1
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Doloman A, Sousa DZ. Mechanisms of microbial co-aggregation in mixed anaerobic cultures. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:407. [PMID: 38963458 PMCID: PMC11224092 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13246-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Co-aggregation of anaerobic microorganisms into suspended microbial biofilms (aggregates) serves ecological and biotechnological functions. Tightly packed aggregates of metabolically interdependent bacteria and archaea play key roles in cycling of carbon and nitrogen. Additionally, in biotechnological applications, such as wastewater treatment, microbial aggregates provide a complete metabolic network to convert complex organic material. Currently, experimental data explaining the mechanisms behind microbial co-aggregation in anoxic environments is scarce and scattered across the literature. To what extent does this process resemble co-aggregation in aerobic environments? Does the limited availability of terminal electron acceptors drive mutualistic microbial relationships, contrary to the commensal relationships observed in oxygen-rich environments? And do co-aggregating bacteria and archaea, which depend on each other to harvest the bare minimum Gibbs energy from energy-poor substrates, use similar cellular mechanisms as those used by pathogenic bacteria that form biofilms? Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of why and how mixed anaerobic microbial communities co-aggregate and discuss potential future scientific advancements that could improve the study of anaerobic suspended aggregates. KEY POINTS: • Metabolic dependency promotes aggregation of anaerobic bacteria and archaea • Flagella, pili, and adhesins play a role in the formation of anaerobic aggregates • Cyclic di-GMP/AMP signaling may trigger the polysaccharides production in anaerobes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Doloman
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Diana Z Sousa
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Centre for Living Technologies, Eindhoven-Wageningen-Utrecht Alliance, Princetonlaan 6, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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2
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Guo H, Gao M, Yao Y, Zou X, Zhang Y, Huang W, Liu Y. Enhancing anammox process with granular activated carbon: A study on Microbial Extracellular Secretions (MESs). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171980. [PMID: 38537814 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171980] [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: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Granular activated carbon (GAC), a porous carbon-based material, provides increased attachment space for functional microorganisms and enhances nitrogen removal by facilitating extracellular electron transfer in the anammox process. This study investigates the effects of GAC on the biosynthesis of microbial extracellular secretions (MESs) and explores the roles of these secretions in anammox activities. Four lab-scale reactors were operated: two downstream UASB reactors (D1 and D2) receiving effluents from the upstream UASB reactors (U1: no-GAC, U2: yes-GAC). Our results indicate that MESs were enhanced with the addition of GAC. The effluent from U2 exhibited a 59.62 % higher amino acid content than that from U1. These secretions contributed to an increase in the nitrogen loading rate (NLR) in the downstream reactors. Specifically, NLR in D1 increased from 130.5 to 142.7 g N/m3/day, and in D2, it escalated from 137.5 to 202.8 g N/m3/day, likely through acting as cross-feeding substrates or vital nutrients. D2 also showed increased anammox bacterial activity, enriched Ca. Brocadia population and hao gene abundance. Furthermore, this study revealed that D2 sludge has significantly higher extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) (48.71 mg/g VSS) and a larger average granule size (1.201 ± 0.119 mm) compared to D1 sludge. Overall, GAC-stimulated MESs may have contributed to the enhanced performance of the anammox process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengbo Guo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Mengjiao Gao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada; College of Environment and Ecology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Yiduo Yao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Xin Zou
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Yihui Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Wendy Huang
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia.
