Long-term impacts of graphene oxide and Ag nanoparticles on anammox process: Performance, microbial community and toxic mechanism

Strong suppression of silver nanoparticles on antibiotic resistome in anammox process

This study comprehensively deciphered the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on anammox flocculent sludge, including nitrogen removal performance, microbial community structure, functional enzyme abundance, antibiotic resistance gene (ARGs) dissemination, and horizontal gene transfer (HGT) mechanisms. After long-term exposure to 0-2.5 mg/L AgNPs for 200 cycles, anammox performance significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while the relative abundances of dominant Ca. Kuenenia and anammox-related enzymes (hzsA, nirK) increased compared to the control (P < 0.05). For antibiotic resistome, ARG abundance hardly changed with 0-0.5 mg/L AgNPs but decreased by approximately 90% with 1.5-2.5 mg/L AgNPs. More importantly, AgNPs effectively inhibited MGE-mediated HGT of ARGs. Additionally, structural equation model (SEM) disclosed the underlying relationship between AgNPs, the antibiotic resistome, and the microbial community. Overall, AgNPs suppressed the anammox-driven nitrogen cycle, regulated the microbial community, and prevented the spread of ARGs in anammox flocs. This study provides a theoretical baseline for an advanced understanding of the ecological roles of nanoparticles and resistance elements in engineered ecosystems.

Performance and mechanism of pilot-scale carbon fibers enhanced ecological floating beds for urban tail water treatment in optimized ecological floating beds water surface coverage

A pilot-scale carbon fibers enhanced ecological floating beds (CF-EFBs) was constructed. Compared to EFBs without carbon fibers enhancement, CF-EFBs have the better removal of total inorganic nitrogen (TIN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), the removal efficiencies were 3.19, 3.49, and 2.74 times higher than EFBs. Throughout the pilot test (under three different coverage rates), the concentrations of COD, TIN and TP of effluent were 18.11 ± 4.52 mgL-1, 1.95 ± 0.92 mgL-1 and 0.13 ± 0.08 mgL-1. Meanwhile, the average removal of TIN, TP and COD from tailwater was 0.96 gm-2d-1, 0.07 gm-2d-1 and 2.37 gm-2d-1 respectively. When the coverage was 30 %, the CF-EFBs had better nitrogen removal effectiveness (TIN purification ability of 1.49 gm-2d-1). The enrichment of denitrifying bacteria, such as Aridibacter, Nitrospira, Povalibacter, and Phaeodactylibacter increased denitrification efficiency. These results verified the feasibility of CF-EFBs in tailwater treatment at pilot-scale, which was of great significance for the practical application of CF-EFBs.

Novel insights into carbon nanomaterials enhancing anammox for nitrogen removal: Effects and mechanisms

Carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) possess the properties including large specific surface area, high porosity, and stable chemical structures, presenting significant application advantages in wastewater treatment. Indeed, CNMs are considered to be added to anammox systems to strengthen anammox function, especially to resolve the challenge of anammox technology, i.e., the slow growth rate of anammox bacteria, as well as its high environmental sensitivity. This paper systematically reviews the promotion effects and mechanisms of CNMs on the nitrogen removal performance of anammox system. Among the zero-, one-, and two-dimensional CNMs, two-dimensional CNMs have best promoting effect on the nitrogen removal performance of anammox system due to its excellent conductivity and abundant functional groups. Then, the promotion effects of CNMs on anammox process are summarized from the perspective of anammox activity and bacteria abundance. Furthermore, CNMs not only enhance the anammox process, but also stimulate the coupling of denitrification pathways with anammox, as well as the improvement of system operational stability (alleviating the inhibitions of low temperature and pH fluctuation), thus contributing to the promoted nitrogen removal performance. Essentially, CNMs are capable of facilitating microbial immobilization and electron transfer, which favor to improve the efficiency and stability of anammox process. Finally, this review highlights the gap in knowledge and future work, aiming to provide a deeper understanding of how CNMs can strengthen the anammox system and provide a novel perspective for the engineering of the anammox process.

Deciphering the role of granular activated carbon (GAC) in anammox: Effects on microbial succession and communication

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) offered an energy-efficient option for nitrogen removal from wastewater. Granular activated carbon (GAC) addition has been reported that improved biomass immobilization, but the role of GAC in anammox reactors has not been sufficiently revealed. In this study, it was observed that GAC addition in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor led to the significantly shortened anammox enrichment time (shortened by 45 days) than the reactor without GAC addition. The nitrogen removal rate was 0.83 kg N/m³/day versus 0.76 kg N/m³/day in GAC and non-GAC reactors, respectively after 255 days' operation. Acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum sensing signal molecule C8-HSL had comparable concentrations in both anammox reactors, whereas the signal molecule C12-HSL was more pervasive in the reactor containing GAC than the reactor without GAC. Microbial analysis revealed distinct anammox development in both reactors, with Candidatus Brocadia predominant in the reactor that did not contain GAC, and Candidatus Kuenenia predominant in the reactor that contained GAC. Denitrification bacteria likely supported anammox metabolism in both reactors. The analyses of microbial functions suggested that AHL-dependent quorum sensing was enhanced with the addition of GAC, and that GAC possibly augmented the extracellular electron transfer (EET)-dependent anammox reaction.

