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Dornelles HS, Sabatini CA, Adorno MAT, Silva EL, Lee PH, Varesche MBA. Microbial synergies drive simultaneous biodegradation of ethoxy and alkyl chains of Nonylphenol Ethoxylate in fluidized bed reactors. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 358:142084. [PMID: 38642772 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
The widely-used surfactant Nonylphenol Ethoxylate (NPEO) produces endocrine-disrupting compounds during biodegradation, with these byproducts being more harmful than untreated NPEO. This study investigates the effectiveness of a Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) in reducing the production of 4-Nonylphenol (4-NP) during the biodegradation of NPEO. Two identical FBR filled with sand were used to assess the NPEO degradation and to enhance the microbial consortia capable of breaking down the complex byproducts, ethanol and fumarate were introduced as co-substrates. Our findings demonstrate the significant potential of the FBR, especially when coupled with fumarate, for enhancing the surfactant degradation. It outperforms the efficiency achieved with ethanol as the primary electron donor, albeit with a higher rate of byproduct production. Microbial community taxonomy and metabolic prediction revealed the high abundance of Geobacter (1.51-31.71%) and Methanobacterium (1.08-13.81%) in non-conductive sand. This may hint a new metabolic interaction and expand our understanding of Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer (DIET) in bioreactors applied to micropollutants degradation. Such an intricate relationship between facultative and anaerobes working together to simultaneously biodegrade the ethoxy and alkyl chains presents a new perspective on NPEO degradation and can potentially be extended to other micropollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique S Dornelles
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone - 1100, 13563-120, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College Road, SW7 2BU, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - Carolina A Sabatini
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone - 1100, 13563-120, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria A T Adorno
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone - 1100, 13563-120, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Edson L Silva
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz, Km 235, SP 310, 13565-905, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Po-Heng Lee
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, Imperial College Road, SW7 2BU, London, England, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Bernadete A Varesche
- Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. João Dagnone - 1100, 13563-120, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Teixeira RM, Sakamoto IK, Motteran F, Camargo FP, Varesche MBA. Removal of nonylphenol ethoxylate surfactant in batch reactors: emphasis on methanogenic potential and microbial community characterization under optimized conditions. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2024; 45:1343-1357. [PMID: 36352347 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2022.2143287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACTNonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has bioaccumulative, persistent and toxic characteristics in different environmental matrices and is difficult to remove in sewage treatment plants. In this study, the effects of the initial concentration of NPE (0.2 ± 0.03 - 3.0 ± 0.02 mg. L-1) and ethanol (73.9 ± 5.0-218.6 ± 10.6 mg. L-1) were investigated using factorial design. Assays were carried out in anaerobic batch reactors, using the Zinder basal medium, yeast extract (200 mg. L-1), vitamin solution and sodium bicarbonate (10% v/v). The optimal conditions were 218.56 mg.L-1 of ethanol and 1596.51 µg.L-1 of NPE, with 92% and 88% of NPE and organic matter removal, respectively, and methane yield (1689.8 ± 59.6 mmol) after 450 h of operation. In this condition, bacteria potentially involved in the degradation of this surfactant were identified in greater relative abundance, such as Acetoanaerobium (1.68%), Smithella (1.52%), Aminivibrio (0.91%), Petrimonas (0.57%) and Enterobacter (0.47%), as well as archaea Methanobacterium and Methanoregula, mainly involved in hydrogenotrophic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rômulo Mota Teixeira
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Isabel Kimiko Sakamoto
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabrício Motteran
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Franciele Pereira Camargo
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Bernadete Amâncio Varesche
- Department of Hydraulic Engineering and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering (EESC), University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Feng D, Guo X, Lin R, Xia A, Huang Y, Liao Q, Zhu X, Zhu X, Murphy JD. How can ethanol enhance direct interspecies electron transfer in anaerobic digestion? Biotechnol Adv 2021; 52:107812. [PMID: 34364985 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste to produce biogas is a mature biotechnology commercialised for decades. However, the relatively recent discovery of direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) brings a new opportunity to improve the efficiency of biogas technology. DIET may replace mediated interspecies electron transfer (MIET) by efficient electron transfer between exoelectrogens and electrotrophic methanogens, thereby enhancing yields and rates of biogas production. Ethanol, as the initial electron donor in the discovery of the DIET pathway, is now a "hot topic" in the literature. Recent studies have indicated that ethanol in AD functions not only as the substrate, but also as the precursor to stimulate DIET by enriching exoelectrogens and electrotrophic methanogens for co-digesting complex organic wastes. This review aims to highlight the state of the art and recent advances in ethanol-based DIET in AD. The DIET associated reactions of ethanol oxidation and carbon dioxide reduction are assessed by thermodynamic analysis to reveal the extent of the potential for improvement of the AD processes that utilizes DIET pathways. Three ethanol-based DIET strategies are discussed: (1) ethanol as the sole substrate supplemented with conductive materials in AD, (2) ethanol co-digestion with complex substrates and (3) ethanol-type fermentation prior to AD. This review aims to chart the pathways for improved AD performance by utilizing ethanol-based DIET in specific treatments of biological wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xiaobo Guo
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Richen Lin
- MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Ao Xia
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
| | - Yun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Qiang Liao
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xianqing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Xun Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Ministry of Education, Chongqing 400044, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, School of Energy and Power Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Jerry D Murphy
- MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland; Civil, Structural, and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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The influence of upflow velocity and hydraulic retention time changes on taxonomic and functional characterization in Fluidized Bed Reactor treating commercial laundry wastewater in co-digestion with domestic sewage. Biodegradation 2020; 31:73-89. [PMID: 32266640 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-020-09895-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
A large-scale (19.8L) Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) operated for 592 days was used to assess the removal performance of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). Adjustments in hydraulic retention time (HRT) (18 and 30 h), ethanol (50, 100, 200 mg L-1) and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) concentration (6.3-24.7 mg L-1) with taxonomic and functional characterization of biomass using Whole Genome Shotgun Metagenomic (WGSM) represented a major step forward for optimizing biological treatments of LAS. In addition, the variation of the upflow velocity (0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 cm s-1) was investigated, which is a parameter that had not yet been correlated with the possibilities of LAS removal in FBR. Lower Vup (0.5 cm s-1) allied to higher ethanol concentration (200 mg L-1) resulted in lower LAS removal (29%) with predominance of methanogenic archaea and genes related to methanogenesis, while higher Vup (0.9 cm s-1) led to aerobic organisms and oxidative phosphorylation genes. An intermediate Vup (0.7 cm s-1) and higher HRT (30 h) favored sulfate reducing bacteria and genes related to sulfur metabolism, which resulted in the highest LAS (83%) and COD (77%) removal efficiency.
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