Anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled to Fe(III) reduction: Discovery, mechanism and application prospects in wastewater treatment

Magnetite addition reduces nitrite requirement for efficient anaerobic ammonium oxidation by facilitating mutualism of ANAMMOX and FEAMMOX bacteria

Partial nitrification (PN) is crucial for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX), but faces challenges such as high energy demands and process control. Recent research has highlighted additives like magnetite as potential alternatives to conventional electron acceptors (O₂ and NO₂-) for enhancing ammonium (NH4+) oxidation with lower energy consumption. This study investigated the effect of adding 50 mg/L of magnetite to ANAMMOX reactors, resulting in improved nitrogen (N) removal efficiency. The magnetite-added ANAMMOX (M-ANA) reactor yielded N removal efficiencies of 71 %, 66 %, and 57 % for NH4+:NO2- molar ratios of 1:1.3, 1:0.8, and 1:0.5, respectively. The M-ANA reactor operated under a 0.5 mol lower NO2- concentration achieved similar performance to the control ANAMMOX (C-ANA) reactor operated with a theoretical amount of NO2-. Moreover, the M-ANA reactor showed the potential to remove NH4+ by 56 % without any NO2- supplementation. Metagenomic analysis showed that the addition of magnetite significantly improved the relative abundance of microorganisms involved in the FEAMMOX reaction, such as Fimbriimonas ginsengisoli and Pseudomonas stutzeri. It also facilitated positive mutualism between ANAMMOX and FEAMMOX reactions. In addition, M-ANA granules exhibited a dense and compact structure compared with C-ANA, and the presence of magnetite facilitated the formation of resilient granules. Notably, the useful protein (Heme C) concentration and specific microbial activity in the M-ANA reactor were 1.3 and 2.2 times higher than those in the C-ANA reactor. Overall, the results demonstrate that an appropriate amount of magnetite can enhance the N removal efficiency while reducing the energy input requirements and associated carbon emissions. These findings can guide the future development of carbon- and energy-neutral N removal processes.

A critical review of Mnammox coupled with the NDMO for innovative nitrogen removal

In the context of increasing global nitrogen pollution, traditional biological nitrogen removal technologies like nitrification and denitrification are hindered by high energy consumption. Additionally, the deployment of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) technology is constrained due to the slow growth rate of Anammox bacteria and there is a bottleneck in nitrogen removal efficiency. To overcome these technical bottlenecks, researchers have discovered a revolutionary nitrogen removal technology that cleverly combines the redox cycling of manganese with nitrification and denitrification reactions. In this new process, manganese dependent anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Mnammox) bacteria can convert NH4+ to N2 under anaerobic conditions, while nitrate/nitrite dependent manganese oxidation (NDMO) bacteria use NO3-/NO2- as electron acceptors to oxidize Mn2+ to Mn4+. Mn4+ acts as an electron acceptor in Mnammox reaction, thereby realizing the autotrophic nitrogen removal process. This innovative method not only simplifies the steps of biological denitrification, but also significantly reduces the consumption of oxygen and organic carbon, providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly solution to the problem of nitrogen pollution. The article initially provides a concise overview of prevalent nitrogen removal technologies and the application of manganese in these processes, and discusses the role of manganese in biogeochemical cycles, including its discovery, mechanism of action, microbial communities involved, and its impact on these key factors in the process. Subsequently, metabolic principles, benefits, advantages, and environmental considerations of Mnammox coupled with the NDMO process are analyzed in detail. Finally, this article summarizes the shortcomings of current research and looks forward to future research directions. The goal of this article is to provide a valuable reference for researchers to fully understand the application of manganese in nitrogen removal processes.

