Microbial community structure and potential function associated with poly-3-hydroxybutyrate biopolymer-boosted activation of peroxymonosulfate for waste-activated sludge decontamination

Chang-Mao Hung; Chiu-Wen Chen; Chin-Pao Huang; Der-Shyan Sheu; Cheng-Di Dong

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128450

Microbial community structure and potential function associated with poly-3-hydroxybutyrate biopolymer-boosted activation of peroxymonosulfate for waste-activated sludge decontamination

Bioresour Technol. 2023 Feb:369:128450. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128450. Epub 2022 Dec 8.

Authors

Chang-Mao Hung¹, Chiu-Wen Chen¹, Chin-Pao Huang², Der-Shyan Sheu³, Cheng-Di Dong⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
² Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, USA.
³ Department of Marine Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan; Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. Electronic address: cddong@nkust.edu.tw.

PMID: 36496120
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128450

Abstract

Excess waste-activated sludge (WAS) is a major biosolid management problem due to its biohazardous and recalcitrant content of phthalate esters (PAEs). This study aimed to assess the combined use of biopolymer, poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and peroxymonosulfate to degrade PAEs and decontaminate WAS. Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate was biosynthesized by Cupriavidus sp. L7L. The combined poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and peroxymonosulfate process removed 86 % of PAEs from WAS in 12 h. The carbonyl groups of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate were conducive to peroxymonosulfate activation leading to PAE degradation followed the radical pathway and surface-mediated electron transfer. Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate and peroxymonosulfate also enriched the PAE-biodegrading microbes in WAS. The microbial population and the functional composition in response to peroxymonosultate treatment was identified, with the genus Sulfurisoma being the most abundant. This synergistic treatment, i.e., advanced oxidation process, was augmented by highly promising microbial polyesters, exhibited important implications for WAS pretreatment toward circular bioeconomy that encompasses carbon-neutral biorefinery and mitigate pollution.

Keywords: Biodegradation; Biopolymer; Phthalate esters; Reactive oxygen species; Waste pretreatment.

MeSH terms

Decontamination
Esters / chemistry
Microbiota*
Phthalic Acids* / metabolism
Polyesters / metabolism
Sewage / chemistry

Substances

Sewage
Phthalic Acids
peroxymonosulfate
poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate
Polyesters
Esters