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3
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Mills S, Trego AC, Prevedello M, De Vrieze J, O’Flaherty V, Lens PN, Collins G. Unifying concepts in methanogenic, aerobic, and anammox sludge granulation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 17:100310. [PMID: 37705860 PMCID: PMC10495608 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
The retention of dense and well-functioning microbial biomass is crucial for effective pollutant removal in several biological wastewater treatment technologies. High solids retention is often achieved through aggregation of microbial communities into dense, spherical aggregates known as granules, which were initially discovered in the 1980s. These granules have since been widely applied in upflow anaerobic digesters for waste-to-energy conversions. Furthermore, granular biomass has been applied in aerobic wastewater treatment and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) technologies. The mechanisms underpinning the formation of methanogenic, aerobic, and anammox granules are the subject of ongoing research. Although each granule type has been extensively studied in isolation, there has been a lack of comparative studies among these granulation processes. It is likely that there are some unifying concepts that are shared by all three sludge types. Identifying these unifying concepts could allow a unified theory of granulation to be formed. Here, we review the granulation mechanisms of methanogenic, aerobic, and anammox granular sludge, highlighting several common concepts, such as the role of extracellular polymeric substances, cations, and operational parameters like upflow velocity and shear force. We have then identified some unique features of each granule type, such as different internal structures, microbial compositions, and quorum sensing systems. Finally, we propose that future research should prioritize aspects of microbial ecology, such as community assembly or interspecies interactions in individual granules during their formation and growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Mills
- Microbial Communities Laboratory, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Anna Christine Trego
- Microbial Ecology Laboratory School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Marco Prevedello
- Microbial Communities Laboratory, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Jo De Vrieze
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000, Gent, Belgium
| | - Vincent O’Flaherty
- Microbial Ecology Laboratory School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Piet N.L. Lens
- University of Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
| | - Gavin Collins
- Microbial Communities Laboratory, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
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4
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Yu X, Chen H, Liu Y, Yu L, Wang K, Xue G. Iron scraps packing rapidly enhances nitrogen removal in an aerobic sludge system and the mechanism. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:159081. [PMID: 36179843 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) has the advantage of energy saving and carbon demand reduction. Here, readily available low-cost iron scraps packing was added to an aerobic sludge system. This successfully enhanced the efficiency of total nitrogen removal from 37.7 ± 13.2 % to 62.7 ± 7.9 % over 2 days. While electrons from iron biocorrosion did not contribute to nitrate reduction, iron promoted heterotrophic denitrification. The iron scraps changed the spatial distribution of the microbial community, where more denitrification bacteria accumulated around the packing and higher denitrification capacity was noted. Metagenomic analysis of the sludge cultured in the presence of iron scraps for 2 days revealed that, with the exception of the enriched amoA/B/C gene expression, the abundance of other key nitrogen removal genes showed little variation. Furthermore, the structure of the microbial community was unchanged probably due to the relatively short culturing period. However, metatranscriptomic analysis indicated that iron increased the abundance of nitrifying bacteria (i.e. unclassified Nitrosomonas, Nitrosomonas sp. Is79A3 and Nitrospira defluvii) and promoted higher expression of nitrification genes. Notably, iron scraps packing decreased the abundance of the key denitrification bacteria Thauera sp. MZ1T from 52.92 to 7.58 %. The expression of napA/B also decreased, while expression of narG/H/I increased by 9 to 23 fold and a 2 to 3 fold over expression was noted for nirS, norB/C and nosZ in the presence of iron scraps. This suggested that aerobic denitrification was inhibited and anaerobic denitrification was promoted. This study has provided in-depth understanding of the influence of iron on SND to improve the application of iron-supported biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Hong Chen
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China.
| | - Yunfan Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Luying Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Kai Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Gang Xue
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
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5
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Yang Y, Lu Z, Azari M, Kartal B, Du H, Cai M, Herbold CW, Ding X, Denecke M, Li X, Li M, Gu JD. Discovery of a new genus of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria with a mechanism for oxygen tolerance. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 226:119165. [PMID: 36257158 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
In the past 20 years, there has been a major stride in understanding the core mechanism of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria, but there are still several discussion points on their survival strategies. Here, we discovered a new genus of anammox bacteria in a full-scale wastewater-treating biofilm system, tentatively named "Candidatus Loosdrechtia aerotolerans". Next to genes of all core anammox metabolisms, it encoded and transcribed genes involved in the dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA), which coupled to oxidation of small organic acids, could be used to replenish ammonium and sustain their metabolism. Surprisingly, it uniquely harbored a new ferredoxin-dependent nitrate reductase, which has not yet been found in any other anammox genome and might confer a selective advantage to it in nitrate assimilation. Similar to many other microorganisms, superoxide dismutase and catalase related to oxidative stress resistance were encoded and transcribed by "Ca. Loosdrechtia aerotolerans". Interestingly, bilirubin oxidase (BOD), likely involved in oxygen resistance