Asynchronous characteristics of Feammox and iron reduction from paddy soils in Southern China

Recently, the newly discovered anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled with iron reduction (i.e., Feammox) has been proven to be a widespread nitrogen (N) loss pathway in ecosystems and has an essential contribution to gaseous N loss in paddy soil. However, the mechanism of iron-nitrogen coupling transformation and the role of iron-reducing bacteria (IRB) in Feammox were poorly understood. This study investigated the Feammox and iron reduction changes and microbial community evolution in a long-term anaerobic incubation by 15N isotope labeling combined with molecular biological techniques. The average rates of Feammox and iron reduction during the whole incubation were 0.25 ± 0.04 μg N g-1 d-1 and 40.58 ± 3.28 μg Fe g-1 d-1, respectively. High iron oxide content increased the Feammox rate, but decreased the proportion of Feammox-N2 in three Feammox pathways. RBG-13-54-9, Brevundimonas, and Pelomonas played a vital role in the evolution of microbial communities. The characteristics of asynchronous changes between Feammox and iron reduction were found through long-term incubation. IRB might not be the key species directly driving Feammox, and it is necessary to reevaluate the role of IRB in Feammox process.

Feammox bacterial biofilm formation in HFMB

Nitrogen pollution has been increasing with the development of industrialization. Consequently, the excessive deposition of reactive nitrogen in the environment has generated the loss of biodiversity and eutrophication of different ecosystems. In 2005, a Feammox process was discovered that anaerobically metabolizes ammonium. Feammox with the use of hollow fiber membrane bioreactors (HFMB), based on the formation of biofilms of bacterial communities, has emerged as a possible efficient and sustainable method for ammonium removal in environments with high iron concentrations. This work sought to study the possibility of implementing, at laboratory scale, an efficient method by evaluating the use of HFMB. Samples from an internal circulation reactor (IC) incubated in culture media for Feammox bacteria. The cultures were enriched in a batch reactor to evaluate growth conditions. Next, HFMB assembly was performed, and Feammox parameters were monitored. Also, conventional PCR and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis were performed to characterize the bacterial communities associated with biofilm formation. The use of sodium acetate presented the best performance for Feammox activity. The HFMB operation showed an ammonium (NH4+) removal of 50%. SEM analysis of the fibers illustrated the formation of biofilm networks formed by bacteria, which were identified as Albidiferax ferrireducens, Geobacter spp, Ferrovum myxofaciens, Shewanella spp., and Anammox. Functional genes Archaea/Bacteria ammonia monooxygenase, nrxA, hzsB, nirS and nosZ were also identified. The implementation of HFMB Feammox could be used as a sustainable tool for the removal of ammonium from wastewater produced because of anthropogenic activities.

Ammonium-Enhanced Arsenic Mobilization from Aquifer Sediments

Ammonium-related pathways are important for groundwater arsenic (As) enrichment, especially via microbial Fe(III) reduction coupled with anaerobic ammonium oxidation; however, the key pathways (and microorganisms) underpinning ammonium-induced Fe(III) reduction and their contributions to As mobilization in groundwater are still unknown. To address this gap, aquifer sediments hosting high As groundwater from the western Hetao Basin were incubated with 15N-labeled ammonium and external organic carbon sources (including glucose, lactate, and lactate/acetate). Decreases in ammonium concentrations were positively correlated with increases in the total produced Fe(II) (Fe(II)tot) and released As. The molar ratios of Fe(II)tot to oxidized ammonium ranged from 3.1 to 3.7 for all incubations, and the δ15N values of N2 from the headspace increased in 15N-labeled ammonium-treated series, suggesting N2 as the key end product of ammonium oxidation. The addition of ammonium increased the As release by 16.1% to 49.6%, which was more pronounced when copresented with organic electron donors. Genome-resolved metagenomic analyses (326 good-quality MAGs) suggested that ammonium-induced Fe(III) reduction in this system required syntrophic metabolic interactions between bacterial Fe(III) reduction and archaeal ammonium oxidation. The current results highlight the significance of syntrophic ammonium-stimulated Fe(III) reduction in driving As mobilization, which is underestimated in high As groundwater.

