Metagenomic insights into responses of microbial population and key functional genes to fulvic acid during partial nitritation

The long-term impact of fulvic acid (FA) on partial nitritation (PN) system was initially examined in this study. The obtained results revealed that the FA lower than 50 mg/L had negligible effect on the nitrite accumulation rate (NAR nearly 100%) and ammonium removal rate (ARR 56.85%), while FA over 50 mg/L decreased ARR from 56.85% to 0.7%. Sludge characteristics analysis found that appropriate FA (<50 mg/L) exposure promoted the settling performance and granulation of PN sludge by removing Bacteroidetes and accumulating Chloroflexi. The analysis of metagenomics suggested that the presence of limited FA (0-50 mg/L) stimulated the generation of NADH, which favors the denitrification and nitrite reduction. The negative impact of FA on the PN system could be divided into two stages. Initially, limited FA (50-120 mg/L) was decomposed by Anaerolineae to stimulate the growth and propagation of heterotrophic bacteria (Thauera). Increasing heterotrophs competed with AOB (Nitrosomonas) for dissolved oxygen, causing AOB to be eliminated and ARR to declined. Subsequently, when FA dosage was over 120 mg/L, Anaerolineae were inhibited and heterotrophic bacteria reduced, resulting in the abundance of AOB recovered. Nevertheless, the ammonium transformation pathway was suppressed because genes amoABC and hao were obviously reduced, leading to the deterioration of reactor performance. Overall, these results provide theoretical guidance for the practical application of PN for the treatment of FA-containing sewage.     

石油污染土壤的生物整治研究

对被石油污染的包气带土层中微生物生态分布特性进行了调查，并从该土层中分离出１５９株烃降解细菌和真菌，其中１７株可以不同程度地分别利用烷烃（ｎＣ９～ｎＣ１８）和芳烃（酚、萘、甲苯和二甲苯）作为唯一碳源生长，在最适氮源和磷源的条件下，假音胞菌在５２在７ｄ内可利用石蜡作为碳源，生物量连续增加；３ｄ可将初始浓度为５００ｍｇ／Ｌ的机油降解９９％，投加选育出的混合菌株，进行土壤石油污染的生物整治模拟试验，结果     

固定化微生物法处理含甲硫醇恶臭气体

采用液相曝气方式驯化培养污水厂活性污泥，获得具有降解甲硫醇能力的优势微生物菌群。同时用海藻酸钠包埋固定化微生物，研究固定化微生物颗粒填充床去除甲硫醇恶臭气体的工艺过程。液相曝气培养研究表明：降解甲硫醇的微生物菌群适宜的ｐＨ值为５．２～９．０，最佳ｐＨ条件为弱碱性。已驯化微生物的离心浓缩回收率为７１．２％，颗粒填充床生物脱臭塔运行实验表明：在空塔停留时间不大于１３ｓ，对低浓度甲硫醇气体（〈１２．９ｍ     

Chloroacetic acids in environmental processes

The fate of chloroacetic acids (CAA) in forest soils was studied using radio-indicator methods. We showed that chloroacetic acids are both microbially degraded and simultaneously formed by chloroperoxidase-mediated chlorination of acetic and humic acids. The degree of biodegradation of chloroacetic acids in soil depends on their concentration. Dichloroacetic acid (DCA) is degraded faster than trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Chlorination of acetic acid led to a fast formation of dichloroacetic acid, whereas chlorination of humic acids gave rise to trichloroacetic acid. Both processes lead to a steady state in soil, participate in the chlorine cycle and possibly also in decomposition of organic matter in forest ecosystems.     

Remediation of Cu and As contaminated water and soil utilizing biochar supported layered double hydroxide: Mechanisms and soil environment altering

Preparing materials for simultaneous remediation of anionic and cationic heavy metals contamination has always been the focus of research. Herein a biochar supported FeMnMg layered double hydroxide (LDH) composites (LB) for simultaneous remediation of copper and arsenic contamination in water and soil has been assembled by a facile co-precipitation approach. Both adsorption isotherm and kinetics studies of heavy metals removal by LB were applied to look into the adsorption performance of adsorbents in water. Moreover, the adsorption mechanisms of Cu and As by LB were investigated, showing that Cu in aqueous solution was removed by the isomorphic substitution, precipitation and electrostatic adsorption while As was removed by complexation. In addition, the availability of Cu and As in the soil incubation experiments was reduced by 35.54%–63.00% and 8.39%–29.04%, respectively by using LB. Meanwhile, the addition of LB increased the activities of urease and sucrase by 93.78%–374.35% and 84.35%–520.04%, respectively, of which 1% of the dosage was the best. A phenomenon was found that the richness and structure of microbial community became vigorous within 1% dosage of LB, which indirectly enhanced the passivation and stabilization of heavy metals. These results indicated that the soil environment was significantly improved by LB. This research demonstrates that LB would be an imaginably forceful material for the remediation of anionic and cationic heavy metals in contaminated water and soil.     

