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Positive responses and mechanisms of nitrifying sludge to carbon quantum dots: reactor performance, microbial behavior, and antioxidant defense

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Abstract

Extensive application of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) enlarges its concentration in sewage treatment system. The response of nitrifying sludge to CQDs after long-term exposure was investigated. Results showed that CQD concentrations of 0–100 mg/L presented positive effect to enzymes involved in nitrification, accelerating NH4+-N degradation and NO2−-N transformation. The oxidation rate of NO2−-N was significantly improved from 3.14 to 7.91 mg/(L h) under the stress of 100 mg/L CQDs. Besides, CQDs stimulated the production of sludge biomass and kept the stability of sludge settleability. Additionally, CQDs were mainly captured by loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances, reducing aromatic-like protein. Microbes alleviated CQD stress by secreting tryptophan-like protein and polysaccharides. After few CQDs entered cells, intracellular antioxidant defense was activated. Total antioxidant capacity level was heightened at least 31%. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were enhanced at relatively low and high CQD concentration levels. Hence, microbial metabolic pathways, microbial community, and nitrifying bacteria were not significantly affected by CQDs. The findings of this work provide new insight for understanding the environmental implication of CQDs in the biological treatment system.

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Funding

This study was supported by the Natural Science Basic Research Project of Shaanxi Province (grant number [2022JM-217]) and the Special Scientific Research Program of Shaanxi Provincial Education Department (grant number [21JK0716]). Yang L. has received research support from Education Department and Science and Technology Department of Shaanxi Provincial Government. Also, this work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number [52270169]).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, 710055, China

    Lin-Kai Guo, Lei Yang, Shen Cui, Xiao-Tong Li, Yu-Chao Wang, Yu-Cai Li & Yong-Xiang Ren

  2. Key Lab of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, 710055, China

    Lin-Kai Guo, Lei Yang, Shen Cui, Xiao-Tong Li, Yu-Chao Wang, Yu-Cai Li & Yong-Xiang Ren

  3. China Construction Third Bureau Group Co. LTD., Xi’an, 710065, China

    Zhao Sun

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  1. Lin-Kai Guo
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  4. Zhao Sun
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Linkai Guo and Lei Yang: conceptualization, formal analysis, investigation, data curation, and writing—original draft. Lei Yang and Shen Cui: conceptualization, supervision, reviewing, and editing. Zhao Sun and Xiaotong Li: investigation, software, reviewing, and editing. Yuchao Wang, Yucai Li, and Yong-Xiang Ren: visualization and writing—review and editing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Lei Yang.

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Guo, LK., Yang, L., Cui, S. et al. Positive responses and mechanisms of nitrifying sludge to carbon quantum dots: reactor performance, microbial behavior, and antioxidant defense. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 91095–91107 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-28763-8

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