Deterioration of biological pollutants removal induced by linear alkylbenzene sulphonates in sequencing batch reactors: Insight of sludge characteristics, microbial community and metabolic activity

Abstract

Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS) are widely detected in wastewater, and pose potential risks to environment. The influences of LAS on the typical pollutants removal in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were evaluated. The results indicated that the removal efficiency of COD, NH₄⁺ and PO₄^3- was respectively reduced by 10.5-27.5%, 5.4-7.3% and11.6-28.9% with the exposure of 10-50 mg/L LAS. Mechanisms investigation found that LAS disrupted the sludge structure and reduced the biomass in reactors due to the saponification effects. Also, the presence of LAS altered the microbial community of activated sludge, and reduced the abundances of functional bacterial responsible for pollutants removal (i.e.Candidatus Accumulibacter, Nitrospira, Denitratisoma and etc.). Moreover, the LAS exhibited negative impacts on the microbial activity with increased LDH release but decreased ATP concentration. The genes expressions for microbial metabolism (i.e. carbohydrate metabolisms, energy metabolism) and typical pollutants removal (i.e. electron transport, phosphonate transport) were all downregulated in LAS-exposed SBRs.

Keywords: Gene expressions; Linear alkylbenzene sulfonates (LAS); Microbial community; Microbial metabolism; Pollutants removal; Sludge structure.