Promoting enrichment of sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic denitrifiers via static magnetic fields: Performance and mechanism of magnetic biological effects

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Mar:347:126388. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126388. Epub 2021 Nov 23.

Abstract

Sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification (SADN) is a promising technology for nitrogen removal from wastewater. In this study, different-strength SMFs (0, 5, 20, 50, 70 mT) were evaluated to investigate the potential of external static magnetic field (SMF) for enriching sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic denitrifiers (SOAD). 50-mT and 70-mT SMFs were most suitable to accelerate the growth of SOAD and the elimination of non-SOAD. The relative abundance of Thiobacillus significantly increased (p < 0.01) from 6.26% in control reactor to 36.15% under 50 mT and 52.51% under 70 mT. Under 50 mT, Thiobacillus denitrificans accumulated most rapidly, with the largest population. Furthermore, functional gene forecast by high-throughput and metagenomic sequencing indicated that SMF changed the two-component system, the adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling system, the phosphotransferase system (PTS), as well as N/S-related enzymes to regulate stress-response and promote the growth of SOAD. The findings indicated that SMF accelerated the start-up of SADN.

Keywords: Enrichment of functional bacteria; Magnetic biological effect; Magnetic field; Magnetic induction mechanism; Sulfur-driven autotrophic denitrification.

MeSH terms

  • Autotrophic Processes
  • Bioreactors*
  • Denitrification*
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Nitrates
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Sulfur

Substances

  • Nitrates
  • Sulfur
  • Nitrogen