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Performance and microbial consortium structure in simultaneous removal of sulfur and nitrogen compounds under micro-oxygenated condition

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Abstract

Effects of COD/SO42− and SO42−/NH4+ ratios on simultaneous removal of sulfate- and ammonium-rich synthetic wastewaters were investigated under micro-oxygenated condition (dissolved oxygen concentration at 0.10–0.15 mg/L). Lactate was served as carbon source to generate COD/SO42− ratios of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 3.5 and 4.0. The batch experimental results indicated that the highest sulfate (72.1%) and ammonium (62.8%) removal efficiencies could be reached at COD/SO42− ratio of 4.0. The main metabolic products were elemental sulfur (0.63 g S0/g SO42−–Sadded) and nitrogen gas (0.57 g N2/g NH4+–Nadded). Subsequently, various SO42−/NH4+ ratios (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5) were performed at controlled COD/SO42− ratio of 4.0. The highest SO42−/NH4+ ratio of 2.5 provided 76.6 and 72.8% sulfate and ammonium removal efficiencies, respectively, and also reached the highest yield of elemental sulfur and nitrogen gas of 0.68 g S0/g SO42−–Sadded and 0.66 g N2/g NH4+–Nadded, respectively. Microbial consortium structure providing the highest removal efficiencies was consequently analyzed using Illumina sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis approaches. Taxonomic assignments demonstrated that Proteobacteria (46%), Firmicutes (15%), and Bacteroidetes (14%) were the most abundant phyla. Almost core genera analysis with two distinguished approaches demonstrated similar results. Aside from microbial community analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to validate existing abundance of aforementioned seven dominant microorganisms. The nitrous oxide reductase gene was shown the most abundance (~ 108 copies/µL) which plays a crucial role for simultaneous removal of sulfur and nitrogen compounds.

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Acknowledgements

This research was facilitated by Excellent Center of Waste Utilization and Management (ECoWaste) and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi through “KMUTT 55th Anniversary Commemorative Fund” with Grant No. KMUTT-6001004790.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biotechnology Division, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok, Thailand

    P. Charoensuk & P. Chaiprasert

  2. The Joint Graduate School of Energy and Environment (JGSEE), King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), Bangkok, Thailand

    W. Thongnueakhaeng

  3. Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Thaksin University, Phatthalung, Thailand

    W. Thongnueakhaeng

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  1. P. Charoensuk
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Charoensuk, P., Thongnueakhaeng, W. & Chaiprasert, P. Performance and microbial consortium structure in simultaneous removal of sulfur and nitrogen compounds under micro-oxygenated condition. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 16, 5767–5782 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-2132-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-018-2132-x

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