Enhanced nitrogen removal by bioelectrochemical coupling anammox and characteristics of microbial communities / 生物工程学报

To investigate the bioelectrochemical enhanced anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) nitrogen removal process, a bioelectrochemical system with coupled anammox cathode was constructed using a dual-chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Specifically, a dark incubation batch experiment was conducted at 30 ℃ with different influent total nitrogen concentrations under an applied voltage of 0.2 V, and the enhanced denitrification mechanism was investigated by combining various characterization methods such as cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and high-throughput sequencing methods. The results showed that the total nitrogen removal rates of 96.9%±0.3%, 97.3%±0.4% and 99.0%±0.3% were obtained when the initial total nitrogen concentration was 200, 300 and 400 mg/L, respectively. In addition, the cathode electrode biofilm showed good electrochemical activity. High-throughput sequencing results showed that the applied voltage enriched other denitrifying functional groups, including Denitratisoma, Limnobacter, and ammonia oxidizing bacteria SM1A02 and Anaerolineaceae, Nitrosomonas europaea and Nitrospira, besides the anammox bacteria. These electrochemically active microorganisms comprised of ammonium oxidizing exoelectrogens (AOE) and denitrifying electrotrophs (DNE). Together with anammox bacteria Candidatus Brocadia, they constituted the microbial community structure of denitrification system. Enhanced direct interspecies electron transfer between AOE and DNE was the fundamental reason for the further improvement of the total nitrogen removal rate of the system.

Research progress of combined anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) process for nitrogen removal / 生物工程学报

Anaerobic ammonia oxidation (ANAMMOX) process is an efficient and low-cost biological nitrogen removal process. However, it still faces some challenges in mainstream applications due to the limitation of substrate types and nitrate accumulation. In recent years, the combined process of anammox has been widely studied to solve the above problems. In this paper, the combined processes of anammox developed in recent years are reviewed, and discussed from the process principle, advantages and disadvantages, influencing factors, process extensibility and the key bottlenecks existing in the promotion and application, as well as the relevant work of the subject group. Finally, we take an outlook on the development of the combined anaerobic ammonia oxidation process in municipal domestic wastewater treatment.

A fjord-like tropical ecosystem, Pacific coast of Costa Rica: overview of research in Golfo Dulce / Un ecosistema tropical similar a un fiordo, costa del Pacífico de Costa Rica: panorama de la investigación en el Golfo Dulce

Abstract Introduction: Coastal ecosystems worldwide are under the influence of local, regional and global stressors, such as pollution, eutrophication and climate change. Golfo Dulce is a relatively pristine and accessible deep tropical ecosystem that provides opportunities for comparative and collaborative research. Objective: To summarize published reports on past research conducted in this ecosystem, identify topics for further study, and suggest new research issues. Methods: A search was made on the web for reports based on research conducted in Golfo Dulce and published in scientific journals. Reports focusing on environmental parameters and on the biota were included. Results: A total of 123 studies that include data from Golfo Dulce are cited. The four topics more frequently addressed were reports based on the results of the R/V Victor Hensen expedition (1993-1994) and follow-up work on microbiology, studies on water parameters, research on vertebrates, and zooplankton studies. The reports focusing on vertical profiles of oxygen and temperature are discussed in detail, followed by those on the biota. Conclusions: Golfo Dulce has low oxygen concentrations below 50 m and is frequently anoxic at the 200 m deep basin with occasional formation of H2S. However, the ecosystem contains a relatively high diversity of identified organisms, from bacteria to whales. Of particular relevance for future studies are multidisciplinary surveys aiming at obtaining data on primary productivity, the diversity and biomass of the main groups of planktonic, demersal and benthic organisms, and the frequency and magnitude of the influx of deep offshore waters over the sill into the basin. These data, as well as the information gathered in the past, are essential for updating the trophic model developed more than 25 years ago and in support of new predictive models on the functioning of the ecosystem.

