxygen, and reactant concentrations. The highest N2O production rates were measured from NH2OH reaction with HNO2, followed by HNO2 reduction by Fe2+, NH2OH oxidation by Fe3+, and finally NH2OH disproportionation plus oxidation by O2. Compared to other examined factors, pH had the strongest effect on N2O formation rates. Acidic pH enhanced N2O production from the reaction of NH2OH with HNO2 indicating that HNO2 instead of NO2- was the reactant. In departure from previous studies, we estimate that abiotic N2O production contributes little (< 3% of total N2O production) to total N2O emissions in typical nitritation reactor systems between pH 6.5 and 8. Abiotic contributions would only become important at acidic pH (≤ 5). In consideration of pH effects on both abiotic and biotic N2O production pathways, circumneutral pH set-points are suggested to minimize overall N2O emissions from nitritation systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingxian Su
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Carlos Domingo-Félez
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Marlene Mark Jensen
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Barth F Smets
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Technical University of Denmark , 2800 Lyngby , Denmark
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56
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Cassman NA, Soares JR, Pijl A, Lourenço KS, van Veen JA, Cantarella H, Kuramae EE. Nitrification inhibitors effectively target N 2 O-producing Nitrosospira spp. in tropical soil. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:1241-1254. [PMID: 30735001 PMCID: PMC6850170 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The nitrification inhibitors (NIs) 3,4-dimethylpyrazole (DMPP) and dicyandiamide (DCD) can effectively reduce N2 O emissions; however, which species are targeted and the effect of these NIs on the microbial nitrifier community is still unclear. Here, we identified the ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) species linked to N2 O emissions and evaluated the effects of urea and urea with DCD and DMPP on the nitrifying community in a 258 day field experiment under sugarcane. Using an amoA AOB amplicon sequencing approach and mining a previous dataset of 16S rRNA sequences, we characterized the most likely N2 O-producing AOB as a Nitrosospira spp. and identified Nitrosospira (AOB), Nitrososphaera (archaeal ammonia oxidizer) and Nitrospira (nitrite-oxidizer) as the most abundant, present nitrifiers. The fertilizer treatments had no effect on the alpha and beta diversities of the AOB communities. Interestingly, we found three clusters of co-varying variables with nitrifier operational taxonomic units (OTUs): the N2 O-producing AOB Nitrosospira with N2 O, NO3 - , NH4 + , water-filled pore space (WFPS) and pH; AOA Nitrososphaera with NO3 - , NH4 + and pH; and AOA Nitrososphaera and NOB Nitrospira with NH4 + , which suggests different drivers. These results support the co-occurrence of non-N2 O-producing Nitrososphaera and Nitrospira in the unfertilized soils and the promotion of N2 O-producing Nitrosospira under urea fertilization. Further, we suggest that DMPP is a more effective NI than DCD in tropical soil under sugarcane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko A. Cassman
- Department of Microbial EcologyNetherlands Institute for Ecology NIOO‐KNAWWageningenNetherlands
| | - Johnny R. Soares
- Department of Microbial EcologyNetherlands Institute for Ecology NIOO‐KNAWWageningenNetherlands
- Soil Sciences and Fertility, Soil and Environmental Resources Center, Agronomic Institute of CampinasP.O. Box 28, 13012‐970, CampinasSPBrazil
| | - Agata Pijl
- Department of Microbial EcologyNetherlands Institute for Ecology NIOO‐KNAWWageningenNetherlands
| | - Késia S. Lourenço
- Department of Microbial EcologyNetherlands Institute for Ecology NIOO‐KNAWWageningenNetherlands
- Soil Sciences and Fertility, Soil and Environmental Resources Center, Agronomic Institute of CampinasP.O. Box 28, 13012‐970, CampinasSPBrazil
| | - Johannes A. van Veen
- Department of Microbial EcologyNetherlands Institute for Ecology NIOO‐KNAWWageningenNetherlands
| | - Heitor Cantarella
- Soil Sciences and Fertility, Soil and Environmental Resources Center, Agronomic Institute of CampinasP.O. Box 28, 13012‐970, CampinasSPBrazil
| | - Eiko E. Kuramae
- Department of Microbial EcologyNetherlands Institute for Ecology NIOO‐KNAWWageningenNetherlands
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57
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Insights into the physiology of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2019; 49:9-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2018.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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58
