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The effect of tetrahydrofuran on the enzymatic activity and microbial community in activated sludge from a sequencing batch reactor

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Abstract

Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is a toxic and carcinogenic compound that is commonly released from pharmaceutical, chemical and related industry wastewater. Currently, the effects of THF contamination on wastewater are unknown and a better understanding of THF toxicity toward biological processes in wastewater treatment is critical. In this study, we firstly investigated the toxic effects of THF on enzymatic activity and the microbial diversity in activated sludge from a sequencing batch reactor during long-term exposure to 10 mM THF. The activity of five enzymes (catalase, dehydrogenase, urease, phosphatase and protease) was remarkably decreased in the presence of 10 mM THF during a period of 85 days. Of these five affected enzymes, dehydrogenase activity was close to detection level limits and was nearly completely inhibited. Analysis of the microbial community demonstrated that THF, at a concentration of 10 mM, altered the distribution of microbes within the community and significantly decreased microbial diversity during long-term contamination, according to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. The fraction of Actinobacteria increased in the community, while the fraction of Proteobacteria significantly decreased after THF exposure.

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Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the National Key Science and Technology Project: Water Pollution Control and Treatment (no. 2008ZX07101-006), 863 High Technology Program (2007AA10Z409), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (no. 20090461366), and Educational Commission of Zhejiang Province (Y200909615).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Zhejiang University, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Yanlai Yao, Zhenmei Lu, Hang Min, Haichun Gao & Fengxiang Zhu

  2. Institute of Environment, Resource, Soil and Fertilizer, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 198 Shiqiao Road, Hangzhou, 310021, China

    Yanlai Yao & Fengxiang Zhu

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  1. Yanlai Yao
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  2. Zhenmei Lu
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  3. Hang Min
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  4. Haichun Gao
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  5. Fengxiang Zhu
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Correspondence to Zhenmei Lu.

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Yao, Y., Lu, Z., Min, H. et al. The effect of tetrahydrofuran on the enzymatic activity and microbial community in activated sludge from a sequencing batch reactor. Ecotoxicology 21, 56–65 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-011-0765-3

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