Effects of aluminum oxide nanoparticles on the performance, extracellular polymeric substances, microbial community and enzymatic activity of sequencing batch reactor.

The performance, pollutant removal rate, microbial community and enzymatic activity of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were investigated under oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs) stress. Al2O3 NPs at 0-50 mg/L showed no evident impact on the COD and NH4 + removals of SBR. The oxygen-uptake rate, nitrifying rate and nitrite-reducing rate slightly diminished with the increase of Al2O3 NPs concentration. Compared with 0 mg/L Al2O3 NPs, the dehydrogenase activity declined by 23.52% at 50 mg/L Al2O3 NPs. The activities of ammonia monooxygenase, nitrite oxidoreductase and nitrite reductase decreased with the increase of Al2O3 NPs concentration from 0 to 50 mg/L Al2O3 NPs. However, the nitrate reductase (NR) activity slightly increased at 5 and 15 mg/L Al2O3 NPs and declined at 30 and 50 mg/L Al2O3 NPs. The microbial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release merely raised 14.80% and 20.72% at 50 mg/L Al2O3 NPs by contrast with 0 mg/L Al2O3 NPs, respectively. Al2O3 NPs enhanced the production, protein content and polysaccharide content of extracellular polymeric substances owing to preventing the microbes from Al2O3 NPs biotoxicity. The existence of Al2O3 NPs led to the variations of microbial richness and diversity in the SBR due to their biotoxicity.

Size-dependent effects of ZnO nanoparticles on performance, microbial enzymatic activity and extracellular polymeric substances in sequencing batch reactor.

ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) have been detected in various wastewater treatment plants. It is widely assumed that size has a crucial effect on the NPs toxicity. Concerns have been raised over probable size-dependent toxicity of ZnO NPs to activated sludge, which could eventually affect the treatment efficiencies of wastewater treatment facilities. The size-dependent influences of ZnO NPs on performance, microbial activities, and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from activated sludge were examined in sequencing batch reactor (SBR) in present study. Three different sizes (15, 50, and 90 nm) and five concentrations (2, 5, 10, 30, and 60 mg L-1) were trialled. The inhibitions on COD and nitrogen removal were determined by the particle size, and smaller ZnO NPs (15 nm) showed higher inhibition effect than those of 50 and 90 nm, whereas the ZnO NPs with size of 50 nm showed maximum inhibition effect on phosphorus removal among three sizes of ZnO NPs. After exposure to different sized ZnO NPs, microbial enzymatic activities and removal rates of activated sludge represented the same trend, consistent with the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency. In addition, apparent size- and concentration-dependent effects on EPS contents and components were also observed. Compared with the absence of ZnO NPs, 60 mg L-1 ZnO NPs with sizes of 15, 50, and 90 nm increased the EPS contents from 92.5, 92.4, and 92.0 mg g-1 VSS to 277.5, 196.8, and 178.2 mg g-1 VSS (p < 0.05), respectively. The protein and polysaccharide contents increased with the decreasing particle sizes and increasing ZnO NPs concentrations, and the content of protein was always higher than that of polysaccharide.

Long-term effect of different Cu(II) concentrations on the performance, microbial enzymatic activity and microbial community of sequencing batch reactor.

The performance, microbial community and enzymatic activity of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were investigated under 75-day exposure of different Cu(II) concentrations. Cu(II) at 0-5 mg/L had no distinct impact on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen removal, oxygen-uptake rate (OUR), nitrification and denitrification rate, and microbial enzymatic activity. The inhibitory effects of Cu(II) at 10 and 30 mg/L on the nitrogen removal rate, OUR, and microbial enzymatic activity of SBR increased with an increment in operation time due to the Cu(II) biotoxicity and the Cu(II) accumulation in activated sludge. The changes of microbial reactive oxygen species production, lactate dehydrogenase release, catalase activity and superoxide dismutase activity demonstrated that Cu(II) at 10 and 30 mg/L broke the equilibrium between the oxidation and antioxidation processes in microbial cells and also damaged the cytomembrance integrity, which could affect the COD and nitrogen removal performance and change normal microbial cell morphology. The Cu(II) in the influent could be removed by the microbial absorption and accumulated in the activated sludge under long-term exposure. The microbial community displayed some distinct changes from 0 to 30 mg/L Cu(II). In contrast with 0 mg/L Cu(II), Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira and some denitrifying bacteria obviously decreased in relative abundance under long-term exposure of 10 and 30 mg/L Cu(II).