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Duan P, Fan C, Zhang Q, Xiong Z. Overdose fertilization induced ammonia-oxidizing archaea producing nitrous oxide in intensive vegetable fields. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 650:1787-1794. [PMID: 30278423 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization rates on ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and their differential contribution to nitrous oxide (N2O) production, particularly in greenhouse based high N input vegetable soils. Six N treatments (N1, N2, N3, N4, N5 and N6 representing 0, 293, 587, 880, 1173 and 1760 kg N ha-1 yr-1, respectively) were continuously managed for three years in a typically intensified vegetable field in China. The aerobic incubation experiment involving these field-treated soils was designed to evaluate the relative contributions of AOA and AOB to N2O production by using acetylene or 1-octyne as inhibitors. The results showed that the soil pH and net nitrification rate gradually declined with increasing the fertilizer N application rates. The AOA were responsible for 44-71% of the N2O production with negligible N2O from AOB in urea unamended control soils. With urea amendment, the AOA were responsible for 48-53% of the N2O production in the excessively fertilized soils, namely the N5-N6 soils, while the AOB were responsible for 42-55% in the conventionally fertilized soils, namely the N1-N4 soils. Results indicated that overdose fertilization induced higher AOA-dependent N2O production than AOB, whereas urea supply led to higher AOB-dependent N2O production than AOA in conventionally fertilized soils. Additionally, a positive relationship existed between N2O production and NO2- accumulation during the incubation. Further mechanisms for NO2--dependent N2O production in intensive vegetable soils therefore deserve urgent attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengpeng Duan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Agriculture and GHGs Mitigation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Changhua Fan
- Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Hainan 571737, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Agriculture and GHGs Mitigation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhengqin Xiong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Low Carbon Agriculture and GHGs Mitigation, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.
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59
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Sun F, Wu D, Chua FD, Zhu W, Zhou Y. Free nitrous acid (FNA) induced transformation of sulfamethoxazole in the enriched nitrifying culture. WATER RESEARCH 2019; 149:432-439. [PMID: 30472545 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The sulfonamide antibiotics sulfamethoxazole (SMX) has been frequently detected in the wastewater. It has been reported that part of SMX can be transformed by the co-metabolism of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) during nitrifying process. However, previous studies reported inconsistent or even contradictory results in terms of SMX degradation and/or transformation. Literature study revealed that nitrite may play certain role in SMX transformation, which has been neglected previously. In this study, the transformation behavior of SMX was investigated with and without the presence of nitrite in an enriched nitrifying culture. The results clearly show that the elimination of SMX occurred with the presence/accumulation of nitrite, and a linear regression was observed between SMX elimination efficiency and free nitrous acid (FNA) concentration, indicating that FNA was the major factor responsible for the SMX transformation. By reacting with FNA, SMX transformation products, such as 4-nitro-SMX, desamino-SMX and hydroxylated SMX, were detected. However, when FNA concentration decreased, these intermediates may be retransformed back to SMX. These findings improved our understanding on SMX transformation in a biological system and highlighted the role of nitrite/FNA in the sulfonamide antibiotics degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faqian Sun
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore
| | - Dan Wu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore
| | - Fengjun Desmond Chua
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore
| | - Wenyu Zhu
- Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore
| | - Yan Zhou
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 639798, Singapore; Advanced Environmental Biotechnology Centre, Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, Nanyang Technological University, 637141, Singapore.
