Effect and mechanism of benzalkonium bromide on short chain fatty acid production from anaerobic sludge fermentation process

Hongjie Wang; Hang Li; Lei Zhu; Xianglong Yang; Qiushuo Zhang; Yali Wang; Dongbo Wang

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118203

Effect and mechanism of benzalkonium bromide on short chain fatty acid production from anaerobic sludge fermentation process

J Environ Manage. 2023 Oct 1:343:118203. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118203. Epub 2023 May 24.

Authors

Hongjie Wang¹, Hang Li², Lei Zhu², Xianglong Yang², Qiushuo Zhang², Yali Wang³, Dongbo Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Hebei Key Laboratory of Close-to-Nature Restoration Technology of Wetlands, School of Eco-Environment, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China; School of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China; Institute of Xiong'an New Area, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China.
² Hebei Key Laboratory of Close-to-Nature Restoration Technology of Wetlands, School of Eco-Environment, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China; Institute of Xiong'an New Area, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China.
³ Hebei Key Laboratory of Close-to-Nature Restoration Technology of Wetlands, School of Eco-Environment, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China; School of Life Science, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China; Institute of Xiong'an New Area, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, PR China. Electronic address: wangyali@hbu.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, PR China.

PMID: 37235988
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118203

Abstract

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) was frequently detected in wastewater treatment plants and leads to potential toxicity to the related biological processes. In this study, the effect of benzalkonium bromide (BK) on anaerobic sludge fermentation process for short chain fatty acid (SCFAs) production was investigated. Batch experiments indicated that BK exposure significantly enhanced the SCFAs production from anaerobic fermentation sludge and the maximum concentration of total SCFAs increased from 474.40 ± 12.35 mg/L to 916.42 ± 20.35 mg/L with BK increasing from 0 to 8.69 mg/g VSS. Mechanism exploration exhibited that the presence of BK enhanced much more bioavailable organic matters release, little affected on hydrolysis, acidification, but seriously inhibited methanogenesis. Microbial community investigation revealed that BK exposure importantly enhanced the relative abundances of hydrolytic-acidifying bacteria and also improved the metabolic pathways and functional genes for sludge lysis. This work further supplement the information for environmental toxicity of emerging pollutants.

Keywords: Anaerobic fermentation; Benzalkonium bromide; Quaternary ammonium compounds; SCFAs production; Waste anaerobic sludge.

MeSH terms

Anaerobiosis
Benzalkonium Compounds*
Bromides
Fatty Acids, Volatile / metabolism
Fermentation
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Sewage*

Substances

Sewage
Benzalkonium Compounds
Bromides
Fatty Acids, Volatile