of anammox bacteria under fluctuating oxygen concentrations, was identified in "Ca. Loosdrechtia aerotolerans" and four Ca. Brocadia genomes, and its activity was demonstrated using purified heterologously expressed proteins. A following survey of oxygen-active proteins in anammox bacteria revealed the presence of other previously undetected oxygen defense systems. The novel cbb3-type cytochrome c oxidase and bifunctional catalase-peroxidase may confer a selective advantage to Ca. Kuenenia and Ca. Scalindua that face frequent changes in oxygen concentrations. The discovery of this new genus significantly broadens our understanding of the ecophysiology of anammox bacteria. Furthermore, the diverse oxygen tolerance strategies employed by distinct anammox bacteria advance our understanding of their niche adaptability and provide valuable insight for the operation of anammox-based wastewater treatment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Ecology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongyi Lu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China; Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Mohammad Azari
- Department of Aquatic Environmental Engineering, Institute for Water and River Basin Management, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Gotthard-Franz-Str. 3, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany
| | - Boran Kartal
- Microbial Physiology Group, Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology, Celsiusstraße 1, Bremen 28359, Germany
| | - Huan Du
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingwei Cai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Craig W Herbold
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Microbial Ecology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Xinghua Ding
- Laboratory of Environmental Microbiology and Toxicology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Martin Denecke
- Department of Urban Water- and Waste Management, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 15, Essen 45141, Germany
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji-Dong Gu
- Environmental Science and Engineering Research Group, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, People's Republic of China; Southern Laboratory of Ocean Science and Engineering (Guangdong, Zhuhai), Zhuhai, Guangdong 519082, People's Republic of China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Materials and Technologies for Energy Conversion, Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 241 Daxue Road, Shantou, Guangdong 515063, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Biological Nitrogen Removal Database: A Manually Curated Data Resource. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10020431. [PMID: 35208885 PMCID: PMC8874995 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10020431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Biological nitrogen removal (BNR) technologies are the most effective approaches for the remediation of environmental nitrogen pollutants from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Presently, research is going on to elucidate the structure and function of BNR microbial communities and optimizing BNR treatment systems to enhance nitrogen removal efficiency. The literature on BNR microbial communities and experimental datasets is not unified across various repositories, while a uniform resource for the collection, annotation, and structuring of these BNR datasets is still unavailable. Herein, we present the Biological Nitrogen Removal Database (BNRdb), an integrated resource containing various manually curated BNR-related data. At present, BNRdb contains 23,308 microbial strains, 46 gene families, 24 enzymes, 18 reactions, 301 BNR treatment datasets, 860 BNR-associated next-generation sequencing datasets, and 6 common BNR bioreactor systems. BNRdb provides a user-friendly interface enabling interactive data browsing. To our knowledge, BNRdb is the first BNR data resource that systematically integrates BNR data from archaeal, bacterial, and fungal communities. We believe that BNRdb will contribute to a better understanding of BNR process and nitrogen bioremediation research.
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7
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Huang TH, Tung FT, Chen GF, Chen WH. Variations of N concentrations and microbial community in the start-up of anammox using anaerobic heterotrophic sludge: Influence of a long reaction-phase time and comparison of the efficiencies of attached-versus suspended-growth cultures. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132151. [PMID: 34517235 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132151] [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: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic sludge was capable of producing anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) cultures. However, the low activity of anammox bacteria in the seed sludge often led to a long time for stable anammox to initiate. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of an extended reaction-phase time in the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) on the rapid startup of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) using anaerobic heterotrophic bacteria as the seed sludge. After the startup, suspended and attached bacteria in anammox were separately analyzed for comparison. The variations of nitrogen concentrations and shifts of the microbial community structures were studied. The results showed that anammox occurred after a long reaction-phase time in the SBR with the efficient removals of NH4+ (96.4%) and NO2- (99.8%). The effective NO2- treatment before anammox startup was attributable to inevitable denitrification or dissimilatory nitrate reduction (e.g., Denitratisoma). The occurrence of anammox was supported by the anammox stoichiometry, bacteria diversity variation, and principal component analysis. The overall nitrogen removal rate (NRR) and nitrogen removal efficiency (NRE) was 0.07 kg/m3-d and 92.8%, respectively. The relative molar quantities of NH4+ and NO2- removed as well as N2 and NO3- formed were 1(1):1.29(1.32):1.45(1.02):0.15(0.26), as the numbers in the parentheses represent the theoretical values. Denitratisoma and Desulfatiglans dominated in the seed sludge, whereas Candidatus_Jettenia abundances were significantly higher in anammox attached- (26.0%) and suspended-growth cultures (14.5%). Fifty-three genera were simultaneously identified in all samples, suggesting their importance in the startup of anammox from anaerobic sludge. Candidatus_Jettenia was observed to be more associated with the growth of anammox biofilm (the abundances were 26.0% and 14.5% in attached- and suspended-growth cultures, respectively) and supported the fine nitrogen removal performance in the attached-growth cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsung-Hsien Huang
