Synergistic promotion of microalgal growth and copper removal from synthetic wastewater by nanoscale zero-valent iron particles.

The increasing concentrations of heavy metals in livestock wastewater pose a serious threat to the environmental safety and human health, limiting its resource utilisation. In the present study, microalgae and nanoscale zero-valent iron were selected to construct a coupled system for copper-containing wastewater treatment. The addition of 50 mg·L-1 nanoscale zero-valent iron (50 nm) was the optimal value for the experiment, which could significantly increase the biomass of microalgae. In addition, nanoscale zero-valent iron stimulated microalgal secretion of extracellular polymeric substances, increasing the contents of binding sites, organic ligands, and functional groups on the microalgal surfaces and ultimately promoting the settling of microalgae and binding of heavy metals. The coupled system could quickly adapt to copper-containing wastewater of 10 mg·L-1, and the copper removal rate reached 94.99%. Adsorption and uptake by organisms, together with the contribution of zero-valent iron nanoparticles, are the major copper removal pathways. Overall, this work offers a novel technical solution for enhanced treatment of copper-containing livestock wastewater, which will help improve the efficiency and quality of wastewater treatment.

Growth, nutrient removal, and lipid productivity promotion of Chlorella sorokiniana by phosphate solubilizing bacteria Bacillus megatherium in swine wastewater: Performances and mechanisms.

Effects of a phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) Bacillus megatherium on growth and lipid production of Chlorella sorokiniana were investigated in synthesized swine wastewater with dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), insoluble inorganic phosphorus (IIP), and organic phosphorus (OP). The results showed that the PSB significantly promoted the algal growth in OP and IIP, by 1.10 and 1.78-fold, respectively. The algal lipid accumulation was also greatly triggered, respectively by 4.39, 1.68, and 1.38-fold in DIP, IIP, and OP. Moreover, compared with DIP, OP improved the oxidation stability of algal lipid by increasing the proportion of saturated fatty acids (43.8 % vs 27.9 %), while the PSB tended to adjust it to moderate ranges (30.2-41.6 %). Further, the transcriptome analysis verified the OP and/or PSB-induced up-regulated genes involving photosynthesis, lipid metabolism, signal transduction, etc. This study provided novel insights to enhance microalgae-based nutrient removal combined with biofuel production in practical wastewater, especially with complex forms of phosphorus.

Different responses of nitrite- and nitrate-dependent anaerobic methanotrophs to increasing nitrogen loading in a freshwater reservoir.

Nitrite (NO2-)- and nitrate (NO3-)-dependent anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) are two new additions in microbial methane cycle, which potentially act as important methane sinks in freshwater aquatic systems. Here, we investigated spatial variations of community composition, abundance and potential activity of NO2-- and NO3--dependent anaerobic methanotrophs in the sediment of Jiulonghu Reservoir (Zhejiang Province, China), a freshwater reservoir having a gradient of increasing nitrogen loading from upstream to downstream regions. High-throughput sequencing of total bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes showed the cooccurrence of Candidatus Methylomirabilis oxyfera (M. oxyfera)-like and Candidatus Methanoperedens nitroreducens (M. nitroreducens)-like anaerobic methanotrophs in the examined reservoir sediments. The community structures of these methanotrophs differed substantially between the sediments of upstream and downstream regions. Quantitative PCR suggested higher M. oxyfera-like bacterial abundance in the downstream (8.6 × 107 to 2.8 × 108 copies g-1 dry sediment) than upstream sediments (2.4 × 107 to 3.5 × 107 copies g-1 dry sediment), but there was no obvious difference in M. nitroreducens-like archaeal abundance between these sediments (3.7 × 105 to 4.8 × 105 copies g-1 dry sediment). The 13CH4 tracer experiments suggested the occurrence of NO2-- and NO3--dependent AOM activities, and their rates were 4.7-14.1 and 0.8-2.6 nmol CO2 g-1 (dry sediment) d-1, respectively. Further, the rates of NO2--dependent AOM in downstream sediment were significantly higher than those in upstream sediment. The NO3- concentration was the key factor affecting the spatial variations of abundance and activity of NO2--dependent anaerobic methanotrophs. Overall, our results showed different responses of NO2-- and NO3--dependent anaerobic methanotrophs to increasing nitrogen loading in a freshwater reservoir.

Development of microsatellite markers for a Chinese endemic plant, Torreya yunnanensis (Taxaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Microsatellite markers were developed in Torreya yunnanensis (Taxaceae) to investigate the genetic diversity, phylogeography, and population structure of the species. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixteen primer sets were identified using Illumina 2 × 100-bp paired-end sequencing and bioinformatic screening. Most primers also amplified in T. fargesii, T. grandis, T. jackii, and T. nucifera. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the utility of these microsatellite markers in T. yunnanensis for future studies of molecular ecology as well as their applicability across the genus.