微生物絮凝剂净化废水实验研究

采用微生物絮凝剂（ＭＢＦ）对于多种康２进行了净２化实验研究，结果表明，从活性污泥中分离出的Ｑ３－２菌株，由其产生的絮凝剂较曲霉产生的絮凝剂有更好的净化效果，最高絮凝率可达到９９．５％。将传统的无机絮凝剂碱式氯化铝与微生物絮凝剂配合使用不仅可以降低絮凝剂的总投加量，而且还可减少污泥量及污泥中铝残留量，这有利于絮凝后废渣的综合利用。     

微生物降解法处理含酚废水的研究进展

微生物降解法处理含酚废水作为一种简便、高效的处理方法具有传统方法所无法比拟的优点。文中从降酚菌的来源、苯酚的生物降解途径以及固定化微生物技术在处理含酚废水中的应用等方面介绍了微生物降解法处理含酚废水的最新研究进展,预期该领域具有十分广阔的应用前景。     

New microbial electrosynthesis system for methane production from carbon dioxide coupled with oxidation of sulfide to sulfate

Microbial electrosynthesis system (MES) is a promising method that can use carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas, to produce methane which acts as an energy source, without using organic substances. However, this bioelectrical reduction reaction can proceed at a certain high applied voltage when coupled with water oxidation in the anode coated with metallic catalyst. When coupled with the oxidation of HS^– to SO₄²⁻, methane production is thermodynamically more feasible, thus implying its production at a considerably lower applied voltage. In this study, we demonstrated the possibility of electrotrophic methane production coupled with HS^– oxidation in a cost-effective bioanode chamber in the MES without organic substrates at a low applied voltage of 0.2 V. In addition, microbial community analyses of biomass enriched in the bioanode and biocathode were used to reveal the most probable pathway for methane production from HS^– oxidation. In the bioanode, electroautotrophic SO₄²⁻ production accompanied with electron donation to the electrode is performed mainly by the following two steps: first, incomplete sulfide oxidation to sulfur cycle intermediates (SCI) is performed; then the produced SCI are disproportionated to HS^– and SO₄²⁻. In the biocathode, methane is produced mainly via H₂ and acetate by electron-accepting syntrophic bacteria, homoacetogens, and acetoclastic archaea. Here, a new eco-friendly MES with biological H₂S removal is established.     

Cloning and expression of α-amylase in E. coli: genesis of a superior biocatalyst for substrate-specific MFC

One of the most practical approaches for establishing a successful microbial fuel cell (MFC) is to fasten the oxidation rate of the substrate by the microorganisms to get quick paced electron transfer between microbes and electrode. A genetically modified Escherichiacoli, overexpressing α-amylase, is constructed and applied as biocatalyst in MFC using starch as substrate. The results are compared with nonrecombinant, native E.coli. The results show better performance for the MFC containing the recombinant strain demonstrated by higher power density (PD), lower resistance, and significant electrochemical activity. Maximum PD has been recorded as 279.04 mW m^?2 compared to 120.33 Mw m^?2 for the MFC operated with nonrecombinant E.coli. The impedance results also suggest the effectiveness of the recombinant strain by lowering the internal resistance by more than half order as compared to the nonrecombinant one. These results affirm that the engineered strain can be used as a superior biocatalyst in contrast to the native strain and by using the technique of genetic alteration; gene of interest can be inserted based on the substrate to be treated. So, this work gives a useful insight for accomplishing successful MFC operation with the use of bacterial stains engineered at the molecular level.     

Performance, microbial community and inhibition kinetics of long-term Cu2+ stress on an air-lift nitritation reactor with self-recirculation

Biological nitrogen removal process could be affected due to the presence of heavy metals owing to their toxicity and accumulation in the sludge.In this study,the impact of Cu~(2+)shock on a long-term nitritation operation was investigated in an air-lift reactor with selfrecirculation.Both the dynamics of microbial community and inhibition kinetics under Cu~(2+) stress were ascertained.The results showed that Cu~(2+) exerted severe inhibition on nitritation performance of an air-lift reactor(ALR) at 25 mg/L.The corresponding NH_4~+-N removal efficiency decreased to below 50%,which was mainly due to the variation of microbial community structure,especially the inhibition of nitrifiers like Nitrosomonas(the relative abundance decreased from 30% to 1% after Cu~(2+)inhibition).Kinetic parameters were obtained and compared after fitting the Haldane model.The long-term Cu~(2+) stress on the ALR aggravated the ammonium affinity and the resistance to substrate self-inhibition of the nitritation sludge,but reduced the resistance to Cu~(2+) inhibition.Furthermore,Cu~(2+)acted as uncompetitive inhibitor on nitritation process.Our results provide new insights into the nitritation characteristics under long-term Cu~(2+) stress.