1
|
Zhang F, Du Z, Wang J, Du Y, Peng Y. Acidophilic partial nitrification (pH<6) facilitates ultra-efficient short-flow nitrogen transformation: Experimental validation and genomic insights. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 260:121921. [PMID: 38924807 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121921] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Partial nitrification (PN) represents an energy-efficient bioprocess; however, it often confronts challenges such as unstable nitrite accumulation, nitrite oxidizing bacteria shocks, and slow reaction rate. This study established an acidophilic PN with self-sustained pH as low as 5.36. Over 120-day monitoring, nitrite accumulation rate (NAR) was stabilized at more than 97.9 %, and an ultra-high ammonia oxidation rate of 0.81 kg/m3·d was achieved. Notably, least NAR of 77.8 % persisted even under accidental nitrite oxidizing bacteria invasion, aeration delay, alkalinity fluctuations, and cooling shocks. During processing, despite detrimental effects on bacterial diversity, there was a discernible increase in acid-tolerant bacteria responsible for nitrification. Candidatus Nitrosoglobus, gradually dominated in nitrifying guild (2.15 %), with the substantially reduction or disappearance of typical nitrifying microorganisms. Acidobacteriota, a key player in nitrogen cycling of soil, significantly increased from 0.45 % to 9.98 %, and its associated nitrogen metabolism genes showed a substantial 215 % rise. AmoB emerged as the most critical functional gene influencing acidophilic PN, exhibiting significantly higher unit gene expression than other nitrification genes. Blockade tricarboxylic acid cycle, DNA damage, and presence of free nitrous acid exert substantial effects on nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), serving as internal driving forces for acidophilic PN. This highlights the reliable potential for shortening nitrogen transformation process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fangzhai Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Ziyi Du
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Jiahui Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Yujia Du
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Yongzhen Peng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Liu Z, Cui Z, Guo Z, Li D, He Z, Liu W, Yue X, Zhou A. Insights into the effect of nitrate photolysis on short-chain fatty acids production from waste activated sludge in anaerobic fermentation system: Performance and mechanisms. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 258:121772. [PMID: 38761600 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121772] [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: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate photolysis has become an efficient, low-cost and promising technology for emerging contaminants removal, while its performance and mechanism for waste activated sludge (WAS) treatment is still unknown. This study innovatively introduced nitrate photolysis for WAS disintegration, and investigated the effect of nitrate addition (150-375 mg N/L) for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production during anaerobic fermentation (AF). The results showed that nitrate photolysis significantly promoted the SCFAs production from WAS, and peaked at 280.7 mg/g VSS with 7-d fermentation with 150 mg N/L addition (150N-UV), which increased by 8.8-35.0 % and 10.7-23.3 % compared with other photolysis groups and sole nitrate groups. Effective release of the soluble organics was observed in the nitrate photolysis groups during AF, especially soluble proteins, reaching 1505.4 mg COD/L at 9 d in 150N-UV group, promoted by 7.0∼15.7 % than nitrate/nitrate photolysis groups. The model compounds simulation experiment further demonstrated the positive effect of nitrate photolysis on organics hydrolysis and SCFAs accumulation. The result of the radical capture and quenching verified the reactive oxygen species contributed more compared with reactive nitrogen species. Functional group analysis confirmed the effective bioconversion of the macromolecular organics during the fermentation. Moreover, the nitrate photolysis enhanced the enrichment of the functional consortia, including anaerobic fermentation bacteria (AFB), e.g., Fnoticella, Romboutsia, Gracilibacter and Sedimentibacter, and nitrate reducing bacteria (NRB), e.g., Acinerobacter and Ahniella. The macrogenetic analysis further revealed that glycolysis, amino acid metabolism, acetate metabolism and nitrogen metabolism were the dominating metabolic pathways during fermentation, and the abundance of the relevant genes were enhanced in 150N-UV group.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Zhixuan Cui
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhengtong Guo
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Dengfei Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi-Zheda Institute of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhangwei He
- School of Environment and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Shanxi 710055, China
| | - Wenzong Liu
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiuping Yue
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi-Zheda Institute of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan, China
| | - Aijuan Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi-Zheda Institute of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jiang T, Li X, Yang J, Wang L, Wang W, Zhang L, Wang B. Potential of free nitrous acid (FNA) for sludge treatment and resource recovery from waste activated sludge: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 360:121170. [PMID: 38749134 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121170] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
