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Jachimowicz P, Mądzielewska W, Cydzik-Kwiatkowska A. Microplastics in granular sequencing batch reactors: Effects on pollutant removal dynamics and the microbial community. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 476:135061. [PMID: 38972205 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135061] [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: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
This study investigated the relationship between microplastic (MP) presence and pollutant removal in granular sludge sequencing batch reactors (GSBRs). Two types of MPs, polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), were introduced in varying concentrations to assess their effects on microbial community dynamics and rates of nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic compound removal. The study revealed type-dependent variations in the deposition of MPs within the biomass, with PET-MPs exhibiting a stronger affinity for accumulation in biomass. A 50 mg/L dose of PET-MP decreased COD removal efficiency by approximately 4 % while increasing P-PO4 removal efficiency by around 7 % compared to the control reactor. The rate of nitrogen compounds removal decreased with higher PET-MP dosages but increased with higher PE-MP dosages. An analysis of microbial activity and gene abundance highlighted the influence of MPs on the expression of the nosZ and ppk1 genes, which code enzymes responsible for nitrogen and phosphorus transformations. The study also explored shifts in microbial community structure, revealing alterations with changes in MP dose and type. This research contributes valuable insights into the complex interactions between MP, microbial communities, and pollutant removal processes in GSBR systems, with implications for the sustainable management of wastewater treatment in the presence of MP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Jachimowicz
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 45G, 10-709 Olsztyn, Poland.
| | - Weronika Mądzielewska
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 45G, 10-709 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Sloneczna 45G, 10-709 Olsztyn, Poland
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2
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Humphrey CP, Iverson G, Hvastkovs E, Pradhan S. Occurrence and concentrations of traditional and emerging contaminants in onsite wastewater systems and water supply wells in eastern North Carolina, USA. JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH 2024; 22:550-564. [PMID: 38557570 DOI: 10.2166/wh.2024.299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) and private wells are commonly used in Eastern North Carolina, USA. Water from private wells is not required to be tested after the initial startup, and thus persons using these wells may experience negative health outcomes if their water is contaminated with waste-related pollutants including bacteria, nitrate or synthetic chemicals such as hexafluoropropylne oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (GenX). Water samples from 18 sites with OWTSs and groundwater wells were collected for nitrate, Escherichia coli (E. coli), total coliform, and GenX concentration analyses. Results showed that none of the 18 water supplies were positive for E. coli, nitrate concentrations were all below the maximum contaminant level of 10 mg L-1, and one well had 1 MPN 100 mL-1 of total coliform. However, GenX was detected in wastewater collected from all 18 septic tanks and 22% of the water supplies tested had concentrations that exceeded the health advisory levels for GenX. Water supplies with low concentrations of traditionally tested for pollutants (nitrate, E. coli) may still pose health risks due to elevated concentrations of emerging contaminants like GenX and thus more comprehensive and routine water testing is suggested for this and similar persistent compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles P Humphrey
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, 200 Curry Ct, Greenville, NC 27858, USA E-mail:
| | - Guy Iverson
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, East Carolina University, 200 Curry Ct, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Eli Hvastkovs
- Department of Chemistry, East Carolina University, 512 Science and Technology Bldg, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Sushama Pradhan
- NC Division of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, 5605 Six Forks Rd, 1632 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1632, USA
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3
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Langlois K, Collier JL. Matrix-associated microbial communities in a nitrogen-removing on-site wastewater treatment system are largely structured by niche processes. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY 2023; 52:35-48. [PMID: 36305592 DOI: 10.1002/jeq2.20422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
On-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTSs) can be designed to promote microbial communities with naturally occurring metabolic functions desirable to wastewater treatment. Among such OWTSs are nitrogen-removing biofilters (NRBs), comprising a sand layer overlying a sand-lignocellulose (sand-lc) layer and intended to promote sequential nitrification and denitrification. The design of NRBs is based on the hypothesis that niche processes like environmental selection strongly structure the microbial communities, which predicts that immigrating wastewater communities and matrix-associated communities will be distinct and that the matrix communities in the two layers will be distinct. We characterized NRB microbial communities by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing. Selection of the matrix-associated communities was indicated by clear differences from the immigrating community. For matrix-associated communities, alpha and beta diversity differed between the matrix layers, as did the relative abundances of many functional groups and genera. Functional groups with strict metabolisms were nearly exclusively detected in either the sand (ammonia and nitrite oxidizers) or sand-lc layer (methanogens), consistent with the niche hypothesis. Contrary to expectations, denitrifiers as a functional group were not present at greater relative abundance in the sand-lc than sand matrix because of a portfolio effect: some denitrifying genera were more abundant in the sand layer, whereas others were more abundant in the sand-lc layer. This study reveals niche processes acting at different levels of community organization for different biogeochemical functions, a crucial consideration in designing effective and reliable OWTSs to mitigate nitrogen pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie Langlois
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook Univ., Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook Univ., Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Jackie L Collier
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook Univ., Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
- Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook Univ., Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