Insights into long-term effects of amino-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-NH2) on the performance, enzymatic activity and microbial community of sequencing batch reactor.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) inevitably enter domestic sewage and industrial wastewater with the continuous increase of their production and application field. The potential effect of CNTs on biological wastewater treatment processes has raised wide concerns due to their biotoxicity. In the present study, the performance, microbial community and enzymatic activity of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were evaluated under 148-day exposure of amino-functionalized multi-walled CNTs (MWCNTs-NH2) at 10 and 30 mg/L. The COD removal efficiency at 10 and 30 mg/L MWCNTs-NH2 gradually reduced from 91.03% and 90.43% on day to 89.11% and 86.70% on day 148, respectively. The NH4+-N removal efficiency at 10 and 30 mg/L MWCNTs-NH2 gradually reduced from 98.98% and 98.46% on day 1 to 96.65% and 63.39% on day 148, respectively. Compared to 0 mg/L MWCNTs-NH2, the oxygen-utilizing rate, ammonia-oxidizing rate, nitrite-oxidizing rate, nitrite-reducing rate and nitrate-reducing rate at 30 mg/L MWCNTs-NH2 were decreased by 52.35%, 60.58%, 55.12%, 56.56% and 57.42% on day 148, respectively. The microbial reactive oxygen species and lactate dehydrogenase release on day 148 was increased by 59.71% and 55.28% at 30 mg/L MWCNTs-NH2, respectively. The key microbial enzymatic activity related to nitrogen removal decreased with the increase of operation time under MWCNTs-NH2 stress. The relative abundances of Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, Nitrospira and some denitrifying bacteria at 10 mg/L MWCNTs-NH2 gradually reduced with an increment in operation time. The changes of nitrogen removal rate, microbial community and enzymatic activity of SBR were related to the time-cumulative nonlinear inhibition effect under long-term exposure.

Long-term impacts of carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the performance, microbial enzymatic activity and microbial community of sequencing batch reactor.

The performance, microbial community and enzymatic activity of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were evaluated under long-term exposure of 0, 10 and 30 mg/L carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH). The presence of 10 mg/L MWCNTs-COOH displayed no adverse impacts on the COD and NH4+-N removal of SBR, whereas 30 mg/L MWCNTs-COOH declined the COD and NH4+-N removal. MWCNTs-COOH inhibited the denitrifying process and led to the accumulation of effluent NO2--N concentration. The inhibition of MWCNTs-COOH on the oxygen utilization rate, nitrogen removal rate and enzymatic activity of activated sludge gradually enhanced with the increase of operating time and influent MWCNTs-COOH concentration. MWCNTs-COOH stimulated more reactive oxygen species production and lactate dehydrogenase release, which might affect the microbial physiological functions and morphology. The microbial diversity and richness was declined evidently after long-term exposure of MWCNTs-COOH. The relative abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria showed some changes under MWCNTs-COOH stress.

Effect of magnesium oxide nanoparticles on microbial diversity and removal performance of sequencing batch reactor.

The performance, microbial enzymatic activity and microbial community of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) have been explored under magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgO NPs) stress. The NH4+-N removal efficiency kept relatively stable during the whole operational process. The MgO NPs at 30-60 mg/L slightly restrained the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), and the presence of MgO NPs also affected the denitrification and phosphorus removal. The specific oxygen uptake rate, nitrifying and denitrifying rates, phosphorus removal rate, and microbial enzymatic activities distinctly varied with the increase of MgO NPs concentration. The appearance of MgO NPs promoted more reactive oxygen species generation and lactate dehydrogenase leakage from activated sludge, suggesting that MgO NPs had obvious toxicity to activated sludge in the SBR. The protein and polysaccharide contents of extracellular polymeric substances from activated sludge increased with the increase of MgO NPs concentration. The microbial richness and diversity at different MgO NPs concentrations obviously varied at the phylum, class and genus levels due to the biological toxicity of MgO NPs.

Performance evaluation and microbial community shift of a sequencing batch reactor under silica nanoparticles stress.

