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Removal of pathogenic indicator microorganisms during partial nitrification: the role of free nitrous acid

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Abstract

Digested wastewater contains pathogenic microorganisms and high ammonia concentrations, which can pose a potential risk to public health. Effective removal of pathogens and nitrogen is crucial for the post-treatment of digested wastewater. Partial nitrification-anammox is an energy-saving nitrogen removal process. Free nitrous acid (FNA), an intermediate product of partial nitrification, has the potential to inactivate microorganisms. However, the efficiency and mechanisms of FNA-related inactivation in pathogens during partial nitrification remains unclear. In this study, Enterococcus and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were selected to investigate the efficiency and mechanisms of FNA-related inactivation in partial nitrification process. The results revealed that 83% ± 13% and 59% ± 27% of E. coli and Enterococcus were removed, respectively, in partial nitrification process at FNA concentrations of 0.023–0.028 mg/L. When the concentration of FNA increased from 0 to 0.5 mg/L, the inactivation efficiencies of E. coli and Enterococcus increased from 0 to 99.9% and 89.9%, respectively. Enterococcus exhibited a higher resistance to FNA attack compared to E. coli. 3D-laser scanning microscopy (3D-LSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that FNA exposure caused the surface collapse of E. coli and Enterococcus, as well as visible pore formation on the surface of E. coli cells. 4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride n-hydrate (DAPI)/propidium iodide (PI) and biomolecule leakage confirmed that inactivation of E. coli and Enterococcus occurred due to breakdown of cell walls and cell membranes. These findings indicate that partial nitrification process can be used for the removal of residual pathogenic microorganisms.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province (China) (No. 2208085ME145), the Key Project of Science and Technology in Anhui Province (China) (No. 1001441100), and the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2019YFC0408502).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Rural Water Environment and Resource, School of Civil Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, China

    Jiaojiao Xu, Jingwei Feng, Shoujun Yuan, Wei Wang & Zhen-Hu Hu

  2. Hefei 168 High School, Hefei, 230025, China

    Xiaotian Chen

  3. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Materials Protection and Advanced Materials in Electric Power, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, 200090, China

    Rui Tang

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  1. Jiaojiao Xu
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  6. Wei Wang
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  7. Zhen-Hu Hu
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Correspondence to Zhen-Hu Hu.

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Conflict of Interests The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Highlights

• 83% ± 13% E. coli and 59% ± 27% Enterococcus were removed by partial nitrification.

• FNA exposure leads to surface collapse of E. coli and Enterococcus.

• Bacteria inactivation was due to the breakdown of cell walls and cell membranes.

• Enterococcus was more resistant to FNA treatment than E. coli.

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Xu, J., Chen, X., Tang, R. et al. Removal of pathogenic indicator microorganisms during partial nitrification: the role of free nitrous acid. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 18, 33 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1793-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-024-1793-6

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