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Chen S, Wang M, Russo FM, Gobler CJ, Mao X. Efficient nitrogen removal from onsite wastewater by a novel continuous flow biofilter. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 300:134642. [PMID: 35439482 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134642] [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: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Soil-based passive biofiltration system is an economically feasible technology for nitrogen removal from onsite wastewater. However, the conventional design requires a large system footprint with limited treatment capacity. In this study, a novel continuous flow biofilter (CFB) with adjustable recirculation and continuous flow pattern was developed for onsite wastewater treatment with a small footprint. Efficient total nitrogen removal (80.1-97.5%) was observed at various hydraulic loadings (0.03-0.12 m3 m-2 d-1), nitrogen loadings (1.1-8.6 g N m-2 d-1) and recycle ratios (2-3) when treating septic tank effluent (STE), with low effluent TN (0.7-13.6 mg N L-1). Nitrous oxide was observed in the denitrification effluent indicating incomplete denitrification at elevated dissolved oxygen levels (3.3-5.8 mg L-1). Nitrogen removal rate (2.9-7.0 g N m-2 d-1) and ammonium removal rate (2.4-7.2 g N m-2 d-1) were positively correlated with nitrogen loadings increase (1.1-8.6 g N m-2 d-1) but were not significantly impacted by the hydraulic loading rate change (0.08-0.12 m3 m-2 d-1). The total biomass abundance and nitrifying microorganisms decreased significantly as the nitrification columns depth increased, while homogeneous microbial distribution was observed in the denitrification columns. The abundance of ammonium oxidizing archaea (AOA) increased significantly at increased hydraulic and nitrogen loading rate, while the ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) abundance remained steady. The abundance of functional genes involved in denitrification process (nirS, nirK and nosZ) responded differently when hydraulic and nitrogen loading rate changes. Collectively, this study suggested the CFB could efficiently remove nitrogen from onsite wastewater with fluctuating influent compositions and various hydraulic loadings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwei Chen
- Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Mian Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Frank M Russo
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Christopher J Gobler
- New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA
| | - Xinwei Mao
- Department of Civil Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA; New York State Center for Clean Water Technology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794, USA.
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Xi H, Zhou X, Arslan M, Luo Z, Wei J, Wu Z, Gamal El-Din M. Heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification process: Promising but a long way to go in the wastewater treatment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 805:150212. [PMID: 34536867 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The traditional biological nitrogen removal (BNR) follows the conventional scheme of sequential nitrification and denitrification. In recent years, novel processes such as anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox), complete oxidation of ammonia to nitrate in one organism (comammox), heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification (HN-AD), and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) are gaining tremendous attention after the discovery of metabolically versatile bacteria. Among them, HN-AD offers several advantages because individual bacteria could achieve one-stage nitrogen removal under aerobic conditions in the presence of organic carbon. In this review, besides classical BNR processes, we summarized the existing literature on HN-AD bacteria which have been isolated from diverse habitats. A particular focus was given on the diversity and physiology of HN-AD bacteria, influences of physiological and biochemical factors on their growth, nitrogen removal performances, as well as limitations and strategies in unraveling HN-AD metabolic pathways. We also presented case studies of HN-AD application in wastewater treatment facilities, pointed out forthcoming challenges of HN-AD in these systems, and presented modulation strategies for HN-AD application in engineering. This review may help improve the existing design of wastewater treatment plants by harnessing HN-AD bacteria for effective nitrogen removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haipeng Xi
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Xiangtong Zhou
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
| | - Muhammad Arslan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Zhijun Luo
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Zhiren Wu
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Mohamed Gamal El-Din
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1H9, Canada
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Cox AH, Wigginton SK, Amador JA. Structure of greenhouse gas-consuming microbial communities in surface soils of a nitrogen-removing experimental drainfield. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 739:140362. [PMID: 32758972 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Septic systems represent a source of greenhouse gases generated by microbial processes as wastewater constituents are degraded. Both aerobic and anerobic wastewater transformation processes can generate nitrous oxide and methane, both of which are potent greenhouse gases (GHGs). To understand how microbial communities in the surface soils above shallow drainfields contribute to methane and nitrous oxide consumption, we measured greenhouse gas surface flux and below-ground concentrations and compared them to the microbial communities present using functional genes pmoA and nosZ. These genes encode portions of particulate methane monooxygenase and nitrous oxide reductase, respectively, serving as a potential sink for the respective greenhouse gases. We assessed the surface soils above three drainfields served by a single household: an experimental layered passive N-reducing drainfield, a control conventional drainfield, and a reserve drainfield not in use but otherwise identical to the control. We found that neither GHG flux, below-ground concentration or soil properties varied among drainfield types, nor did methane oxidizing and nitrous oxide reducing communities vary by drainfield type. We found differences in pmoA and nosZ communities based on depth from the soil surface, and differences in nosZ communities based on whether the sample came from the rhizosphere or surrounding bulk soils. Type I methanotrophs (Gammaproteobacteria) were more abundant in the upper and middle portions of the soil above the drainfield. In general, we found no relationship in community composition for either gene based on GHG flux or below-ground concentration or soil properties (bulk density, organic matter, above-ground biomass). This is the first study to assess these communities in the surface soils above an experimental working drainfield, and more research is needed to understand the dynamics of greenhouse gas production and consumption in these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alissa H Cox
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 1 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
| | - Sara K Wigginton
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 1 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
| | - José A Amador
- Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island, 1 Greenhouse Rd, Kingston, RI 02881, USA.