Accelerating the granulation of anammox sludge in wastewater treatment with the drive of "micro-nuclei": A review

Anammox granule sludge (AnGS) has great potential in the field of wastewater nitrogen removal, but its development and promotion have been limited by the slow granulation speed and fragile operating stability. Based on the reviews about the AnGS formation mechanism in this paper, "micro-nuclei" was found to play an important role in the granulation of AnGS, and adding "micro-nuclei" directly into the reactor may be an efficient way to accelerate the formation of AnGS. Then, accelerating AnGS granulation with inert particles, multivalent positive ions, and broken granule sludge as "micro-nuclei" was summarized and discussed. Among inert particles, iron-based particles may be a more advantageous candidate for "micro-nuclei" due to their ability to provide attachment sites and release ferric/ferrous ions. The precipitations of multivalent positive ions are also a potential option for "micro-nuclei" that can be generated in-situ, but a suitable dosing strategy is necessary. About broken granular sludge, the broken active AnGS may have advantages in terms of anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria-affinity and granulation speed, while using inactive granular sludge as "micro-nuclei" can avoid interfering bacterial invasion and has a higher cost performance than broken active AnGS. In addition, possible research directions for accelerating the formation of AnGS by dosing "micro-nuclei" were highlighted. This paper is intended to provide a possible pathway for the rapid start-up of AnGS systems, and references for the optimization and promotion of the AnGS process.

Effects of silver nanoparticles on denitrification and anammox in sediments of hypertrophic and mesotrophic lakes

The abundant production and wide usage of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) inevitably lead to their release into aquatic ecosystems. However, it is still unclear about how Ag NPs influence denitrification and anammox (DA) in freshwater sediments. To address this, the sediments of hypertrophic and mesotrophic lakes were exposed to 0.5 and 50 mg/L Ag NPs under anaerobic conditions for 7 days to explore the effects of Ag NPs on environmental variables, including redox potential (Eh), pH, organic matter (OM) and acid volatile sulfide (AVS), and the resulting influence on DA. Experimental results indicated that NO₃^--N and NH₄⁺-N levels were increased by the low (p > 0.05) and high doses of Ag NPs (p < 0.05) in comparison with the non-Ag control, revealing an inhibitive impact on DA. The level of total nitrogen (TN) was notably increased by the low and high doses of Ag NPs (p < 0.05), perhaps due to inhibited enzyme activity and corresponding encoding gene abundance, which were related to generating gaseous nitrogen such as N₂O and N₂. In addition, environmental factor Eh was significantly raised by Ag NPs (p < 0.05), further inhibiting DA. Moreover, the quantitative analysis unveiled that denitrifying and anammox bacteria in hypertrophic lakes evinced a stronger resistance to Ag NPs toxicity than those in mesotrophic lakes. Overall, our study revealed that short-term exposure to Ag NPs could inhibit DA in sediments. These findings provide an understanding enabling evaluation and prediction of the environmental risks of Ag NPs in freshwater lakes.

Extensive data analysis and kinetic modelling of dosage and temperature dependent role of graphene oxides on anammox

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is carbon friendly biological nitrogen removal process, and recently more focus is given to improving the anammox activity. Because of its high adsorption and modifiability, graphene and its derivative in wastewater treatment have received much attention. However, the specific effects and mechanisms of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) on anammox are still controversial. Extensive data analysis was performed to explore the effects of GO and RGO on anammox. Statistical analysis revealed that 100 mg/L GO significantly promoted the anammox process, while 200 mg/L of GO inhibited the anammox process. The promotion of anammox performance under the influence of RGO was dependent on the temperature. The Logistic model was utilized for depicting the variation of nitrogen removal efficiency under promoting dosage of graphene oxides. A neural network model-based analysis was performed to reach anammox's potential mechanisms under the influence of two graphene oxides. Spearman correlation analysis showed that GO and RGO had significant positive correlations with nitrogen removal efficiency and specific anammox activity (p < 0.01), especially for RGO. In addition, the abundance of Planctomycetes and Nitrospirae was positively correlated with the addition of graphene oxides. This work comprehensively unraveled the role of graphene oxide materials on the anammox process and provided practical directions for the enhancement of anammox.

Unveiling microbial community and function involved in anammox in paddy vadose under groundwater irrigation

The extensive application of nitrogen fertilizer in intensive irrigation areas poses a potential threat to groundwater. Given that the vadose zone acts as a buffer zone for the underground entry of surface pollutants, an in-depth understanding of its microbial community structure and function was crucial for controlling groundwater nitrogen pollution. In this study, soil samples from paddy vadose under groundwater irrigation with different depths (G1: 6.8 m, G2: 13.7 m, G3: 15.6 m, and G4: 17.8 m) were collected to unravel the differences in microbial community structure and function at different vadose depths (0-250 cm), as well as their relationship with soil properties. Results showed some differences among soil physicochemical factors under groundwater irrigation with different depths and that some electron acceptors were more abundant than others under deep groundwater irrigation (G2-G4). Remarkable differences in microbial communities under shallow- and deep-groundwater irrigation were found. The high abundances of anammox bacteria Candidatus_Brocadia in G2 and G3 indicated that deep groundwater irrigation was beneficial to its enrichment. Iron-reducing bacteria Anaeromyxobacter and sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio were widely distributed in vadose zone and possessed the potential for anammox coupled with Fe(III)/sulfate reduction. Norank_f_Gemmatimonadaceae had nitrate- and vanadium-reducing abilities and could participate in anammox in vadose zone. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) bacteria Geobacter facilitated Fe(II)-driven DNRA and thus provided electron donors and acceptors to anammox bacteria. Soil nutrients and electron donors/acceptors played important roles in shaping microbial community structure at phylum and genus levels. Microorganisms in vadose zone under groundwater irrigation showed good material/energy metabolism levels. Deep groundwater irrigation was conducive to the occurrence of anammox coupled with multi-electron acceptors. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the structure and function of microbial communities in paddy vadose under groundwater irrigation and reveal the potential role of indigenous microorganisms in in-situ nitrogen removal.