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Tsen Tung
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Fu Chen
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Hsiang Chen
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan; Aerosol Science and Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, 804, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
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8
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Meng J, Liu T, Zhao J, Lu X, Li J, Zheng M. Assessing the stability of one-stage PN/A process through experimental and modelling investigations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 801:149740. [PMID: 34425444 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The mainstream partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) process has been intensively studied but its stability remains a key challenge. It is shown here that biofilm thickness can exhibit a critical role in controlling the process stability of mainstream PN/A against dissolved oxygen (DO) variation. In a laboratory moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR), PN/A performance was initially established in 200 days by controlling a low DO of 0.13 ± 0.07 mg O2/L in the bulk liquid, which deteriorated with an increase of DO (0.35 ± 0.13 mg O2/L) for over two months, and then rapidly recovered in a month with the initial low DO level re-applied. Biofilm thickness of PN/A carriers was measured during the experiment, which became significantly thinner (367 ± 146 μm) at mainstream conditions. The thin thickness primarily decreased the in-situ consumption rate of nitrite, rather than ammonium, when DO increased from 0.1 to 0.4 mg O2/L, due to that the thin thickness can only restrict anammox capacity. These results illustrated the role of biofilm thickness in regulating PN/A performance and microbial activities. Further investigation using an established model revealed the joint contribution of biofilm thickness and DO concentration to PN/A process, while particularly, the biofilm thickness can determine the optimal DO level for maximizing the nitrogen removal efficiency and system robustness against DO variation. These results highlight the need of considering biofilm thickness in PN/A process optimization and stability improvement in low-strength wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Harbin 150090, China; Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Tao Liu
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jing Zhao
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Xin Lu
- Petrochina North China Gas Marketing Company, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jianzheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, 73 Huanghe Road, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Min Zheng
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
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Clagnan E, Brusetti L, Pioli S, Visigalli S, Turolla A, Jia M, Bargna M, Ficara E, Bergna G, Canziani R, Bellucci M. Microbial community and performance of a partial nitritation/anammox sequencing batch reactor treating textile wastewater. Heliyon 2021; 7:e08445. [PMID: 34901500 PMCID: PMC8637490 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e08445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Implementation of onsite bioremediation technologies is essential for textile industries due to rising concerns in terms of water resources and quality. Partial nitritation-anaerobic ammonium oxidation (PN/A) processes emerged as a valid, but unexplored, solution. In this study, the performance of a PN/A pilot-scale (9 m3) sequencing batch reactor treating digital textile printing wastewater (10-40 m3 d-1) was monitored by computing nitrogen (N) removal rate and efficiencies. Moreover, the structure of the bacterial community was assessed by next generation sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses of several genes, which are involved in the N cycle. Although anaerobic ammonium oxidation activity was inhibited and denitrification occurred, N removal rate increased from 16 to 61 mg N g VSS-1 d-1 reaching satisfactory removal efficiency (up to 70%). Ammonium (18-70 mg L-1) and nitrite (16-82 mg L-1) were detected in the effluent demonstrating an unbalance between the aerobic and anaerobic ammonia oxidation activity, while constant organic N was attributed to recalcitrant azo dyes. Ratio between nitrification and anammox genes remained stable reflecting a constant ammonia oxidation activity. A prevalence of ammonium oxidizing bacteria and denitrifiers suggested the presence of alternative pathways. PN/A resulted a promising cost-effective alternative for textile wastewater N treatment as shown by the technical-economic assessment. However, operational conditions and design need further tailoring to promote the activity of the anammox bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Clagnan
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, Piazza Università 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Brusetti
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, Piazza Università 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Silvia Pioli
- Free University of Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology, Piazza Università 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
| | - Simone Visigalli
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Turolla
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Mingsheng Jia
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Martina Bargna
- Lariana Depur Spa, Via Laghetto 1, 22073 Fino Mornasco, Italy
| | - Elena Ficara
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bergna
- Lariana Depur Spa, Via Laghetto 1, 22073 Fino Mornasco, Italy
| | - Roberto Canziani
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Micol Bellucci
- Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (DICA), Piazza L. da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy
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10