The escalating production of waste activated sludge (WAS) presents significant challenges to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Free nitrous acid (FNA), known for its biocidal effect, has gained a growing focus on sludge dewatering, sludge reduction, and resource recovery from WAS due to its eco-friendly and cost-effective properties. Nevertheless, there have been no attempts made to systematically summarize or critically analyze the application of FNA in enhancing treatment and resource utilization of sludge. In this paper, we provided an overview of the current understanding regarding the application potential and influencing factors of FNA in sludge treatment, with a specific focus on enhancing sludge dewatering efficiency and reducing volume. To foster resource development from sludge, various techniques based on FNA have recently been proposed, which were comprehensively reviewed with the corresponding mechanisms meticulously discussed. The results showed that the chemical oxidation and interaction with microorganisms of FNA played the core role in improving resource utilization. Furthermore, current challenges and future prospects of the FNA-based applications were outlined. It is expected that this review can refine the theoretical framework of FNA-based processes, providing a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for the large-scale demonstration of FNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tan Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Xiaodi Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Jiayi Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Lu Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Wen Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Li Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Bo Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Engineering Research Center of Beijing, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Proano CA, Liu R, Xu X, Meisler S, Hassanein A, Lansing S, Tian K, Li G. Impacts of free nitrous acid on stabilizing food waste and sewage sludge for anaerobic digestion. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 402:130819. [PMID: 38723728 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130819] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
This work investigated the effectiveness of free nitrous acid (FNA) in enhancing organic waste solubilization to improve biogas production in anaerobic digestion (AD). The results indicated that FNA pretreatment can enhance soluble organic content and control H2S odor in tested organic wastes, including food waste, sewage sludge, and their combination. However, a significant decrease (>50 %) in FNA concentration was found in the reactors, possibly due to denitrifier-driven NO2- consumption. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests showed a 25 ± 8 % enhancement in CH4 production in the reactors fed with mixed substrate pretreated with 2.9 mg FNA-N/L. However, the presence of NO2- (325.6-2368.0 mg N/L) in some BMP reactors, due to carryover from FNA pretreatment, adversely affected CH4 production (>55 %) and prolonged lag time (>4.2 times). These findings are valuable for researchers and practitioners in waste management, offering insights for implementing FNA pretreatment to enhance the biodegradability of organic wastes in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camila A Proano
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, 4298 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Ruizhe Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, 4298 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Xueming Xu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 200 Patton Hall, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Seth Meisler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, 4298 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Amro Hassanein
- Department of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland, 1429 Animal Sciences/Ag. Eng. Bldg, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Stephanie Lansing
- Department of Environmental Science & Technology, University of Maryland, 1429 Animal Sciences/Ag. Eng. Bldg, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kuo Tian
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030, USA
| | - Guangbin Li
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Maryland, 4298 Campus Dr., College Park, MD 20742, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Winter H, Wagner R, Ehlbeck J, Urich T, Schnabel U. Deep Impact: Shifts of Native Cultivable Microbial Communities on Fresh Lettuce after Treatment with Plasma-Treated Water. Foods 2024; 13:282. [PMID: 38254583 PMCID: PMC10815073 DOI: 10.3390/foods13020282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Foods consumed raw, such as lettuce, can host food-borne human-pathogenic bacteria. In the worst-case, these diseases cause to death. To limit illness and industrial losses, one innovative sanitation method is non-thermal plasma, which offers an extremely efficient reduction of living microbial biomass. Unfortunately, the total viable count (TVC), one of the most common methods for quantifying antimicrobial effects, provides no detailed insights into the composition of the surviving microbial community after treatment. To address this information gap, different special agars were used to investigate the reduction efficiency of plasma-treated water (PTW) on different native cultivable microorganisms. All tested cultivable microbial groups were reduced using PTW. Gram-negative bacteria showed a reduction of 3.81 log10, and Gram-positive bacteria showed a reduction of 3.49 log10. Fungi were reduced by 3.89 log10. These results were further validated using a live/dead assay. MALDI-ToF (matrix-assisted laser-desorption-ionization time-of-flight)-based determination was used for a diversified overview. The results demonstrated that Gram-negative bacteria were strongly reduced. Interestingly, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi were reduced by nearly equal amounts, but could still recover from PTW treatment. MALDI-ToF mainly identified Pseudomonas spp. and groups of Bacillus on the tested lettuce. These results indicate that the PTW treatment could efficiently achieve a ubiquitous, spectrum-wide reduction of microbial life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hauke Winter
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (H.W.); (R.W.); (J.E.)
