Application of aerobic denitrifier for simultaneous removal of nitrogen, zinc, and bisphenol A from wastewater

Pei Hong; Kai Zhang; Yue Dai; Calista N T Yuen; Yuxin Gao; Yali Gu; Kenneth Mei Yee Leung

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127192

Application of aerobic denitrifier for simultaneous removal of nitrogen, zinc, and bisphenol A from wastewater

Bioresour Technol. 2022 Jun:354:127192. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127192. Epub 2022 Apr 20.

Authors

Pei Hong¹, Kai Zhang², Yue Dai³, Calista N T Yuen⁴, Yuxin Gao³, Yali Gu³, Kenneth Mei Yee Leung⁵

Affiliations

¹ Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China; National Observation and Research Station of Coastal Ecological Environments in Macao, Macao Environmental Research Institute, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao 999078, China.
³ Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, Provincial Key Laboratory of Biotic Environment and Ecological Safety in Anhui, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China.
⁵ State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China. Electronic address: kmyleung@cityu.edu.hk.

PMID: 35452828
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127192

Abstract

High concentrations of heavy metals and other pollutants affect microbial activity in the wastewater treatment system and impede biological denitrification process. In this study, a novel Zn(II)-resistant aerobic denitrifier (Pseudomonas stutzeri KY-37) was isolated with potential in Bisphenol A (BPA) biodegradation and removal. The capability of this denitrifier in removing nitrogen, zinc, and BPA was tested. Using 56 mg/L nitrate as the sole nitrogen source, its removal efficiency achieved 98.5% in 12 h. This novel denitrifier had a strong auto-aggregation (maximum 65.8%), a high hydrophobicity rate (maximum 88.2%), and a massive amount (maximum 41.1 mg/g cell dry weight) of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production. Moreover, Zn(II) removal efficiency reached more than 95% with the initial high concentrations of 200 mg/L. The maximum BPA removal efficiency reached 88.8% with initial 10 mg/L. The removal mechanism of BPA was further explored in terms of microbial degradation, EPS adsorption, and intermediate degradation products.

Keywords: Auto-aggregation; BPA degradation pathway; Extracellular polymeric substances; Nitrogen removal; Zn(II) resistance.

MeSH terms

Aerobiosis
Benzhydryl Compounds
Denitrification
Nitrogen* / metabolism
Phenols
Wastewater*
Zinc

Substances

Benzhydryl Compounds
Phenols
Waste Water
Zinc
bisphenol A
Nitrogen