Activity enhancement and the anammox mechanism under low temperature via PVA-SA and nano Fe2O3-PVA-SA entrapped beads

Anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AAOB) have a long growth time and low activity at low temperatures. In suspended systems, sludge is easily lost, which limits the mainstream application of anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox).Entrapment provides effective ideas for solving these problems. In this study, polyvinyl‑sodium alginate (PVA-SA) and nano Fe₂O₃-PVA-SA entrapment beads were prepared to discuss the effectiveness of entrapment enhanced anammox sludge at low temperatures. The differences in the entrapped beads and granules were compared to analyze the strengthening mechanism. The results show that the nitrogen removal performance of granules, PVA-SA and nano Fe₂O₃-PVA-SA entrapped beads, first decreased and then increased during the cooling and low-temperature operation. Nano Fe₂O₃-PVA-SA entrapped beads showed the smallest decline and the highest degree of recovery. Reaction metering ratio (△NO₂^--N/△NH₄⁺-N and △NO₃^--N/△NH₄⁺-N) showed that entrapment could realize Nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) inhibition and improve the activity of denitrifying bacteria (DNB) to promote the removal of total nitrogen by providing a strict anaerobic environment. The results demonstrate that entrapment is beneficial for maintaining the content of heme c, specifically, nano Fe₂O₃ can stimulate its production, and is beneficial for alleviating the reduction of hydrazine dehydrogenase (HDH) enzyme activity. The extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content and analysis showed that entrapment does not change the composition of EPS, and can maintain the EPS content. Nano Fe₂O₃ can stimulate AAOB to secrete more EPS to maintain sludge stability. From a molecular perspective, entrapment can maintain the expression of functional genes, promote the enrichment of AAOB, thus improving the nitrogen removal performance from the dual perspectives of "quality" and "quantity".

Oxidative stress and antioxidant mechanisms of obligate anaerobes involved in biological waste treatment processes: A review

In-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms and physiological consequences of oxidative stress is still limited for anaerobes. Anaerobic biotechnology has become widely accepted by the wastewater/sludge industry as a better alternative to more conventional but costly aerobic processes. However, the functional anaerobic microorganisms used in anaerobic biotechnology are frequently hampered by reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS)-mediated oxidative stress caused by exposure to stressful factors (e.g., oxygen and heavy metals), which negatively impact treatment performance. Thus, identifying stressful factors and understanding antioxidative defense mechanisms of functional obligate anaerobes are crucial for the optimization of anaerobic bioprocesses. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of oxidative stress and antioxidant mechanisms of obligate anaerobes involved in anaerobic bioprocesses; as examples, we focus on anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria and methanogenic archaea. We summarize the primary stress factors in anaerobic bioprocesses and the cellular antioxidant defense systems of functional anaerobes, a consortia of enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms. The dual role of ROS/RNS in cellular processes is elaborated; at low concentrations, they have vital cell signaling functions, but at high concentrations, they cause oxidative damage. Finally, we highlight gaps in knowledge and future work to uncover antioxidant and damage repair mechanisms in obligate anaerobes. This review provides in-depth insights and guidance for future research on oxidative stress of obligate anaerobes to boost the accurate regulation of anaerobic bioprocesses in challenging and changing operating conditions.

Promotion of anammox process by different graphene-based materials: Roles of particle size and oxidation degree

Graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO) have been applied in the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process for nitrogen removal as electron shuttles. However, there is still controversy about their efficacy. In this study, nine graphene-based materials with a gradient of three particle sizes (large (l), medium (m) and small (s) sizes) and oxidation degrees, were used to compare their effects on the anammox process efficiency. The graphene-based materials include GO and its reduced products (RGO250 and RGO800) obtained at temperatures of 250 °C and 800 °C respectively. It was observed that their enhancements on the anammox process were in the order of GO > RGO800 > RGO250. In detail, at the dose of 100 mg/L, specific anammox activities (SAA) were promoted by 6.7% (l-GO), 4.9% (l-RGO800), 11.5% (m-GO), 7.3% (m-RGO800), 13.2% (s-GO) and 8.3% (s-RGO800) compared to the control respectively; while RGO250 with the same dose inhibited the process. In addition, the enhancement of the anammox process was increasing with the decreasing size of GO and RGO800. The nitrite reductase (NIR) activity was greatly increased by up to 24.9% with the presence of GO, which might be attributed to organized and specific electron transport with oxygen functional groups. The finding of hydroxyl on RGO and increasing content of oxygen determined after reaction detected by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and energy dispersive spectrometer respectively, indicated the essential condition for RGO's function on transferring electrons for key enzymes in annamox bacteria. Most importantly, O/C (Oxygen/Carbon) ratios of graphene-based materials had greater effects on the promotion of the anammox process than the particle size and electrical conductivity.