Resumen Introducción: Los ecosistemas costeros alrededor del mundo están bajo la influencia de tensores locales, regionales y globales, como la contaminación, la eutroficación y el cambio climático. El Golfo Dulce es un profundo ecosistema tropical relativamente inalterado y accesible, que provee oportunidades para la investigación comparativa y colaborativa. Objetivo: Resumir los informes publicados sobre investigaciones pasadas realizadas en el ecosistema, identificar tópicos para estudios futuros y sugerir nuevas áreas de investigación. Métodos: Se hizo una búsqueda en la red de informes basados en investigaciones hechas en Golfo Dulce y publicadas en revistas científicas. Fueron incluidos aquellos informes sobre parámetros ambientales y la biota. Resultados: Un total de 123 estudios que incluyen datos sobre Golfo Dulce son citados. Los cuatro tópicos citados con más frecuencia fueron: Los resultados de la expedición del R/V Victor Hensen (1993-1994) y estudios de seguimiento sobre microbiología, informes sobre parámetros acuáticos, investigaciones sobre vertebrados y estudios sobre zooplancton. Los informes sobre perfiles de oxígeno y temperatura son presentados con mayor detalle, seguidos por aquellos sobre la biota. Conclusiones: Golfo Dulce tiene bajas concentraciones de oxígeno por debajo de 50 m y es usualmente anóxico a 200 m en el fondo, con formación ocasional de H2S. Sin embargo, el ecosistema contiene una diversidad de organismos identificados relativamente alta, desde bacterias hasta ballenas. De relevancia particular para futuros estudios es, entre otros, la conducción, de muestreos multidisciplinarios orientados a obtener datos sobre productividad primaria, la diversidad y biomasa de los principales grupos de organismos planctónicos, demersales y bénticos, así como la frecuencia y magnitud del flujo de agua oceánica hacia el interior. Estos datos, así como los obtenidos en el pasado, son esenciales para actualizar el modelo trófico desarrollado hace más de 25 años, o en apoyo de nuevos modelos predictivos de funcionamiento del ecosistema.

The Influence of Stirring Speed, Temperature and Initial Nitrogen Concentration on Specific Anammox Activity

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the influence of initial nitrogen concentration, temperature and stirring speed on specific anammox activity (SAA). The biomass was tested in single batch reactors with different initial nitrogen concentrations (Assay 1) ranging from 60 to 140 mg Ntotal/L in equimolar ratio (NO2--N/NH4+-N) and in another test to 67.3 mg NH4+-N/L and 92.2 mg NO2--N/L (close to anammox stoichiometric ratio). The anammox biomass was also tested in single batch at different temperatures (from 20 to 37° C) to determine the short-term effects on SAA (Assay 2). In the third assay the stirring speed ranged from 50 to 150 rpm in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) at 37 ºC. SAA was affected by the stoichiometric molar ratio but not by equimolar initial concentrations. The maximum specific anammox activities were 26.2 mg NH4+-N/g VSS.h in the single batch reactor at 37 ºC with NO2--N/NH4+-N stoichiometric ratio and 33.5 mg NH4+-N/g VSS.h in the SBR at 37 ºC and 50 rpm. The NO2--N/NH4+-N molar ratio affected specific anammox activity, and SAA showed to be more hindered by low increases of stirring speed than reported in the literature.

Crecimiento rápido autotrófico de microorganismos anaerobios oxidadores de amonio en presencia de nitrito, usando inóculos de Colombia / Faster autotrophic growth of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing microorganisms in presence of nitrite, using inocula from Colombia

Anammox is a nitrite dependent process, catalyzed by bacteria of the order Brocadiales. Anammox bacteria oxidize ammonia under anoxic conditions, with nitrite as electron acceptor producing dinitrogen gas. Here, we demonstrated the presence of anammox bacteria by enriched them in a SBR reactor, with anaerobic samples taken from de bottom of a pond used in primary wastewater treatment. The enrichment reached nitrogen (N) removal rates of nearly 1.92kg N/m3/day. (The stoichiometry of the reaction matched previous anammox studies). The enriched bacterial communities were analyzed by Fluorescence In situ Hybridization (FISH), and showed a nearly 90% enrichment at the end of the experiment (day 90). As far as we know this is the first time that the anammox bacteria were enriched using Colombian inocula. The enrichment was achieved in relatively short time with high yields and have an excellent potential for application in wastewater treatment opening the opportunity to treat nitrogen-rich effluents by partial nitritation and anammox, thereby decreasing operational costs with respect to aeration (nitrification) and addition of organic electron donor (heterotrophic denitrification). This more sustainable treatment is a good alternative to control nutrient pollution in water bodies in tropical countries.

La oxidación anaerobia del amonio (anammox), es un proceso nitrito dependiente, catalizado por bacterias del filo planctomicetes. Estas bacterias oxidan el amonio en ausencia de oxígeno, con nitrito como aceptor de electrones produciendo nitrógeno molecular. En Colombia, demostramos la presencia de estas bacterias mediante el enriquecimiento de cultivos en reactores por lotes, con inóculos nativos, provenientes de muestras anaeróbias tomadas del fondo de una laguna para el tratamiento primario de aguas residuales. El enriquecimiento logrado alcanzó remociones de nitrógeno (N), en el orden de 1.92kg - N /m3/día (la estequiometria de la reacción estuvo acorde con estudios previos de anammox). La comunidad bacteriana enriquecida, se analizó mediante hibridación en sitio con fluorescencia (FISH), y mostró que el enriquecimiento contenía aprox. 90 % de bacterias anammox al final del experimento (Día 90). Esta es la primera vez que en Colombia se logra el enriquecimiento de estas bacterias con inóculos locales, hasta nuestro conocimiento. El enriquecimiento fue alcanzado en relativamente corto tiempo con altos rendimientos y tiene un excelente potencial de aplicación en el tratamiento de aguas residuales, abriendo oportunidades para el tratamiento de efluentes ricos en nitrógeno mediante nitritación parcial y anammox, disminuyendo los costos en los procesos de aireación (nitrificación) y en la de adición de donadores orgánicos (denitrificación heterótrofa). El uso de estos tratamientos más sostenibles es una buena alternativa para el control de contaminación por nutrientes en los cuerpos de agua, en países tropicales.