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Chen H, Liu T, Li J, Mao L, Ye J, Han X, Jetten MSM, Guo J. Larger Anammox Granules not only Harbor Higher Species Diversity but also Support More Functional Diversity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:14664-14673. [PMID: 33121242 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Granule-based partial nitritation and anammox (PN/A) represents one of the most energy-efficient biotechniques for ammonium removal from wastewater. The PN/A granules appear in a continuum of sizes, yet little is known about the extent to which microbial communities and microbial metabolisms are partitioned between size-fractionated granules. Here, we divided granules harvested from a pilot-scale PN/A reactor into five discrete size fractions (<0.2, 0.2-0.5, 0.5-0.8, 0.8-1.0, and >1.0 mm). The composition and functional attribute of five pools of the size-fractionated granules were characterized by 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene amplicon and metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing to provide a comprehensive insight into the key microbial group in a PN/A system. Larger granules were shown to not only harbor higher microbial diversity but also support more diverse functions than smaller granules. De novo coassembly and binning of metagenomic reads yielded 22 draft genomes of dominant microorganisms, which allowed us to infer an ecological model of the microbial ecosystem in anammox-based granules. This genome-based ecological model indicates that nitrifying organisms in smaller granules feed nitrite to anammox bacteria in larger granules. The results improve our understanding of the PN/A system, especially for the metabolic interactions between small and large granules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao, Shandong 266237, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jie Li
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Likai Mao
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jun Ye
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Xiaoyu Han
- School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Microbiology, IWWR, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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11
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Huang YT, Chen SS, Jetten MSM, Lin JG. Nanoarchitectured structure and population dynamics of anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria in a wastewater treatment plant. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 396:122714. [PMID: 32413666 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Studies on microbial community and population dynamics are essential for the successful development, monitoring and operation of biological wastewater treatment systems. Especially for novel or sustainable systems such as the anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) process that are not yet well explored. Here we collected granular microbial sludge samples and investigated a community of anammox bacteria over a period of four years, divided into eight stages in a full scale simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox and denitrification (SNAD) process for treating landfill leachate. Specific qPCR primers were designed to target and quantify the two most abundant anammox species, Candidatus Kuenenia stuttgartiensis (KS) and Candidatus Brocadia anammoxidans (BA). The two species were monitored and could explain the dynamic shift of the anammox community corresponding to the operating conditions. Using the newly designed KS-specific primer (KSqF3/KSqR3) and BA-specific primer (BAqF/BAqR), we estimated the amounts of KS and BA to be in the range of 6.2 × 106 to 5.9 × 108 and 1.1 × 105 to 4.1 × 107 copies μg-1 DNA, respectively. KS was found to be the dominant species in all anammox granules studied and played an important role in the formation of granules. The KS/BA ratio was positively correlated to the size of granules in the reactor and ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency of the treatment plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Tzu Huang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Research Center for Circular Economy, Chung Yuan Christian University, No. 200, Chung-Pei Road, Taoyuan 32023, Taiwan; R&D Center for Membrane Technology and Research Center for Analysis and Identification, Chung Yuan Christian University, No. 200, Chung-Pei Road, Taoyuan 32023, Taiwan; Department of Environmental Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, No. 200, Chung-Pei Road, Taoyuan 32023, Taiwan.
| | - Shiou-Shiou Chen
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian University, No. 200, Chung-Pei Road, Taoyuan 32023, Taiwan
| | - Mike S M Jetten
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University Nijmegen, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegenm the Netherlands
| | - Jih-Gaw Lin
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, 1001 University Road, Hsinchu City 30010, Taiwan
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12
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Smeulders MJ, Peeters SH, van Alen T, de Bruijckere D, Nuijten GHL, op den Camp HJM, Jetten MSM, van Niftrik L. Nutrient Limitation Causes Differential Expression of Transport- and Metabolism Genes in the Compartmentalized Anammox Bacterium Kuenenia stuttgartiensis. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1959. [PMID: 32903544 PMCID: PMC7438415 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria, members of the "Candidatus Brocadiaceae" family, play an important role in the nitrogen cycle and are estimated to be responsible for about half of the oceanic nitrogen loss to the atmosphere. Anammox bacteria combine ammonium with nitrite and produce dinitrogen gas via the intermediates nitric oxide and hydrazine (anammox reaction) while nitrate is formed as a by-product. These reactions take place in a specialized, membrane-enclosed compartment called the anammoxosome. Therefore, the substrates ammonium, nitrite and product nitrate have to cross the outer-, cytoplasmic-, and anammoxosome membranes to enter or exit the anammoxosome. The genomes of all anammox species harbor multiple copies of ammonium-, nitrite-, and nitrate transporter genes. Here we investigated how the distinct genes for ammonium-, nitrite-, and nitrate- transport were expressed during substrate limitation in membrane bioreactors. Transcriptome analysis of Kuenenia stuttgartiensis planktonic cells showed that four of the seven ammonium transporter homologs and two of the nine nitrite transporter homologs were significantly upregulated during ammonium-limited growth, while another ammonium transporter- and four nitrite transporter homologs were upregulated in nitrite limited growth conditions. The two nitrate transporters were expressed to similar levels in both conditions. In addition, genes encoding enzymes involved in the anammox reaction were differentially expressed, with those using nitrite as a substrate being upregulated under nitrite limited growth and those using ammonium as a substrate being upregulated during ammonium limitation. Taken together, these results give a first insight in the potential role of the multiple nutrient transporters in regulating transport of substrates and products in and out of the compartmentalized anammox cell.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Laura van Niftrik