Metagenomics uncovers the effect of nitrogen-doped graphene on anammox consortia and microbial function

The effect of 50 mg/L nitrogen-doped graphene (N-G) on anammox microbial guild was studied by metagenomics in this paper. The continuous experiment results showed the average NRE improved by 17.57% with N-G addition. The metagenomic analysis revealed N-G significantly increased the relative abundance of dominant AnAOB (Candidatus Kuenenia) from 18.10% to 28.30%. And the FISH assay further manifested N-G promoted the growth of AnAOB biomass. Meanwhile, metagenomics indicated that N-G enriched the abundance of genes (Hzs, Hdh, NosZ, NorB, NirK, NirS and NrfA) involved in nitrogen metabolism to varying degrees. Furthermore, N-G not only improved the microbial functionality in terms of "Metabolism", but markedly upregulated the abundance of c-di-GMP synthesized genes and genes related to quinolone signal molecule, which contributed to more EPS content and better sludge settleability. In brief, this study provided a novel perspective for anammox biomass enrichment, which may be valuable for practical engineering applications of anammox.

The Effects of Graphene-Family Nanomaterials on Plant Growth: A Review

Numerous reports of graphene-family nanomaterials (GFNs) promoting plant growth have opened up a wide range of promising potential applications in agroforestry. However, several toxicity studies have raised growing concerns about the biosafety of GFNs. Although these studies have provided clues about the role of GFNs from different perspectives (such as plant physiology, biochemistry, cytology, and molecular biology), the mechanisms by which GFNs affect plant growth remain poorly understood. In particular, a systematic collection of data regarding differentially expressed genes in response to GFN treatment has not been conducted. We summarize here the fate and biological effects of GFNs in plants. We propose that soil environments may be conducive to the positive effects of GFNs but may be detrimental to the absorption of GFNs. Alterations in plant physiology, biochemistry, cytological structure, and gene expression in response to GFN treatment are discussed. Coincidentally, many changes from the morphological to biochemical scales, which are caused by GFNs treatment, such as affecting root growth, disrupting cell membrane structure, and altering antioxidant systems and hormone concentrations, can all be mapped to gene expression level. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of the effects of GFNs on plant growth to promote their safe and efficient use.

Response of constructed wetland for wastewater treatment to graphene oxide: Perspectives on plant and microbe

The wide application of graphene oxide (GO) increases its release into environment with less known on environmental effects. This work investigated 120-day interaction between GO (500 and 5000 μg/L) and constructed wetlands (CWs) planted with Iris pseudacorus. CWs showed the effective retention for GO via mature biofilm but less biodegradation. GO significantly induced enzyme activities (urease, neutral phosphatase, and catalase), which was attributed to increases in ecological association and enzyme abundance. GO decreased microbial biomass on day 30, but it had no impacts on day 120. The microbial community showed gradual self-adaption with time due to protection of antioxidant defense system (L-ascorbate oxidase, superoxide reductase, and glutathione related enzyme). The antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) and lipid peroxidation of Iris pseudacorus were increased by GO, accompanied by reduction on chlorophyll biosynthesis. Overall, the separate effects of GO on micro-regions and individual bodies in CWs were obvious, but it was acceptable that variations in pollutant removal were not evident due to synergetic role of plant-substrate-microbe. Organic matter and phosphorus removals reached to above 93%, and ammonia and total nitrogen removals in GO groups were reduced by 7-8% and 9-13%, respectively.

Long-Term Exposure and Effects of rGO-nZVI Nanohybrids and Their Parent Nanomaterials on Wastewater-Nitrifying Microbial Communities

Single nanomaterials and nanohybrids (NHs) can inhibit microbial processes in wastewater treatment, especially nitrification. While existing studies focus on short-term and acute exposures of single nanomaterials on wastewater microbial community growth and function, long-term, low-exposure, and emerging NHs need to be examined. These NHs have distinctly different physicochemical properties than their parent nanomaterials and, therefore, may exert previously unknown effects onto wastewater microbial communities. This study systematically investigated long-term [∼6 solid residence time [(SRT)] exposure effects of a widely used carbon-metal NH (rGO-nZVI = 1:2 and 1:0.2, mass ratio) and compared these effects to their single-parent nanomaterials (i.e., rGO and nZVI) in nitrifying sequencing batch reactors. nZVI and NH-dosed reactors showed relatively unaffected microbial communities compared to control, whereas rGO showed a significantly different (p = 0.022) and less diverse community. nZVI promoted a diverse community and significantly higher (p < 0.05) biomass growth under steady-state conditions. While long-term chronic exposure (10 mg·L^-1) of single nanomaterials and NHs had limited impact on long-term nutrient recovery, functionally, the reactors dosed with higher iron content, that is, nZVI and rGO-nZVI (1:2), promoted faster NH₄⁺-N removal due to higher biomass growth and upregulation of amoA genes at the transcript level, respectively. The transmission electron microscopy images and scanning electron microscopy─energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis revealed high incorporation of iron in nZVI-dosed biomass, which promoted higher cellular growth and a diverse community. Overall, this study shows that NHs have unique effects on microbial community growth and function that cannot be predicted from parent materials alone.