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60
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Microbial mechanisms and ecosystem flux estimation for aerobic NO y emissions from deciduous forest soils. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:2138-2145. [PMID: 30659144 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1814632116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactive nitrogen oxides (NOy; NOy = NO + NO2 + HONO) decrease air quality and impact radiative forcing, yet the factors responsible for their emission from nonpoint sources (i.e., soils) remain poorly understood. We investigated the factors that control the production of aerobic NOy in forest soils using molecular techniques, process-based assays, and inhibitor experiments. We subsequently used these data to identify hotspots for gas emissions across forests of the eastern United States. Here, we show that nitrogen oxide soil emissions are mediated by microbial community structure (e.g., ammonium oxidizer abundances), soil chemical characteristics (pH and C:N), and nitrogen (N) transformation rates (net nitrification). We find that, while nitrification rates are controlled primarily by chemoautotrophic ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), the production of NOy is mediated in large part by chemoautotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Variation in nitrification rates and nitrogen oxide emissions tracked variation in forest communities, as stands dominated by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees had greater N transformation rates and NOy fluxes than stands dominated by ectomycorrhizal (ECM) trees. Given mapped distributions of AM and ECM trees from 78,000 forest inventory plots, we estimate that broadleaf forests of the Midwest and the eastern United States as well as the Mississippi River corridor may be considered hotspots of biogenic NOy emissions. Together, our results greatly improve our understanding of NOy fluxes from forests, which should lead to improved predictions about the atmospheric consequences of tree species shifts owing to land management and climate change.
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Abstract
Archaea are ubiquitous and abundant members of the marine plankton. Once thought of as rare organisms found in exotic extremes of temperature, pressure, or salinity, archaea are now known in nearly every marine environment. Though frequently referred to collectively, the planktonic archaea actually comprise four major phylogenetic groups, each with its own distinct physiology and ecology. Only one group-the marine Thaumarchaeota-has cultivated representatives, making marine archaea an attractive focus point for the latest developments in cultivation-independent molecular methods. Here, we review the ecology, physiology, and biogeochemical impact of the four archaeal groups using recent insights from cultures and large-scale environmental sequencing studies. We highlight key gaps in our knowledge about the ecological roles of marine archaea in carbon flow and food web interactions. We emphasize the incredible uncultivated diversity within each of the four groups, suggesting there is much more to be done.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyson E Santoro
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA;
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62
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Li N, Zeng W, Wang B, Li S, Guo Y, Peng Y. Nitritation, nitrous oxide emission pathways and in situ microbial community in a modified University of Cape Town process. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 271:289-297. [PMID: 30290321 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.09.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Achieving nitritation is a prerequisite to promote nutrients removal and save energy, but emission of nitrous oxide as a greenhouse gas cannot be ignored. This study established the nitritation in a continuous-flow MUCT process and investigated the mechanism of N2O generation. The nitrite accumulation ratio (NAR) reached 95% by controlling the low DO of 0.3-0.5 mg/L and short HRT of 8 h. The 15N-isotope tracer experiment indicated that the percentage of nitrifier-denitrification (ND) pathway increased by 12.7% under the limited-aeration mode, improving the stable operating of nitritation. Meanwhile, the autotrophic anammox pathway increased with the contribution ratio of 14.7% to N2 emission under the nitritation mode. The 15N-DNA-SIP revealed that the Nitrosomonas executed the ND pathway and the Planctomycetes conducted the anammox process, respectively. The integration of autotrophic and heterotrophic process based on nitritation technique has potential to solve the carbon-limited issue for total nitrogen removal in mainstream WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Wei Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Baogui Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Shuaishuai Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yu Guo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yongzhen Peng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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63
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Rue K, Rusevova K, Biles CL, Huling SG. Abiotic hydroxylamine nitrification involving manganese- and iron-bearing minerals. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 644:567-575. [PMID: 29990906 PMCID: PMC7286054 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2018] [Revised: 06/25/2018] [Accepted: 06/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxylamine (NH2OH) undergoes biotic and abiotic transformation processes in soil, producing nitrous oxide gas (N2O(g)). Little is known about the magnitude of the abiotic chemical processes in the global N cycle, and the role of abiotic nitrification is still neglected in most current nitrogen trace gas studies. The abiotic fate of NH2OH in soil systems is often focused on transition metals including manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe), and empirical correlations of nitrogen residual species including nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-), and N2O(g). In this study, abiotic NH2OH nitrification by well-characterized manganese (Mn)- and iron (Fe)-bearing minerals (pyrolusite, amorphous MnO2(s), goethite, amorphous FeOOH(s)) was investigated. A nitrogen mass balance analysis involving NH2OH, and the abiotic nitrification residuals, N2O(g), N2O(aq), NO2-, NO3-, was used, and specific reactions and mechanisms were investigated. Rapid and complete NH2OH nitrification occurred (4-5 h) in the presence of pyrolusite and amorphous MnO2(s), achieving a 95-96% mass balance of N byproducts. Conversely, NH2OH nitrification was considerably slower by amorphous FeOOH(s) (14.5%) and goethite (1.1%). Direct reactions between the Mn- and Fe-bearing mineral species and NO2- and NO3- were not detected. Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area and energy dispersive X-ray measurements for elemental composition were used to determine the specific concentrations of Mn and Fe. Despite similar specific concentrations of Mn and Fe in crystalline and amorphous minerals, the rate of NH2OH nitrification was much greater in the Mn-bearing minerals. Results underscore the intrinsically faster NH2OH nitrification by Mn minerals than Fe minerals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristie Rue
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, 919 Kerr Lab Dr., Ada, OK, 74820, USA.