- Institute of Microbiology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Robert Wagner
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (H.W.); (R.W.); (J.E.)
| | - Jörg Ehlbeck
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (H.W.); (R.W.); (J.E.)
| | - Tim Urich
- Institute of Microbiology, Center for Functional Genomics of Microbes, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany;
| | - Uta Schnabel
- Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Felix-Hausdorff-Strasse 2, 17489 Greifswald, Germany; (H.W.); (R.W.); (J.E.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhang M, Jiao T, Chen S, Zhou W. A review of microbial nitrogen transformations and microbiome engineering for biological nitrogen removal under salinity stress. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:139949. [PMID: 37648161 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139949] [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: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The osmotic stress caused by salinity exerts severe inhibition on the process of biological nitrogen removal (BNR), leading to the deterioration of biosystems and the discharge of nitrogen with saline wastewater. Feasible strategies to solve the bottleneck in saline wastewater treatment have attracted great attention, but relevant studies to improve nitrogen transformations and enhance the salt-tolerance of biosystems in terms of microbiome engineering have not been systematically reviewed and discussed. This work attempted to provide a more comprehensive explanation of both BNR and microbiome engineering approaches for saline wastewater treatment. The effect of salinity on conventional BNR pathways, nitrification-denitrification and anammox, was summarized at cellular and metabolic levels, including the nitrogen metabolic pathways, the functional microorganisms, and the inhibition threshold of salinity. Promising nitrogen transformations, such as heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification, ammonium assimilation and the coupling of conventional pathways, were introduced and compared based on advantages and challenges in detail. Strategies to improve the salt tolerance of biosystems were proposed and evaluated from the perspective of microbiome engineering. Finally, prospects of future investigation and applications on halophilic microbiomes in saline wastewater treatment were discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengru Zhang
- School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, 250061 Jinan, China; Laboratory of Water-Sediment Regulation and Eco-decontamination, 250061, Jinan, China
| | - Tong Jiao
- School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, 250061 Jinan, China; Laboratory of Water-Sediment Regulation and Eco-decontamination, 250061, Jinan, China
| | - Shigeng Chen
- Shandong Nongda Fertilizer Sci.&Tech. Co., Ltd., Taian, Shandong, PR China
| | - Weizhi Zhou
- School of Civil Engineering, Shandong University, 250061 Jinan, China; Laboratory of Water-Sediment Regulation and Eco-decontamination, 250061, Jinan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhang M, Yang Y, Mou H, Pan A, Su X, Chen J, Lin H, Sun F. Enhanced methane yield in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge by combined pretreatment with fungal mash and free nitrous acid. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 385:129441. [PMID: 37399961 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129441] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
This study explores a novel approach for enhancing anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS) through the combined pretreatment of fungal mash and free nitrous acid (FNA). Aspergillus PAD-2, a fungal strain with superior hydrolase secretion, was isolated from WAS and cultivated in-situ on food waste to produce fungal mash. The solubilization of WAS by fungal mash achieved a high soluble chemical oxygen demand release rate of 548 mg L-1 h-1 within first 3 h. The combined pretreatment of fungal mash and FNA further improved the sludge solubilization by 2-fold and resulted in a doubled methane production rate of 416±11 mL CH4 g-1 volatile solids. The Gompertz model analysis revealed a higher maximum specific methane production rate and shortened lag time by the combined pretreatment. These results demonstrate that the combined fungal mash and FNA pretreatment offers a promising alternative for fast anaerobic digestion of WAS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Yuwei Yang
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Huaqian Mou
- Jinhua Water Treatment Co. Ltd., Jinhua 321017, China
| | - Aodong Pan
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Xiaomei Su
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Jianrong Chen
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Hongjun Lin
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Faqian Sun
- College of Geography and Environmental Science, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Technology Research of Zhejiang Province, Eco-environmental Science Research & Design Institute of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310007, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ni G, Leung PM, Daebeler A, Guo J, Hu S, Cook P, Nicol GW, Daims H, Greening C. Nitrification in acidic and alkaline environments. Essays Biochem 2023; 67:753-768. [PMID: 37449414 PMCID: PMC10427799 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic nitrification is a key process in the global nitrogen cycle mediated by microorganisms. While nitrification has primarily been studied in near-neutral environments, this process occurs at a wide range of pH values, spanning ecosystems from acidic soils to soda lakes. Aerobic nitrification primarily occurs through the activities of ammonia-oxidising bacteria and archaea, nitrite-oxidising bacteria, and complete ammonia-oxidising (comammox) bacteria adapted to these environments. Here, we review the literature and identify knowledge gaps on the metabolic diversity, ecological distribution, and physiological adaptations of nitrifying microorganisms in acidic and alkaline environments. We emphasise that nitrifying microorganisms depend on a suite of physiological adaptations to maintain pH homeostasis, acquire energy and carbon sources, detoxify reactive nitrogen species, and generate a membrane potential at pH extremes. We also recognize the broader implications of their activities primarily in acidic environments, with a focus on agricultural productivity and nitrous oxide emissions, as well as promising applications in treating municipal wastewater.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gaofeng Ni