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Influence of Season, Occupancy Pattern, and Technology on Structure and Composition of Nitrifying and Denitrifying Bacterial Communities in Advanced Nitrogen-Removal Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12092413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Advanced onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) use biological nitrogen removal (BNR) to mitigate the threat that N-rich wastewater poses to coastal waterbodies and groundwater. These systems lower the N concentration of effluent via sequential microbial nitrification and denitrification. We used high-throughput sequencing to evaluate the structure and composition of nitrifying and denitrifying bacterial communities in advanced N-removal OWTS, targeting the genes encoding ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) and nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ) present in effluent from 44 advanced systems. We used QIIME2 and the phyloseq package in R to examine differences in taxonomy and alpha and beta diversity as a function of advanced OWTS technology, occupancy pattern (seasonal vs. year-round use), and season (June vs. September). Richness and Shannon’s diversity index for amoA were significantly influenced by season, whereas technology influenced nosZ diversity significantly. Season also had a strong influence on differences in beta diversity among amoA communities, and had less influence on nosZ communities, whereas technology had a stronger influence on nosZ communities. Nitrosospira and Nitrosomonas were the main genera of nitrifiers in advanced N-removal OWTS, and the predominant genera of denitrifiers included Zoogloea, Thauera, and Acidovorax. Differences in taxonomy for each gene generally mirrored those observed in diversity patterns, highlighting the possible importance of season and technology in shaping communities of amoA and nosZ, respectively. Knowledge gained from this study may be useful in understanding the connections between microbial communities and OWTS performance and may help manage systems in a way that maximizes N removal.
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Bai F, Tian H, Ma J. Landfill leachate treatment through the combination of genetically engineered bacteria Rhodococcus erythropolis expressing Nirs and AMO and membrane filtration processes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 263:114061. [PMID: 32268229 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114061] [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: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study developed a process of genetically engineered bacteria Rhodococcus erythropolis expressing Nirs and AMO combined with membrane bioreactor (MBR), nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membrane (pRho-NA-MNR) for advanced treatment of landfill leachate. Results demonstrated that pRho-NA-MNR presented higher removal rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), ammonia nitrogen (N-NH4), total nitrogen (TN) and total organic carbon (TOC) than activated sludge (AS-MNR) system. Administration of pRho-NA increased nitrification by converting N-NH4 to nitrite (N-NO2) and Nitrate (N-NO3), and promoting denitrification by converting N-NO2 to nitrogen (N2) in the landfill leachate treatment, promoted the pH control, increased sludge activity and effluent yield, shortened phase length adaptation under alternating aerobic-anoxic conditions. pRho-NA increased the nitration and denitrifying rate in the aerobic and anaerobic stage in the system by increasing Cyt cd1 and Cyt c expression in the activated sludge. Nitrogen removal by nitrification and denitrification was positively correlated to the concentration of Nirs and AMO expression. Treatment with pRho-NA promoted pollutant removal efficiency of membrane bioreactor, nanofiltration and reverse osmosis membrane processes in landfill leachate. In conclusion, data suggest that pRho-NA-MNR facilitates the formation of granular sludge and enhances comparable removal of nitrogen and organic compounds, indicating the practice of this process should be considered in landfill leachate treatment system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuliang Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China; Lubin Environmental Protection Equipment (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Hui Tian
- School of Life Science, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150001, PR China
| | - Jun Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150090, PR China.
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Nitrifying and Denitrifying Microbial Communities in Centralized and Decentralized Biological Nitrogen Removing Wastewater Treatment Systems. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12061688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Biological nitrogen removal (BNR) in centralized and decentralized wastewater treatment systems is assumed to be driven by the same microbial processes and to have communities with a similar composition and structure. There is, however, little information to support these assumptions, which may impact the effectiveness of decentralized systems. We used high-throughput sequencing to compare the structure and composition of the nitrifying and denitrifying bacterial communities of nine onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) and one wastewater treatment plant (WTP) by targeting the genes coding for ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) and nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ). The amoA diversity was similar between the WTP and OWTS, but nosZ diversity was generally higher for the WTP. Beta diversity analyses showed the WTP and OWTS promoted distinct amoA and nosZ communities, although there is a core group of N-transforming bacteria common across scales of BNR treatment. Our results suggest that advanced N-removal OWTS have microbial communities that are sufficiently distinct from those of WTP with BNR, which may warrant different management approaches.
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