Effect of metal and metal oxide engineered nano particles on nitrogen bio-conversion and its mechanism: A review

Metal and metal oxide engineered nano particles (MMO-ENPs) are widely applied in various industries due to their unique properties. Thus, many researches focused on the influence on nitrogen transformation processes by MMO-ENPs. This review focuses on the effect of MMO-ENPs on nitrogen fixation, nitrification, denitrification and Anammox. Firstly, based on most of the researches, it can be concluded MMO-ENPs have negative effect on nitrogen fixation, nitrification and denitrification while the MMO-ENPs have no promotion effect on Anammox. Then, the influence factors are discussed in detail, including MMO-ENPs dosage, MMO-ENPs kind and exposure time. Both the microbial morphology and population structure were altered by MMO-ENPs. Also, the mechanisms of MMO-ENPs affecting the nitrogen transformation are reviewed. The inhibition of key enzymes and functional genes, the promotion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, MMO-ENPs themselves and the suppression of electron transfer all contribute to the negative effect. Finally, the key points for future investigation are proposed that more attention should be attached to the effect on Anammox and the further mechanism in the future studies.

Inhibition of anammox activity by municipal and industrial wastewater pollutants: A review

The use of the anammox process for nitrogen removal has gained popularity across the world due to its low energy consumption and waste generation. Anammox reactors have been used to treat ammonium-rich effluents such as chemical, pharmaceutical, semiconductor, livestock, and coke oven wastewater. Recently, full-scale installations have been implemented for municipal wastewater treatment. The efficiency of biological processes is susceptible to inhibitory effects of pollutants present in wastewater. Considering the increasing number of emerging contaminants detected in wastewater, the impacts of the different types of pollutants on anammox bacteria must be understood. This review presents a compilation of the studies assessing the inhibitory effects of different wastewater pollutants towards anammox activity. The pollutants were classified as antibiotics, aromatics, azoles, surfactants, microplastics, organic solvents, humic substances, biodegradable organic matter, or metals and metallic nanoparticles. The interactions between the pollutants and anammox bacteria have been described, as well as the interactions between different pollutants leading to synergistic effects. We also reviewed the effects of pollutants on distinct species of anammox bacteria, and the main toxicity mechanisms leading to irreversible loss of anammox activity have been identified. Finally, we provided an analysis of strategies to overcome the inhibitory effects of wastewater pollutants on the nitrogen removal performance. We believe this review will contribute with essential information to assist the operation and design of anammox reactors treating different types of wastewaters.

Performance and responses of aerobic granular sludge at different concentrations of graphene oxide after a single administered dose

To investigate the impact of graphene oxide (GO) under different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/L) on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) after a single administered dose, the performance of nitrogen removal, microbial enzymatic activity, extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), and microbial community structure was analyzed in batch tests. The results showed that the impact of GO concentrations on AGS was dose- and time-dependent. Short-term GO exposure could accelerate the nitrification process of AGS, while relatively concentrations (≥100 mg/L) inhibited the process when present for extended periods of time. The microbial enzymatic activity showed similar tendency. The production of lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH) in 200 mg/L group was increased 48.04% and EPS contents decreased 30.06% compared to the control group at 30th day and showed that high concentrations of GO have toxic effects on AGS. The microbial bacteria responded differently to the stimulation of different concentrations of GO. PRACTITIONER POINTS: GO affected AGS system performance in concentration- and time-dependent manners. The nitrification rate of AGS increased in the short term and reversed over time. Long-term exposure to high GO concentrations caused toxicity to AGS. Different microorganisms had diverse responses to GO concentrations.

How anammox responds to the emerging contaminants: Status and mechanisms

Numerous researches have been carried out to study the effects of emerging contaminants in wastewater, such as antibiotics, nanomaterials, heavy metals, and microplastics, on the anammox process. However, they are fragmented and difficult to provide a comprehensive understanding of their effects on reactor performance and the metabolic mechanisms in anammox bacteria. Therefore, this paper overviews the effects on anammox processes by the introduced emerging contaminants in the past years to fulfill such knowledge gaps that affect our perception of the inhibitory mechanisms and limit the optimization of the anammox process. In detail, their effects on anammox processes from the aspects of reactor performance, microbial community, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and functional genes related to anammox and nitrogen transformation in anammox consortia are summarized. Furthermore, the metabolic mechanisms causing the cell death of anammox bacteria, such as induction of reactive oxygen species, limitation of substrates diffusion, and membrane binding are proposed. By offering this review, the remaining research gaps are identified, and the potential metabolic mechanisms in anammox consortia are highlighted.

Comparison of the dynamic responses of different anammox granules to copper nanoparticle stress: Antibiotic exposure history made a difference

Two types of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) seed sludge were selected to evaluate their responses to copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) exposure. Antibiotic-exposed anammox granules (R₁) were more likely to be inhibited by 5.0 mg L^-1 CuNPs than the normal anammox granules (C₁). The nitrogen removal efficiency (NRE) of C₁ decreased by 9.00% after two weeks of exposure to CuNPs, whereas that of R₁ decreased by 20.32%. Simultaneously, the abundance of Candidatus. Kuenenia decreased by 27.65% and 36.02% in C₁ and R₁ under CuNPs stress conditions, respectively. Generally, R₁ was more susceptible to CuNPs than C₁. The correlation analysis indicated that the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes and copA triggered by intI1 facilitated the generation of multiresistance in the anammox process. Moreover, the potential multiresistance mechanism of anammox bacteria was hypothesized based on previous results. The results will generate new ideas for the treatment of complex wastewater using the anammox process.