- Department of Microbiology, Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Faculty of Science, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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13
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Ali M, Shaw DR, Albertsen M, Saikaly PE. Comparative Genome-Centric Analysis of Freshwater and Marine ANAMMOX Cultures Suggests Functional Redundancy in Nitrogen Removal Processes. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1637. [PMID: 32733431 PMCID: PMC7358590 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a lack of understanding of the interaction between anammox bacteria and the flanking microbial communities in both freshwater (non-saline) and marine (saline) ecosystems. Here, we present a comparative genome-based exploration of two different anammox bioreactors, through the analysis of 23 metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs), 12 from freshwater anammox reactor (FWR), and 11 from marine anammox reactor (MWR). To understand the contribution of individual members to community functions, we applied the index of replication (iRep) to determine bacteria that are actively replicating. Using genomic content and iRep information, we provided a potential ecological role for the dominant members of the community based on the reactor operating conditions. In the non-saline system, anammox (Candidatus Brocadia sinica) and auxotrophic neighboring bacteria belonging to the phyla Ignavibacteriae and Chloroflexi might interact to reduce nitrate to nitrite for direct use by anammox bacteria. Whereas, in the saline reactor, anammox bacterium (Ca. Scalindua erythraensis) and flanking community belonging to phyla Planctomycetes (different than anammox bacteria)—which persistently growing in the system—may catabolize detritus and extracellular material and recycle nitrate to nitrite for direct use by anammox bacteria. Despite different microbial communities, there was functional redundancy in both ecosystems. These results signify the potential application of marine anammox bacteria for treating saline N-rich wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Ali
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dario Rangel Shaw
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mads Albertsen
- Center for Microbial Communities, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Pascal E Saikaly
- Water Desalination and Reuse Center (WDRC), Biological and Environmental Science & Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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14
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Keren R, Lawrence JE, Zhuang W, Jenkins D, Banfield JF, Alvarez-Cohen L, Zhou L, Yu K. Increased replication of dissimilatory nitrate-reducing bacteria leads to decreased anammox bioreactor performance. MICROBIOME 2020; 8:7. [PMID: 31980038 PMCID: PMC6982389 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-020-0786-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is a biological process employed to remove reactive nitrogen from wastewater. While a substantial body of literature describes the performance of anammox bioreactors under various operational conditions and perturbations, few studies have resolved the metabolic roles of their core microbial community members. RESULTS Here, we used metagenomics to study the microbial community of a laboratory-scale anammox bioreactor from inoculation, through a performance destabilization event, to robust steady-state performance. Metabolic analyses revealed that nutrient acquisition from the environment is selected for in the anammox community. Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) was the primary nitrogen removal pathway that competed with anammox. Increased replication of bacteria capable of DNRA led to the out-competition of anammox bacteria, and the loss of the bioreactor's nitrogen removal capacity. These bacteria were highly associated with the anammox bacterium and considered part of the core microbial community. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the importance of metabolic interdependencies related to nitrogen- and carbon-cycling within anammox bioreactors and the potentially detrimental effects of bacteria that are otherwise considered core microbial community members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ray Keren
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | | | - Weiqin Zhuang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - David Jenkins
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Jillian F. Banfield
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Lisa Alvarez-Cohen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
- Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Lijie Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ke Yu
- School of Environment and Energy, Shenzhen Graduate School, Peking University, Shenzhen, GD China
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15
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Determining uncertainties in PICRUSt analysis – An easy approach for autotrophic nitrogen removal. Biochem Eng J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2019.107328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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16
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Cui B, Yang Q, Zhang Y, Liu X, Wu W, Li J. Improving nitrogen removal in biological aeration filter for domestic sewage treatment via adjusting microbial community structure. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 293:122006. [PMID: 31476564 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/10/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The rapid growth of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in reactor prevents the application of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) technology to main-stream wastewater treatment. How to eliminate NOB and reserve anaerobic ammonium oxidation bacteria (AnAOB) simultaneously becomes the biggest challenge. In this study two coupled biological aeration filters (BAFs) were built up to treat domestic sewage. In BAF1 nitrogen removal concentration was 21.4 mg/L via heterotrophic denitrification pathway. Backwash was conducted to BAF2 to improve nitrogen removal performance. After backwash Nitrospira proportion declined from 10.8% to 2.1%, while Candidatus Kuenenia percentage increased from 5.6% to 10.2%. Nitrogen removal concentration improved from 8.6 mg/L to 22.8 mg/L via anammox pathway in BAF2, and total nitrogen removal concentration reached to 44.2 mg/L in two coupled BAFs during aeration process. These findings could provide a new strategy for the application of anammox technology to main-stream wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Cui
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Qing Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China.