Potential role of anammox in nitrogen removal in a freshwater reservoir, Jiulonghu Reservoir (China).

Currently, the nitrogen removal potential of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) and its regulating factors in reservoir systems remain uncertain. Here, we provided the molecular and isotopic evidence for anammox in the freshwater sediment of Jiulonghu Reservoir that is located in Quzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Diverse 16S rRNA gene sequences related to Candidatus Kuenenia and Candidatus Brocadia were detected by using high-throughput (Illumina MiSeq) sequencing of total bacterial 16S rRNA genes, and the Candidatus Brocadia was the most frequently detected anammox bacterial genus. The anammox bacterial abundance was determined based on quantitative PCR on hzsA (the alpha subunit of the hydrazine synthase) genes and varied from 3.1 × 105 to 1.1 × 106 copies g-1 dry sediment. Homogenized sediments were further incubated with 15NO3- amendments to measure the potential anammox rates and determine the contribution of this process to dinitrogen gas (N2) production. The potential rates of anammox ranged between 8.1 and 30.8 nmol N2 g-1 dry sediment day-1, and anammox accounted for 7.7-20.5% of total N2 production in sediment. Higher levels of anammox bacterial diversity, abundance, and activity were observed in the downstream with greater human disturbance than those in the upstream with less human disturbance. Correlation analyses suggested that the inorganic nitrogen level in sediment could be a key factor for the anammox bacterial abundance and activity. The results showed that the nitrogen removal via anammox may not be negligible in the examined reservoir and indicated that human activities could influence the anammox process in reservoir systems.

Distribution and activity of anaerobic ammonium-oxidising bacteria in natural freshwater wetland soils.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) process plays a significant role in the marine nitrogen cycle. However, the quantitative importance of this process in nitrogen removal in wetland systems, particularly in natural freshwater wetlands, is still not determined. In the present study, we provided the evidence of the distribution and activity of anammox bacteria in a natural freshwater wetland, located in southeastern China, by using (15)N stable isotope measurements, quantitative PCR assays and 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. The potential anammox rates measured in this wetland system ranged between 2.5 and 25.5 nmol N2 g(-1) soil day(-1), and up to 20% soil dinitrogen gas production could be attributed to the anammox process. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes showed that anammox bacteria related to Candidatus Brocadia, Candidatus Kuenenia, Candidatus Anammoxoglobus and two novel anammox clusters coexisted in the collected soil cores, with Candidatus Brocadia and Candidatus Kuenenia being the dominant anammox genera. Quantitative PCR of hydrazine synthase genes showed that the abundance of anammox bacteria varied from 2.3 × 10(5) to 2.2 × 10(6) copies g(-1) soil in the examined soil cores. Correlation analyses suggested that the soil ammonium concentration had significant influence on the activity of anammox bacteria. On the basis of (15)N tracing technology, it is estimated that a total loss of 31.1 g N m(-2) per year could be linked the anammox process in the examined wetland.

Occurrence and importance of anaerobic ammonium-oxidising bacteria in vegetable soils.

The quantitative importance of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) has been described in paddy fields, while the presence and importance of anammox in subsurface soil from vegetable fields have not been determined yet. Here, we investigated the occurrence and activity of anammox bacteria in five different types of vegetable fields located in Jiangsu Province, China. Stable isotope experiments confirmed the anammox activity in the examined soils, with the potential rates of 2.1 and 23.2 nmol N2 g(-1) dry soil day(-1), and the anammox accounted for 5.9-20.5% of total soil dinitrogen gas production. It is estimated that a total loss of 7.1-78.2 g N m(-2) year(-1) could be linked to the anammox process in the examined vegetable fields. Phylogenetic analyses showed that multiple co-occurring anammox genera were present in the examined soils, including Candidatus Brocadia, Candidatus Kuenenia, Candidatus Anammoxoglobus and Candidatus Jettenia, and Candidatus Brocadia appeared to be the most common anammox genus. Quantitative PCR further confirmed the presence of anammox bacteria in the examined soils, with the abundance varying from 2.8 × 10(5) to 3.0 × 10(6) copies g(-1) dry soil. Correlation analyses suggested that the soil ammonium concentration had significant influence on the activity and abundance of anammox bacteria in the examined soils. The results of our study showed the presence of diverse anammox bacteria and indicated that the anammox process could serve as an important nitrogen loss pathway in vegetable fields.