| | - Klara Rusevova
- National Research Council, R.S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, 919 Kerr Lab Dr., Ada, OK 74821, USA.
| | - Caleb L Biles
- East Central University, Department of Environmental Science and Health, 1100 E. 14th, Ada, OK 74820, USA
| | - Scott G Huling
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center, 919 Kerr Lab Dr., Ada, OK, 74820, USA.
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Chen X, Yuan Z, Ni BJ. Nitrite accumulation inside sludge flocs significantly influencing nitrous oxide production by ammonium-oxidizing bacteria. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 143:99-108. [PMID: 29940366 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This work aims to clarify the role of potential nitrite (NO2-) accumulation inside sludge flocs in N2O production by ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) at different dissolved oxygen (DO) levels with focus on the conditions of no significant bulk NO2- accumulation (<0.2 mg N/L). To this end, an augmented nitrifying sludge with much higher abundance of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) than AOB was enriched and then used for systematically designed batch tests, which targeted a range of DO levels from 0 to 3.0 mg O2/L at a fixed ammonium concentration of 10 mg N/L. A two-pathway N2O model was applied to facilitate the interpretation of batch experimental data, thus shedding light on the relationships between N2O production pathways and key process parameters (i.e., DO and NO2- accumulation inside sludge flocs). The results demonstrated (i) the biomass specific N2O production rate firstly increased and then decreased with DO, with the maximum value of 3.03 ± 0.05 mg N/h/g VSS obtained at DO level of 0.75 mg O2/L, (ii) the AOB denitrification pathway for N2O production was dominant (98.0%) at all DO levels tested even without significant bulk NO2- accumulation (<0.2 mg N/L) observed in the system, but its contribution decreased with DO, (iii) DO had a positive impact on the hydroxylamine pathway for N2O production which therefore increased with DO, and (iv) the nitrite accumulation existed inside the sludge flocs and induced significant N2O production from the AOB denitrification pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueming Chen
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Process and Systems Engineering Center (PROSYS), Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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Sabba F, Terada A, Wells G, Smets BF, Nerenberg R. Nitrous oxide emissions from biofilm processes for wastewater treatment. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:9815-9829. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9332-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Yu Y, Han P, Zhou LJ, Li Z, Wagner M, Men Y. Ammonia Monooxygenase-Mediated Cometabolic Biotransformation and Hydroxylamine-Mediated Abiotic Transformation of Micropollutants in an AOB/NOB Coculture. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:9196-9205. [PMID: 30004677 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b02801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Biotransformation of various micropollutants (MPs) has been found to be positively correlated with nitrification in activated sludge communities. To further elucidate the roles played by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), we investigated the biotransformation capabilities of an NOB pure culture ( Nitrobacter sp.) and an AOB ( Nitrosomonas europaea)/NOB ( Nitrobacter sp.) coculture for 15 MPs, whose biotransformation was reported previously to be associated with nitrification. The NOB pure culture did not biotransform any investigated MP, whereas the AOB/NOB coculture was capable of biotransforming six MPs (i.e., asulam, bezafibrate, fenhexamid, furosemide, indomethacin, and rufinamide). Transformation products (TPs) were identified, and tentative structures were proposed. Inhibition studies with octyne, an ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) inhibitor, suggested that AMO was the responsible enzyme for MP transformation that occurred cometabolically. For the first time, hydroxylamine, a key intermediate of all aerobic ammonia oxidizers, was found to react with several MPs at concentrations typically occurring in AOB batch cultures. All of these MPs were also biotransformed by the AOB/NOB coculture. Moreover, the same asulam TPs were detected in both biotransformation and hydroxylamine-treated abiotic transformation experiments, whereas rufinamide TPs formed from biological transformation were not detected during hydroxylamine-mediated abiotic transformation, which was consistent with the inability of rufinamide abiotic transformation by hydroxylamine. Thus, in addition to cometabolism likely carried out by AMO, an abiotic transformation route indirectly mediated by AMO might also contribute to MP biotransformation by AOB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaochun Yu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , Illinois 61801-2352 , United States