The performance, microbial community and enzymatic activity of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were evaluated at different silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) concentrations. SiO2 NPs concentration at 5-30mg/L had a slight inhibitory impact on the nitrogen and COD removals, whereas the phosphorus removal was obviously inhibited at 30mg/L SiO2 NPs. The rates of nitrification, nitrite reduction and phosphorus removal decreased with the increase of SiO2 NPs concentration. The nitrate reduction rate decreased at less than 5mg/L SiO2 NPs and subsequently showed an increase at 10-30mg/L SiO2 NPs. The organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates had similar varying tendencies to the corresponding microbial enzymatic activities under SiO2 NPs stress. Some SiO2 NPs were firstly absorbed on sludge surface and subsequently entered the interior of the microbial cells, which could exert the biological toxicity to activated sludge. The microbial community showed some obvious variations under SiO2 NPs stress.

Impacts of silver nanoparticles on performance and microbial community and enzymatic activity of a sequencing batch reactor.

The performance, microbial community and enzymatic activity of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were evaluated under silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) stress. Over 5 mg/L Ag NPs inhibited the COD and phosphorus removals, whereas the NH4+ removal kept stable during the whole operational period. The organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates were obviously inhibited under Ag NPs stress, which showed similar varying trends with the corresponding microbial enzymatic activities. The change of Ag content in the activated sludge indicated that some Ag NPs were absorbed by the sludge. The presence of Ag NPs promoted the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of microorganism due to the microbial response to the Ag NPs toxicity, which could impact on the microbial morphology and physiological functions. The presence of Ag NPs could produce some evident changes in the microbial community.

Long-term effects of cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on the performance, microbial community and enzymatic activity of activated sludge in a sequencing batch reactor.

The long-term effects of cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on the performance, microbial activity and microbial community of activated sludge were investigated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). The SBR performance had no evident change at 0-10 mg/L CuO NPs, whereas the CuO NPs concentration at 30-60 mg/L affected the COD, NH4+-N and soluble orthophosphate (SOP) removal, nitrogen and phosphorus removal rate and microbial enzymatic activity of activated sludge. Some CuO NPs might be absorbed on the surface of activated sludge or penetrate the microbial cytomembrane into the microbial cell interior of activated sludge. Compared to 0 mg/L CuO NPs, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release increased by 43.6% and 56.4% at 60 mg/L CuO NPs, respectively. The variations of ROS production and LDH release demonstrated that CuO NPs could induce the toxicity towards the microorganisms and destroy the integrity of microbial cytomembrane in the activated sludge. High throughput sequencing of 16S rDNA indicated that CuO NPs could evidently impact on the microbial richness, diversity and composition of activated sludge in the SBR.

Long-term effects of nickel oxide nanoparticles on performance, microbial enzymatic activity, and microbial community of a sequencing batch reactor.

The nitrogen and phosphorus removal, microbial enzymatic activity, and microbial community of a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were evaluated under long-term exposure to nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs). High NiO NP concentration (over 5 mg L-1) affected the removal of chemical oxygen demand, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The presence of NiO NP inhibited the microbial enzymatic activities and reduced the nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates of activated sludge. The microbial enzymatic activities of the activated sludge showed a similar variation trend to the nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates with the increase in NiO NP concentration from 0 to 60 mg L-1. The Ni content in the effluent and activated sludge showed an increasing trend with the increase in NiO NP concentration. Some NiO NPs were absorbed on the sludge surface or penetrate the cell membrane into the interior of microbial cells in the activated sludge. NiO NP facilitated the increase in reactive oxygen species by disturbing the balance between the oxidation and anti-oxidation processes, and the variation in lactate dehydrogenase demonstrated that NiO NP could destroy the cytomembrane and cause variations in the microbial morphology and physiological function. High-throughput sequencing demonstrated that the microbial community of SBR had some obvious changes at 0-60 mg L-1 NiO NPs at the phyla, class and genus levels.

Magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles induced effects on performance and microbial community of activated sludge from a sequencing batch reactor under long-term exposure.

The performance and microbial community of activated sludge from a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) were investigated under long-term exposure of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). The COD removal showed a slight decrease at 5-60mg/L Fe3O4 NPs compared to 0mg/L Fe3O4 NPs, whereas the NH4+-N removal had no obvious variation at 0-60mg/L Fe3O4 NPs. It was found that 10-60mg/L Fe3O4 NPs improved the denitrification process and phosphorus removal of activated sludge. The microbial enzymatic activities of activated sludge could be affected by Fe3O4 NPs, which had similar variation trends to the nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates of activated sludge. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release demonstrated that Fe3O4 NPs led to the toxicity to activated sludge and destroyed the integrity of microbial cytomembrane. High throughput sequencing indicated that Fe3O4 NPs could obviously affect the microbial richness and diversity of activated sludge.