| | - Yanping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cleaner Production and Integrated Resource Utilization of China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, PR China
| | - Xiuhong Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Wenjun Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
| | - Jianmin Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, PR China
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17
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On resolving ambiguities in microbial community analysis of partial nitritation anammox reactors. Sci Rep 2019; 9:6954. [PMID: 31061389 PMCID: PMC6502876 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-42882-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
PCR-based methods have caused a surge for integration of eco-physiological approaches into research on partial nitritation anammox (PNA). However, a lack of rigorous standards for molecular analyses resulted in widespread data misinterpretation and consequently lack of consensus. Data consistency and accuracy strongly depend on the primer selection and data interpretation. An in-silico evaluation of 16S rRNA gene eubacterial primers used in PNA studies from the last ten years unraveled the difficulty of comparing ecological data from different studies due to a variation in the coverage of these primers. Our 16S amplicon sequencing approach, which includes parallel sequencing of six 16S rRNA hypervariable regions, showed that there is no perfect hypervariable region for PNA microbial communities. Using qPCR analysis, we emphasize the significance of primer choice for quantification and caution with data interpretation. We also provide a framework for PCR based analyses that will improve and assist to objectively interpret and compare such results.
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18
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Haruta S, Yamamoto K. Model Microbial Consortia as Tools for Understanding Complex Microbial Communities. Curr Genomics 2018; 19:723-733. [PMID: 30532651 PMCID: PMC6225455 DOI: 10.2174/1389202919666180911131206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A major biological challenge in the postgenomic era has been untangling the composition and functions of microbes that inhabit complex communities or microbiomes. Multi-omics and modern bioinformatics have provided the tools to assay molecules across different cellular and community scales; however, mechanistic knowledge over microbial interactions often remains elusive. This is due to the immense diversity and the essentially undiminished volume of not-yet-cultured microbes. Simplified model communities hold some promise in enabling researchers to manage complexity so that they can mechanistically understand the emergent properties of microbial community interactions. In this review, we surveyed several approaches that have effectively used tractable model consortia to elucidate the complex behavior of microbial communities. We go further to provide some perspectives on the limitations and new opportunities with these approaches and highlight where these efforts are likely to lead as advances are made in molecular ecology and systems biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin Haruta
- Address correspondence to this author at the Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan; Tel: +81-42-677-2580; Fax: +81-42-677-2559; E-mail:
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19
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Annavajhala MK, Kapoor V, Santo-Domingo J, Chandran K. Structural and Functional Interrogation of Selected Biological Nitrogen Removal Systems in the United States, Denmark, and Singapore Using Shotgun Metagenomics. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2544. [PMID: 30416492 PMCID: PMC6212598 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Conventional biological nitrogen removal (BNR), comprised of nitrification and denitrification, is traditionally employed in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to prevent eutrophication in receiving water bodies. More recently, the combination of selective ammonia to nitrite oxidation (nitritation) and autotrophic anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox), collectively termed deammonification, has also emerged as a possible energy- and cost-effective BNR alternative. Herein, we analyzed microbial diversity and functional potential within 13 BNR processes in the United States, Denmark, and Singapore operated with varying reactor configuration, design, and operational parameters. Using next-generation sequencing and metagenomics, gene-coding regions were aligned against a custom protein database expanded to include all published aerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB), anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AMX), and complete ammonia oxidizing bacteria (CMX). Overall contributions of these N-cycle bacteria to the total functional potential of each reactor was determined, as well as that of several organisms associated with denitrification and/or structural integrity of microbial aggregates (biofilm or granules). The potential for these engineered processes to foster a broad spectrum of microbial catabolic, anabolic, and carbon assimilation transformations was elucidated. Seeded sidestream DEMON® deammonification systems and single-stage nitritation-anammox moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) and a mainstream Cleargreen reactor designed to enrich in AOB and AMX showed lower enrichment in AMX functionality than an enriched two-stage nitritation-anammox MBBR system treating mainstream wastewater. Conventional BNR systems in Singapore and the United States had distinct metagenomes, especially relating to AOB. A hydrocyclone process designed to recycle biomass granules for mainstream BNR contained almost identical structural and functional characteristics in the overflow, underflow, and inflow of mixed liquor (ALT) rather than the expected selective enrichment of specific nitrifying or AMX organisms. Inoculum used to seed a sidestream deammonification process unexpectedly contained <10% of total coding regions assigned to AMX. These results suggest the operating conditions of engineered bioprocesses shape the resident microbial structure and function far more than the bioprocess configuration itself. We also highlight the advantage of a systems- and metagenomics-based interrogation of both the microbial structure and potential function therein over targeting of individual populations or specific genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Medini K. Annavajhala
- Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Vikram Kapoor
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Jorge Santo-Domingo
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Kartik Chandran
- Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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20
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Blum JM, Su Q, Ma Y, Valverde-Pérez B, Domingo-Félez C, Jensen MM, Smets BF. The pH dependency of N-converting enzymatic processes, pathways and microbes: effect on net N2O production. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:1623-1640. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jan-Michael Blum
- Department of Environmental Engineering; Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej Building 115; Kongens Lyngby 2800 Denmark
| | - Qingxian Su
- Department of Environmental Engineering; Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej Building 115; Kongens Lyngby 2800 Denmark
| | - Yunjie Ma
- Department of Environmental Engineering; Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej Building 115; Kongens Lyngby 2800 Denmark
| | - Borja Valverde-Pérez
- Department of Environmental Engineering; Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej Building 115; Kongens Lyngby 2800 Denmark
| | - Carlos Domingo-Félez
- Department of Environmental Engineering; Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej Building 115; Kongens Lyngby 2800 Denmark
| | - Marlene Mark Jensen
- Department of Environmental Engineering; Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej Building 115; Kongens Lyngby 2800 Denmark
| | - Barth F. Smets
- Department of Environmental Engineering; Technical University of Denmark, Miljøvej Building 115; Kongens Lyngby 2800 Denmark
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21
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Wang Z, van Loosdrecht MCM, Saikaly PE. Gradual adaptation to salt and dissolved oxygen: Strategies to minimize adverse effect of salinity on aerobic granular sludge. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 124:702-712. [PMID: 28829972 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Revised: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Salinity can affect the performance of biological wastewater treatment in terms of nutrient removal. The effect of salt on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) process in terms of granulation and nutrient removal was examined in this study. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of salt (15 g/L NaCl) on granule formation and nutrient removal in AGS system started with flocculent sludge and operated at DO of 2.5 mg/L (phase I). In addition, experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of gradually increasing the salt concentration (2.5 g/L to 15 g/L NaCl) or increasing the DO level (2.5 mg/L to 8 mg/L) on nutrient removal in AGS system started with granular sludge (phase II) taken from an AGS reactor performing well in terms of N and P removal. Although the addition of salt in phase I did not affect the granulation process, it significantly affected nutrient removal due to inhibition of ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs). Increasing the DO to 8 mg/L or adapting granules by gradually increasing the salt concentration minimized the adverse effect of salt on nitrification (phase II). However, these strategies were not successful for mitigating the effect of salt on biological phosphorus removal. No nitrite accumulation occurred in all the reactors suggesting that inhibition of biological phosphorus removal was not due to the accumulation of nitrite as previously reported. Also, glycogen accumulating organisms were shown to be more tolerant to salt than PAO II, which was the dominant PAO clade detected in this study. Future studies comparing the salinity tolerance of different PAO clades are needed to further elucidate the effect of salt on PAOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwei Wang
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mark C M van Loosdrecht
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Pascal E Saikaly
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, Water Desalination and Reuse Research Center, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia.
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22
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Li G, Carvajal-Arroyo JM, Sierra-Alvarez R, Field JA. Mechanisms and Control of NO 2- Inhibition of Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox). WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH : A RESEARCH PUBLICATION OF THE WATER ENVIRONMENT FEDERATION 2017; 89:330-336. [PMID: 28377002 DOI: 10.2175/106143017x14839994523064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nitrite (NO2-), one of the main substrates in the anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process, has the potential to inhibit anammox bacteria. The sensitivity of anammox cells with different energy status to NO2- was evaluated, and addition of nitrate (NO3-) inhibition on the basis of narK gene with the putative function of facilitating NO3-/NO2- antiporter. The results showed that the resistance of anammox bacteria to NO2- inhibition follows the order: active-cells > starved-cells > resting-cells > starved-/resting-cells. Anammmox resting cells have increasing tolerance to NO2- in the pH range from 7.0 to 7.5. Dissipating the proton gradient by using carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazine (CCCP) caused severe inhibition at all pH values including pH = 7.5. Addition of NO3- enabled activity recovery of NO2--inhibited anammox bacteria regardless of whether the proton gradient was disrupted or not, supporting the hypothesis of NO3--dependent detoxification via a secondary transport system.
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23
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Luo J, Chen H, Han X, Sun Y, Yuan Z, Guo J. Microbial community structure and biodiversity of size-fractionated granules in a partial nitritation–anammox process. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2017; 93:3003320. [DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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