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pok Man Leung
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Anne Daebeler
- Institute of Soil Biology and Biogeochemistry, Biology Centre CAS, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Shihu Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (Formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Perran Cook
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Graeme W Nicol
- Univ Lyon, CNRS, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, Ampère, UMR5005, 69134 Ecully, France
| | - Holger Daims
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- The Comammox Research Platform, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Securing Antarctica's Environmental Future, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Guo H, Liu S, Wang Y, Wang Y, Hou J, Zhu T, Liu Y. Reduced sulfide and methane in rising main sewer via calcium peroxide dosing: Insights from microbial physiological characteristics, metabolisms and community traits. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 451:131138. [PMID: 36917912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Although the biocidal effect of calcium peroxide (CaO2) has attracted increasing attention in wastewater and sludge management, its potential in the reduction of sulfide and methane from sewer is not tapped. This study aims to fill this gap through the long-term operated sewer reactors. Results showed one-time dose of 0.2% (w/v) CaO2 with 12-h exposure decreased the average sulfide and methane production by 80% during one week. The electron paramagnetic resonance and free radical quenching tests indicated free radicals from CaO2 decomposing posed a major contribution on sewer biofilms (•OH>•O2->alkali). Mechanistic analysis revealed extracellular polymeric matrix breakdown (e.g., protein secondary structure) and cell membrane damage were caused by the increased lipid peroxidation of cells and exacerbated intracellular reactive oxygen species under CaO2 stress. Moreover, the intracellular metabolic pathways, such as electrons provision and transfer, as well as pivotal enzymatic activities (e.g., APS reductase, sulfite reductase and coenzymes F420) were significantly impaired. RT-qPCR analysis unveiled the absolute abundances of dsrA and mcrA were decreased by 7.53-40.37% and 67.00-74.85%, respectively. Although this study broadens the application scope of CaO2 and provides in-depth understanding of advanced oxidation-based technology in sewer management, the pipe scale risk due to the release of calcium ions warrants further investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haixiao Guo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Siru Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yufen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yiwen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jiaqi Hou
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Tingting Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yiwen Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wang S, Li B, Li F. Nitric oxide and Nitrous oxide accumulation, oxygen production during nitrite denitrification in an anaerobic/anoxic sequencing batch reactor: exploring characteristics and mechanism. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 30:35958-35971. [PMID: 36539664 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24874-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nitrite denitrification has received increasing attention due to its high efficiency, low energy consumption, and sludge yield. However, the nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) which are harmful to the environment, microorganisms, and humans are produced in this process. In order to mitigate NO and N2O production, the biological mechanisms of NO and N2O accumulation, as well as NO detoxification during nitrite denitrification in a sequencing batch reactor were studied. Results showed that the peak of NO accumulation increased from 0.29 [Formula: see text] 0.01 to 3.12 [Formula: see text] 0.34 mg L-1 with the increase of carbon to nitrogen ratio (COD/N), which is caused by the sufficient electron donor supply for NO2--N reduction process at high COD/N. Furthermore, the result suggested that NO accumulation with no pH adjustment was 12 times higher than that with pH adjustment. It is related to the inhibition on NO reductase caused by the high free nitrous acid (FNA) and NO concentration with no pH adjustment. The pathways of NO detoxification included NO emission, reduction, and dismutation, and the more NO produced, the high proportion of NO dismutation pathway. Result showed that the maximum of oxygen production during NO dismutation reached to 1.39 mg L-1. N2O accumulation was mainly associated with FNA and NO inhibition, COD/N. The peak of N2O accumulation presented a completely opposite trend at pH adjustment and no pH adjustment, it is because that the higher FNA and NO concentration at high COD/N without pH adjustment will inhibit the N2O reductase activity, resulting in the N2O reduction was hindered during nitrite denitrification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sha Wang
- College of Environment and Life Sciences, Weinan Normal University, Weinan, 714099, Shaanxi, China.