The divergent effects of nitrate and ammonium application on mercury methylation, demethylation, and reduction in flooded paddy slurries

The production of methylmercury (MeHg) in flooded paddy fields determines its accumulation in rice grains; this, in turn, results in MeHg exposure risks for not only rice-eating humans but also wildlife. Nitrogen (N) fertilizers have been widely applied in rice cultivation fields to supply essential nutrients. However, the effects of N fertilizer addition on mercury (Hg) transformations are not unclear. This limits our understanding of MeHg formation in rice paddy ecosystems. In this study, we spiked three Hg tracers (200HgII, Me198Hg, and 202Hg0) in paddy slurries fertilized with urea, ammonium, and nitrate. The influences of N fertilization on Hg methylation, demethylation, and reduction and the underlying mechanisms were elucidated. The results revealed that dissimilatory nitrate reduction was the dominant process in the incubated paddy slurries. Nitrate addition inhibited HgII reduction, HgII methylation, and MeHg demethylation. Competition between nitrates and other electron acceptors (e.g., HgII, sulfate, or carbon dioxide) under dark conditions was the mechanism underlying nitrate-regulated Hg transformation. Ammonium and urea additions promoted HgII reduction, and anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled with HgII reduction (Hgammox) was likely the reason. This work highlighted that nitrate addition not only inhibited HgII methylation but also reduced the demethylation of MeHg and therefore may generate more accumulation of MeHg in the incubated paddy slurries. Findings from this study link the biogeochemical cycling of N and Hg and provide crucial knowledge for assessing Hg risks in intermittently flooded wetland ecosystems.

Coupled Fe(III) reduction and phenanthrene degradation by marine-derived Kocuria oceani FXJ8.057 under aerobic condition

Diverse aerobic actinobacteria possess the capacity to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and have recently been shown to reduce Fe(III). However, the coupling of the two processes under oxic conditions remains unclear. Here, the co-metabolism of phenanthrene (PHE) and Fe(III) by marine-derived Kocuria oceani FXJ8.057 was realized under aerobic condition. In the presence of both PHE and Fe(III), the rates of PHE degradation (83.91 %) and Fe(III) reduction (50.00 %) were synchronously enhanced, compared to those with PHE (67.34 %) or Fe(III) (38.00 %) alone. Transcriptome analysis detected upregulation of PHE biodegradation and riboflavin biosynthesis in the strain cultured with both PHE and Fe(III) compared to that with PHE alone. Metabolite analysis indicated that, with the addition of Fe(III), the strain could efficiently degrade PHE via three pathways. Moreover, the strain secreted riboflavin, which acted as a shuttle to promote electron transfer from PHE to Fe(III). It also secreted organic acids that could delay Fe(II) reoxidation. Finally, H2O2 secreted by the strain caused extracellular Fenton reaction to generate •OH, which also played a minor role in the PHE degradation. These findings provide the first example of an aerobic bacterium that couples PAH degradation to Fe(III) reduction and extend our understanding of Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms.

Novel insight into the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of Fe(II)-mediated multi-metabolism in anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox)

Fe(II) participates in complex Fe-N cycles and effects on the microbial metabolism in the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) dominated system. In this study, the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of Fe(II)-mediated multi-metabolism in anammox were revealed, and the potential role of Fe(II) in the nitrogen cycle was evaluated. The results showed that the long-term accumulation of high Fe(II) concentrations (70-80 mg/L) led to a hysteretic inhibition of anammox. High Fe(II) concentrations induced the generation of high levels of intracellular ·O2-, whereas the antioxidant capacity was insufficient to eliminate the excess ·O2-, thus causing ferroptosis to anammox cells. In addition, Fe(II) was oxidized via nitrate-dependent anaerobic ferrous-oxidation (NAFO) process, and mineralized to coquimbite and phosphosiderite. They formed crusts on the surface of the sludge, leading to mass transfer obstruction. The results of the microbial analysis showed that the addition of appropriate Fe(II) increased the abundance of Candidatus Kuenenia, and served as a potential electron donor to enrich Denitratisoma, promoting anammox and NAFO coupled with nitrogen removal, while high Fe(II) concentrations reduced the enrichment level. In this study, the understanding of Fe(II)-mediated multi-metabolism in the nitrogen cycle was deepened, providing the basis for the development of Fe(II)-based anammox technologies.