Bacterial biodiversity from an anaerobic up flow bioreactor with ANAMMOX activity inoculated with swine sludge

The present study aimed to describe the bacterial community present at an anaerobic up flow bioreactor with ANAMMOX activity, inoculated with the sludge from the anaerobic pond of a swine slurry treatment system. The description was based on the molecular DNA techniques using primers for amplification of complete 16S rRNA gene and also new primers to amplify smaller fragments from 16S rRNA. During the bioreactor operation time, the bacterial community changed significantly, increasing the nitrogen removal efficiency, reaching after 500 days a removal rate of 94 percent. The complete PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene generated 17 clones, where three presented similarity with Candidatus Jettenia asiatica (97 percent), twelve with Janthinobacterium (99 percent) and two with uncultured clones. The PCR amplification of 436 base pairs had generated 12 clones, of which eight presented 96-100 percent similarity with Candidatus Anammoxoglobus propionicus, Planctomycete KSU-1 and one with Pseudomonas sp. (99 percent) and three with uncultured clones.

Metabolismos microbianos involucrados en procesos avanzados para la remoción de nitrógeno, una revisión prospectiva / Microbial metabolisms over advanced processes for nitrogen removal, a prospective review

Los procesos avanzados para la remoción de nitrógeno están íntimamente relacionados con los metabolismos de las comunidades microbianas que intervienen en las transformaciones del mismo. Para el diseño, la optimización o el mejoramiento de los sistemas de tratamiento de aguas residuales domésticas, el ingeniero y el microbiólogo en forma conjunta, han logrado configurar reactores terciarios adecuados para el desenvolvimiento de estas comunidades, obteniendo altas eficiencias de remoción de los nutrientes. Este artículo presenta una revisión sobre la actividad bacteriana y su aplicación en los sistemas de tratamiento, inicia conceptualizando la influencia de los microorganismos y de la actividad humana en el ciclo global del nitrógeno, para después hacer un análisis de los procesos particulares en los cuales los microorganismos intervienen. Se clasifican e incluyen nuevas evidencias de metabolismos relacionados, y se describen como ejemplos algunos de los procesos de tratamiento terciario para aguas residuales desarrollados con éxito en las últimas décadas.

Advanced processes for nitrogen removal are intimately related to the microbial community metabolisms that take part in the transformations. For the design, optimization or improvement of domestic waste water treatment systems, engineers and microbiologists working together, have managed to implemented suitable tertiary reactors for the development of these communities, improving the efficiency of nutrient removal. This article presents a revision of the bacterial activity and its application in treatment systems. The article begins by giving an explanation about the influence of microorganism and human activity on the global nitrogen cycle. Then, it analyzes the particular processes in which the microorganisms take part. New evidence of related metabolisms are classified and included. Some of the processes of wastewater tertiary treatment, successfully developed over the last decades, are described as examples.

Progress of Molecular Ecological Research on Marine Anammox Bacteria / 微生物学通报

Anammox bacteria can perform anaerobic ammonium oxidation,a long missing process which contributes 30%~50% to dinitrogen gas in marine nitrogen cycling.The potential role of anam-mox bacteria coupling with ammonium oxidizing bacteria and archaea will benefit to elaborate the complex mechanism of marine nitrogen cycling.Furthermore,the unique cell and genomic characteris-tics make anammox bacteria an important model microorganism to explore the bacterial evolution.Here we reviewed the current status of molecular ecology of marine anammox bacteria and give a perspective into the future based on our understanding of the literature and our own work.

The Character and Application of Anammox Bateria in Wastewater Biotreatment / 微生物学通报

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation is a new process in which ammonium is oxidized with nitrite as the electron acceptor under anoxic conditions,producing dinitrogen gas.Three anammox bacteria(Brocadia anammoxidans,Kuenenia stuttgartiensis,Scalindua sorokinii) have been found recently.The investigation on cytochrome spectra,nutrition,inhibitors,cell structures and biochemistry reaction mechanisms in anammox bacteria indicated that anammox bacteria had the potential of diverse metabolic types.Several novel microbial nitrogen removal processes have been developed(ANAMMOX process、SHARON-ANAMMOX process、CANON process and integration of methanogenesis with anaerobic ammonium oxidation).