The impacts of metal-based engineered nanomaterial mixtures on microbial systems: A review

The last decade has witnessed tremendous growth in the commercial use of metal-based engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) for a wide range of products and processes. Consequently, direct and indirect release into environmental systems may no longer be considered negligible or insignificant. Yet, there is an active debate as to whether there are real risks to human or ecological health with environmental exposure to ENMs. Previous research has focused primarily on the acute effects of individual ENMs using pure cultures under controlled laboratory environments, which may not accurately reveal the ecological impacts of ENMs under real environmental conditions. The goal of this review is to assess our current understanding of ENM effects as we move from exposure of single to multiple ENMs or microbial species. For instance, are ENMs' impacts on microbial communities predicted by their intrinsic physical or chemical characteristics or their effects on single microbial populations; how do chronic ENM interactions compare to acute toxicity; does behavior under simplified laboratory conditions reflect that in environmental media; finally, is biological stress modified by interactions in ENM mixtures relative to that of individual ENM? This review summarizes key findings and our evolving understanding of the ecological effects of ENMs under complex environmental conditions on microbial systems, identifies the gaps in our current knowledge, and indicates the direction of future research.

Unraveling bacterial community structure and function and their links with natural salinity gradient in the Yellow River Delta

Salinization can change the soil environment and affect microbial processes. In this study, soil samples were collected from Zone A (Phragmites australis wetlands), Zone B (P. australis and Suaeda salsa wetlands), and Zone C (Spartina alterniflora wetlands) in the Yellow River Delta. The microbial community and functional potential along the natural salinity gradient were investigated. Total nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen, and soil organic matter presented a downward trend, and salinity first increased and then decreased from Zone A to Zone C. Nitrospira and norank_f_Nitrosomonadaceae were widely distributed throughout the zones. Denitrifying bacteria Alcanivorax, Marinobacterter, and Marinobacterium were abundant in Zone B and preferred high salinity levels. However, denitrifying bacteria Azoarcus, Flavobacterium, and Pseudomonas were mainly distributed in low-salinity Zones A and C, suggesting their high sensitivity to salinity. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia (DNRA) bacteria Aeromonas and Geobacter dominated Zone C, whereas Caldithrix performed DNRA in Zone B. Interestingly, DNRA with organic matter as the electron donor (C-DNRA) occurred in Zone A; DNRA coupled with sulfide oxidation (S-DNRA) was dominant in Zone B; and C-DNRA and DNRA with divalent iron as electron donor and S-DNRA occurred simultaneously in Zone C. Salinity was the key factor distinguishing low and high salinity zones, and total nitrogen and total phosphorus had important effects at the phylum and genus levels. The abundance of genes encoding cell growth and death was relatively stable, indicating that the microbial community had good environmental adaptability. The genes related to the biodegradation of xenobiotics and the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides were abundant in Zone B, revealing high metabolic potential for exogenous refractory substances. The microorganisms under low-salinity Zones A and C were more sensitive to environmental changes than those under Zone B. These results suggest that salinity plays important roles in microbial processes and shapes specific functional zones in coastal wetlands.

The effects of engineered nanoparticles on nitrification during biological wastewater treatment

Technological advancements in the past few decades have made it possible to manufacture nanomaterials at a large scale, and engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are increasingly found in consumer products, such as cosmetics, sports products, and LED displays. A large amount of these ENPs end up in wastewater and potentially impact the performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). One important function of the WWTP is nitrification, which is carried out by the actions of two groups of bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Since most ENPs are found to have or are designed to have antimicrobial activities, it is a legitimate concern that ENPs entering WWTPs may have negative impacts on nitrification. In this paper, the effects of ENPs on nitrification are discussed, focusing mainly on autotrophic nitrification by AOBs and NOBs. This review also covers ENP effects on anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). Generally, nitrifiers in pure and mixed cultures can be inhibited by a variety of ENPs, but stress response mechanisms may attenuate toxicity. Long-term studies demonstrated that a wide range of NPs could cause severe deterioration of AOBs and/or NOBs when the influent concentration exceeded an inhibition threshold. Proposed mechanisms include the generation of reactive oxygen species, dissolved metals, physical disruption of cell membranes, bacterial engulfment, and intracellular accumulation of ENPs. Future research needs are also discussed.

Soil organic matter and salinity as critical factors affecting the bacterial community and function of Phragmites australis dominated riparian and coastal wetlands