- Key Laboratory for Ecology and Environment of River Wetlands in Shaanxi Province, Weinan, 714099, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Bin Li
- College of Environment and Life Sciences, Weinan Normal University, Weinan, 714099, Shaanxi, China
| | - Fang Li
- College of Environment and Life Sciences, Weinan Normal University, Weinan, 714099, Shaanxi, China
- Key Laboratory for Ecology and Environment of River Wetlands in Shaanxi Province, Weinan, 714099, Shaanxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lu X, Wang Z, Duan H, Wu Z, Hu S, Ye L, Yuan Z, Zheng M. Significant production of nitric oxide by aerobic nitrite reduction at acidic pH. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 230:119542. [PMID: 36603308 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The acidic (i.e., pH ∼5) activated sludge process is attracting attention because it enables stable nitrite accumulation and enhances sludge reduction and stabilization, compared to the conventional process at neutral pH. Here, this study examined the production and potential pathways of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrous oxide (N2O) during acidic sludge digestion. With continuous operation of a laboratory-scale aerobic digester at high dissolved oxygen concentration (DO>4 mg O2 L-1) and low pH (4.7±0.6), a significant amount of total nitrogen (TN) loss (i.e., 18.6±1.5% of TN in feed sludge) was detected. Notably, ∼40% of the removed TN was emitted as NO, with ∼8% as N2O. A series of batch assays were then designed to explain the observed TN loss under aerobic conditions. All assays were conducted with a low concentration of volatile solids (VS), i.e., VS<4.5 g L-1. This VS concentration is commensurate with the values commonly found in the aeration tanks of full-scale wastewater treatment systems, and thus no significant nitrogen loss should be expected when DO is controlled above 4 mg O2 L-1. However, nitrite disappeared at a significant rate (with the chemical decomposition of nitrite excluded), leading to NO production in the batch assays at pH 5. The nitrite reduction could be associated with endogenous microbial activities, e.g., nitrite detoxification. The significant NO production illustrates the importance of aerobic nitrite reduction during acidic aerobic sludge digestion, suggesting this process cannot be neglected in developing acidic activated sludge technology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Lu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Zhiyao Wang
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Haoran Duan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Ziping Wu
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Shihu Hu
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Liu Ye
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Zhiguo Yuan
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Min Zheng
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang Y, Yin R, Tang Z, Liu W, He C, Xia D. Reactive Nitrogen Species Mediated Inactivation of Pathogenic Microorganisms during UVA Photolysis of Nitrite at Surface Water Levels. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:12542-12552. [PMID: 35976624 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
UVA photolysis of nitrite (NO2-) occurs in a number of natural and engineered aquatic systems. This study reports for the first time that pathogenic microorganisms can be effectively inactivated during the coexposure of UVA irradiation and NO2- under environmentally relevant conditions. The results demonstrated that more than 3 log inactivation of Escherichia coli K-12, Staphylococcus aureus, and Spingopyxis sp. BM1-1 was achieved by UVA photolysis of 2.0 mg-N L-1 of NO2- in synthetic drinking water and real surface water. The inactivation was mainly attributed to the reactive species generated from UVA photolysis of NO2- rather than UVA irradiation or NO2- oxidation alone. The inactivation was predominantly contributed by the reactive nitrogen species (NO2• and ONOO-/HOONO) instead of the reactive oxygen species (HO• or O2•-). A kinetic model to simulate the reactive species generation from UVA photolysis of NO2- was established, validated, and used to predict the contributions of different reactive species to the inactivation under various environmental conditions. Several advanced tools (e.g., D2O - labeling with Raman spectroscopy) were used to demonstrate that the inactivation by the UVA/NO2- treatment was attributed to the DNA destruction by the reactive nitrogen species, which completely suppressed the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) states and the reactivation of bacteria. This study highlights a novel process for the inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms in water and emphasizes the critical role of reactive nitrogen species in water disinfection and purification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongyi Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Ran Yin
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhuoyun Tang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Weiqi Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Chun He
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Dehua Xia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| |
Collapse
|