Ammonia-mediated iron cycle for oxidizing agent activation in advanced oxidation process

Removing ammonia (NH4+-N) and recalcitrant organics from low carbon/nitrogen wastewater requires a large amount of chemical reagents and energy. This work reports a new advanced oxidation process to remove recalcitrant organics with the assistant of NH4+-N in low carbon/nitrogen wastewater. Specifically, NH4+-N in wastewater mediated Fe(II)/Fe(III) cycle for the activation of oxidation reagent (e.g., H2O2) (ammonia-mediated AOP) to improve the removal of recalcitrant organics. In ammonia-mediated AOP, NH4+-N, recalcitrant organics, and PO4-P in wastewater were removed by 88.2%, 80.5% and 84%, respectively, with a low H2O2 consuming of only 5 mg/L. The removal efficiency of recalcitrant organics in the ammonia-mediated AOP increased as the concentration of NH4+-N in wastewater increased. Recalcitrant organics can be removed with an efficiency of 74∼82%, when the influent pH was 6∼6.8. This work provides a new and cost-effective approach to drive the iron cycle in Fenton treatment using NH4+-N from wastewater as mediator.

Effects of reducing, stabilizing, and antibiotic agents on "Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis"

Anaerobic ammon ium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria oxidize ammonium and reduce nitrite, producing N₂, and could play a major role in energy-optimized wastewater treatment. However, sensitivity to various environmental conditions and slow growth currently hinder their wide application. Here, we attempted to determine online the effect of environmental stresses on anammox bacteria by using an overnight batch activity test with whole cells, in which anammox activity was calculated by quantifying N₂ production via headspace-pressure monitoring. A planktonic mixed culture dominated by "Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis" strain CSTR1 was cultivated in a 30-L semi-continuous stirring tank reactor. In overnight resting-cell anammox activity tests, oxygen caused strong inhibition of anammox activity, which was reversed by sodium sulfite (30 µM). The tested antibiotics sulfamethoxazole, kanamycin, and ciprofloxacin elicited their effect on a dose-dependent manner; however, strain CSTR1 was highly resistant to sulfamethoxazole. Anammox activity was improved by activated carbon and Fe₂O₃. Protein expression analysis from resting cells after anammox activity stimulation revealed that NapC/NirT family cytochrome c (KsCSTR_12840), hydrazine synthase, hydrazine dehydrogenase, hydroxylamine oxidase, and nitrate:nitrite oxidoreductase were upregulated, while a putative hydroxylamine oxidoreductase HAO (KsCSTR_49490) was downregulated. These findings contribute to the growing knowledge on anammox bacteria physiology, eventually leading to the control of anammox bacteria growth and activity in real-world application. KEY POINTS: • Sulfite additions can reverse oxygen inhibition of the anammox process • Anammox activity was improved by activated carbon and ferric oxide • Sulfamethoxazole marginally affected anammox activity.

Pyrite coupled with biochar alleviating the toxicity of silver nanoparticles on pollutants removal in constructed wetlands

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been widely detected in the substrates of constructed wetlands (CWs), posing threaten to pollutants removal efficiency of CWs. However, the way to alleviate the toxicity of AgNPs on CWs is unclear. In this study, the gravel (GR), biochar (BC), pyrite (PY) and pyrite coupled with biochar matrix (PYBC) were selected as substrates to restore the pollutants removal efficiency of CWs under the exposure to the environment (0.2 mg/L) and accumulation (10 mg/L) concentration of AgNPs. Results showed that the BC and PY showed limited mitigation effects, while the PYBC alleviated the toxicity significantly. Especially in the exposure to the accumulation concentration of AgNPs, the removal of NH₄⁺-N, TN, COD and TP in the PYBC were 10.2%, 8.3%, 9.4% and 10.7% higher than that in the GR, respectively. Mechanism analysis verified that AgNPs were transformed into Ag-Fe-S core shell aggregates (size >200 nm) decreasing bioavailability and the damage to cytomembrane. The PYBC restored the nitrogen removal efficiency by increasing the abundance of Nitrospira and Geothrix, which these bacteria were defined as nitrifiers and Feammox bacteria. This study provides a promising strategy to mitigate AgNPs' toxicity on the pollutant removal efficiency in CWs.