Soil salinization poses a great threat to the natural ecosystem and interferes with the structure and function of the biological community, resulting in different vegetation distributions. However, little attention is paid to the changes in microbial community in different wetland types with the same vegetation. In this study, the Yellow River Delta was used as a model because of its typical and extensive distribution of Phragmites australis-dominated saltwater and freshwater wetlands. We investigated the differences in the structure and function of bacterial communities, as well as their relationships with soil properties in coastal (Zone A) and riparian (Zone B) wetlands. Results showed higher salinity and pH in Zone A than Zone B (p < 0.05), whereas TN (p < 0.05) and SOM were lower than those in Zone B. Significant differences existed in microbial community composition between Zones A and B. The nitrifying-bacteria Nitrospira and norank_f_Nitrosomonadaceae had high abundance in Zones A and B. Alcanivorax, Halomonas, and Marinobacter were extensively distributed in Zone A, whereas Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas were dominant in Zone B, indicating the diversity characteristics of denitrifying bacteria. Conversely, methane-oxidizing bacteria Methylophaga were significantly higher in Zone A than in Zone B (p < 0.05), indicating that high salinity was conducive to aerobic methane oxidation and that the genetic diversity at strain level endowed it with a certain denitrification potential. Salinity and SOM played important roles in shaping microbial community at phylum and genus levels. The gene abundances related to xenobiotics metabolism and repair were high in Zone A, whereas the genes encoding energy metabolism and signal transduction were relatively high in Zone B. Denitrification was more favored for the low-salinity Zone B, whereas methane oxidation was enriched in the high-salinity Zone A. Therefore, our study emphasized the importance of an in-depth understanding of the microbial-community structure and function in Phragmites australis-dominated saltwater and freshwater wetlands.

Comparative analysis of upward and downward vertical flow constructed wetlands on the nitrogen removal and functional microbes treating wastewater containing Ag nanoparticles

This study investigated impacts of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on nitrogen removal within constructed wetlands (CWs) with different flow directions. The obtained results showed that addition of AgNPs at 0.5 and 2 mg/L significantly inhibited NH₄⁺-N removal, resulting from lower abundances of functional genes (amoA and nxrA) within CWs. And higher abundances of amoA and nxrA genes at 0.5 mg/L were observed in downward flow CW, leading to better NH₄⁺-N removal, compared to upward flow CW. Besides, nitrifying genes amoA and nxrA in upward flow CW at 2.0 mg/L exhibited higher than downward flow CW, explaining better NH₄⁺-N removal in upward flow CW. 0.5 mg/L AgNPs significantly declined NO₃^--N and TN removal, resulted from decreasing abundances of nirK, nirS and nosZ. In contrast, abundances of nirK, nirS and nosZ genes had slightly lower or higher than before adding AgNPs in upward flow CW, leading to lower NO₃^--N and TN effluent concentrations. High throughput sequencing also indicated the changes of functional bacterial community after exposing to AgNPs.

Distribution and diversity of filamentous bacteria in wastewater treatment plants exhibiting foaming of Taihu Lake Basin, China

Foaming caused by filamentous bacteria in activated sludge (AS) is a common phenomenon in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Taihu Lake Basin of South China. In this study, total bacterial and filamentous bacterial communities were comprehensively characterized in AS and foams from eight municipal WWTPs by high-throughput sequencing technology. Results showed that alpha diversities of total bacterial communities in foams were obviously lower than those in AS samples. The bacterial community structures were significantly different between WWTPs rather than sample types (AS vs. foam). For most WWTPs, the Actinobacteria phylum was highly enriched in foams and the most abundant genera in foams were common mycolata. Sixteen filamentous bacteria were identified against the improved bulking and foaming bacteria (BFB) database. Abundance and composition of BFB in different WWTPs and different sample types were significantly different. 'Nostocoida limicola' I Trichococcus and Microthrix were generally dominant in AS samples. The dominant BFB in foams were associated with Microthrix, Skermania, Gordonia, and Mycobacterium. A new Defluviicoccus spp. in cluster III was identified in severe and continuous foams. Moreover, dominant BFB in stable and continuous foams with light level in one typical WWTP were diverse, even, and dynamic. Bacterial co-occurrence network analysis implied that the bacterial community of AS was more sensitive to disturbance than that of foam.

The effects of silver nanoparticles on the microbial nitrogen cycle: a review of the known risks

The nitrogen cycle is an integral biogeochemical function for maintaining healthy environments. Nitrogen is a key nutrient that must be continuously replenished through recycling mechanisms to sustain ecosystems, disruption to which can result in compromised ecosystem functioning. Certain stages in the microbial conversion of nitrogen compounds are performed by a limited range of micro-organisms making these key functional species in ecosystems. The growing industrial use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) potentially poses significant risks for microbial nitrogen cycling species. AgNPs possess potent antimicrobial properties and are expected to reach a range of natural environments through several routes of exposure. Certain functional nitrogen cycling microbes have been shown to be highly susceptible to AgNP toxicity. The current literature indicates that AgNPs can negatively affect certain nitrogen fixing, nitrifying and denitrifying microbes in vitro. In vivo studies investigating the effect of AgNPs on nitrogen cycling microbial communities and nitrogen transformation rates in soil, sediment and sludge environments have also indicated disruption of these functional processes. This review provides a comprehensive description of the current state of knowledge regarding the toxicity of AgNPs to nitrogen cycling communities. The aim of the review is to highlight the most susceptible stages in the nitrogen cycle and the implications for the affected ecosystems.