| | - Ping Han
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, Research Network "Chemistry meets Microbiology" , University of Vienna , 1090 Vienna , Austria
| | - Li-Jun Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, Research Network "Chemistry meets Microbiology" , University of Vienna , 1090 Vienna , Austria
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment , Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Nanjing 210008 , China
| | - Zhong Li
- Metabolomics Center , University of Illinois , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
| | - Michael Wagner
- Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, Research Network "Chemistry meets Microbiology" , University of Vienna , 1090 Vienna , Austria
| | - Yujie Men
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , Illinois 61801-2352 , United States
- Institute for Genomic Biology , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign , Urbana , Illinois 61801 , United States
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Xia X, Zhang S, Li S, Zhang L, Wang G, Zhang L, Wang J, Li Z. The cycle of nitrogen in river systems: sources, transformation, and flux. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2018; 20:863-891. [PMID: 29877524 DOI: 10.1039/c8em00042e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen is a requisite and highly demanded element for living organisms on Earth. However, increasing human activities have greatly altered the global nitrogen cycle, especially in rivers and streams, resulting in eutrophication, formation of hypoxic zones, and increased production of N2O, a powerful greenhouse gas. This review focuses on three aspects of the nitrogen cycle in streams and rivers. We firstly introduce the distributions and concentrations of nitrogen compounds in streams and rivers as well as the techniques for tracing the sources of nitrogen pollution. Secondly, the overall picture of nitrogen transformations in rivers and streams conducted by organisms is described, especially focusing on the roles of suspended particle-water surfaces in overlying water, sediment-water interfaces, and riparian zones in the nitrogen cycle of streams and rivers. The coupling of nitrogen and other element (C, S, and Fe) cycles in streams and rivers is also briefly covered. Finally, we analyze the nitrogen budget of river systems as well as nitrogen loss as N2O and N2 through the fluvial network and give a summary of the effects and consequences of human activities and climate change on the riverine nitrogen cycle. In addition, future directions for the research on the nitrogen cycle in river systems are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinghui Xia
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Beijing, 100875, China.
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Hydroxylamine released by nitrifying microorganisms is a precursor for HONO emission from drying soils. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1877. [PMID: 29382914 PMCID: PMC5790002 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20170-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrous acid (HONO) is an important precursor of the hydroxyl radical (OH), the atmosphere´s primary oxidant. An unknown strong daytime source of HONO is required to explain measurements in ambient air. Emissions from soils are one of the potential sources. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) have been identified as possible producers of these HONO soil emissions. However, the mechanisms for production and release of HONO in soils are not fully understood. In this study, we used a dynamic soil-chamber system to provide direct evidence that gaseous emissions from nitrifying pure cultures contain hydroxylamine (NH2OH), which is subsequently converted to HONO in a heterogeneous reaction with water vapor on glass bead surfaces. In addition to different AOB species, we found release of HONO also in ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA), suggesting that these globally abundant microbes may also contribute to the formation of atmospheric HONO and consequently OH. Since biogenic NH2OH is formed by diverse organisms, such as AOB, AOA, methane-oxidizing bacteria, heterotrophic nitrifiers, and fungi, we argue that HONO emission from soil is not restricted to the nitrifying bacteria, but is also promoted by nitrifying members of the domains Archaea and Eukarya.
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