Recent progress in applications of Feammox technology for nitrogen removal from wastewaters: A review

Feammox process is crucial for the global nitrogen cycle and has great potentials for the treatment of low COD/NH₄⁺-N wastewaters. This work provides a systematic and comprehensive overview of the Feammox process. Specifically, underlying mechanisms and functional microbes mediating the Feammox process are summarized in detail. And key influencing factors including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, organic carbon, source of Fe(III) as well as various electron shuttles are discussed. Additionally, recent development trends and attempts of the Feammox technology in wastewater treatment applications are reviewed, and perspectives for future development are presented. A thorough review of the recent progress in Feammox process is expected to provide valuable information for further process optimization, which is helpful to achieve a more economical operation and better nitrogen removal performance in future field applications.

Phylogenomic evidence for the Origin of Obligately Anaerobic Anammox Bacteria around the Great Oxidation Event

The anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) bacteria can transform ammonium and nitrite to dinitrogen gas, and this obligate anaerobic process accounts for up to half of the global nitrogen loss in surface environments. Yet its origin and evolution, which may give important insights into the biogeochemistry of early Earth, remain enigmatic. Here, we performed a comprehensive phylogenomic and molecular clock analysis of anammox bacteria within the phylum Planctomycetes. After accommodating the uncertainties and factors influencing time estimates, which include implementing both a traditional cyanobacteria-based and a recently developed mitochondria-based molecular dating approach, we estimated a consistent origin of anammox bacteria at early Proterozoic and most likely around the so-called Great Oxidation Event (GOE; 2.32–2.5 Ga) which fundamentally changed global biogeochemical cycles. We further showed that during the origin of anammox bacteria, genes involved in oxidative stress adaptation, bioenergetics, and anammox granules formation were recruited, which might have contributed to their survival on an increasingly oxic Earth. Our findings suggest the rising levels of atmospheric oxygen, which made nitrite increasingly available, was a potential driving force for the emergence of anammox bacteria. This is one of the first studies that link the GOE to the evolution of obligate anaerobic bacteria.

Genome-Resolved Metagenomic Analysis of Groundwater: Insights into Arsenic Mobilization in Biogeochemical Interaction Networks

High-arsenic (As) groundwaters, a worldwide issue, are critically controlled by multiple interconnected biogeochemical processes. However, there is limited information on the complex biogeochemical interaction networks that cause groundwater As enrichment in aquifer systems. The western Hetao basin was selected as a study area to address this knowledge gap, offering an aquifer system where groundwater flows from an oxidizing proximal fan (low dissolved As) to a reducing flat plain (high dissolved As). The key microbial interaction networks underpinning the biogeochemical pathways responsible for As mobilization along the groundwater flow path were characterized by genome-resolved metagenomic analysis. Genes associated with microbial Fe(II) oxidation and dissimilatory nitrate reduction were noted in the proximal fan, suggesting the importance of nitrate-dependent Fe(II) oxidation in immobilizing As. However, genes catalyzing microbial Fe(III) reduction (omcS) and As(V) detoxification (arsC) were highlighted in groundwater samples downgradient flow path, inferring that reductive dissolution of As-bearing Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides mobilized As(V), followed by enzymatic reduction to As(III). Genes associated with ammonium oxidation (hzsABC and hdh) were also positively correlated with Fe(III) reduction (omcS), suggesting a role for the Feammox process in driving As mobilization. The current study illustrates how genomic sequencing tools can help dissect complex biogeochemical systems, and strengthen biogeochemical models that capture key aspects of groundwater As enrichment.