Assessment of Anammox process against acute and long-term exposure of ZnO nanoparticles

The impacts of nanoparticles (NPs) on wastewater treatment have become a great concern because of their widespread applications. Although the acute responses of anammox bacteria to NPs have enhanced the knowledge about the potential risks of them, deep understanding of the cumulative impacts of NPs must be assessed. The purpose of this research was therefore to further extend the current knowledge by evaluating both acute and long-term effects of Zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs on Anammox process based on nitrogen removal performance, self-recovery ability and microbial community structure. The acute exposure tests indicated that, the median inhibition concentration (IC50) of ZnO NPs on Anammox process was 84.7 mg/L (54.82 mg ZnO NPs/g VSS). Acute exposure of 200 mg/L ZnO NPs (117.54 mg Zn/g VSS) caused 80% inhibition in batch assays while the long-term inhibition dosage was 100 mg/L ZnO NPs (187.50 mg ZnO NPs/g VSS) corresponding to 1022 mg/L total Zn (1916.27 mg Zn/g VSS) in the reactor due to the accumulation of NPs. Total, soluble and biomass-associated Zn concentrations were measured throughout the long-term exposure to observe the behavior of ZnO NPs in the reactor. Total Zn in the reactor was cumulatively increased and mostly originated from biomass-associated Zn. Following the long-term inhibition tests, self-recovery of Anammox process within 120 days demonstrated that, the ZnO NPs inhibition is reversible for the applied dose. Furthermore, next generation sequencing results indicated a symbiotic relationship between the microbial groups in the anammox bioreactor while relative abundance of Candidatus (Ca.) Brocadiaceae family showed a decrease parallel to the deterioration in nitrogen removal performance of bioreactor. At the end of the long-term exposure studies, 48.76% decline on anammox quantity was detected.

Effects of PVP-coated silver nanoparticles on enzyme activity, bacterial and archaeal community structure and function in a yellow-brown loam soil

The undesirable effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on soil environment have caused much concern. The previous studies, however, focused on sandy soil, with little known on others. In present study, the effects of polyvinylpyrrolidone-coated AgNPs (0, 1, 10, and 100 mg kg^- 1 soil) on enzyme activities (urease and dehydrogenase), ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and archaea (AOA), bacterial and archaeal communities, and microbial function profile in a yellow-brown loam soil were investigated. The significant dose-response inhibitions of AgNPs on enzyme activities were observed, with dehydrogenase more susceptible to AgNPs. Both of bacterial and archaeal amoA genes were reduced by AgNPs above 10 mg kg^- 1, with AOB more susceptible to AgNPs than AOA. AgNPs at 100 mg kg^- 1 caused reductions on the dominant Nitrosospira and Nitrosomonas, and even disappearance on Nitrosovibrio, while increase on Nitrososphaera significantly. AgNPs also changed bacterial and archaeal community structure. Exposure to AgNPs at 100 mg kg^- 1 caused significant increases by 186.79% and 44.89% for Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, while decreases by 47.82%, 44.09%, 43.67%, and 80.44% for Actinobacteria, Chloroflexi, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia, respectively. Moreover, three dominant archaeal phyla (Thaumarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Parvarchaeota) were also reduced in the presence of AgNPs, especially Thaumarchaeota with the significant reduction of 13.71%. PICRUSt prediction revealed that AgNPs indeed had the potential to change soil microbial community's functional contributions. It must be cautious on the interference of AgNPs to soil ecological functions in the future.

Bacterial community structure and function in soils from tidal freshwater wetlands in a Chinese delta: Potential impacts of salinity and nutrient

Microorganisms in tidal freshwater wetlands affect biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, but the structures and functions of the wetland communities change due to natural and anthropogenic stresses. Soil samples were collected along a 350-m sampling belt in typical tidal freshwater wetlands of Yellow River Delta to investigate nutrient distributions, bacterial community structures and potential metabolic functions under tide and runoff stress by high-throughput sequencing and PICRUSt analysis. The total nitrogen (TN) contents varied greatly while total phosphorous (TP) contents were relatively stable. The bacterial community structures and predicted functions varied along a 350-m sampling belt. Some sulfate-reducing bacteria, nitrifying bacteria, Marmoricola, unclassified_f_Salinisphaeraceae and Oceanococcus exhibited a decreased trend with increasing distances far away from the river bank (B-0m). However, Salinisphaera was more dominant far away from the river bank (B-350m), indicating the stronger tolerance degree under salt stress. Marinobacterium and Marinobacter could be widely detected from B-0m to B-350m, demonstrating that those bacteria could tolerate a broad range of salinity and have its exceptional adaptation capacities. Redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that nutrient and salinity played an important role in shaping bacterial community composition. NH₄⁺-N and AP were the key factors in explaining the variance of the genus level. Predicted by PICRUSt analysis, nitrogen fixation (NF), nitrogen mineralization (NM), denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) might be the dominant processes of nitrogen metabolism and related genes abundance were abundant in tidal freshwater wetland soils. These findings could provide new insights into the prevention and control of potential nutrient pollution in tidal freshwater wetlands under the dual stress of tide and runoff.

Behavior, remediation effect and toxicity of nanomaterials in water environments

In recent years, nanotechnology has been developing continuously. Due to their advantageous huge specific surface areas, microinterface characteristics, remediation ability and potential environmental risks, nanomaterials have become a hot topic in the field of environmental research. With the mass production and use of nanomaterials, they will inevitably be discharged or leaked into the water environment. In this paper, we will describe some typical nanomaterials, such as nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI), graphene nanomaterials (GNMs), TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs), ZnO NPs, Fe₃O₄ NPs, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), Ag NPs, and other nanomaterials in water environments, focusing on the positive and negative effects of some nanomaterials in water environments. The remediation function and the impact of nanomaterials in water environments, including behavior of nanomaterials and their toxicity to aquatic organisms will be discussed. This will be of great significance for our subsequent research on nanomaterials.