Impacts of temperature and salinity on nitrification rate and microbial community in laboratory scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs)

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yanmin Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Laboratory Scale ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Sequencing Batch Reactors

scholarly journals Seasonal Dynamics of the Activated Sludge Microbiome in Sequencing Batch Reactors, Assessed Using 16S rRNA Transcript Amplicon Sequencing

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Johnston ◽  
Sebastian Behrens
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Microbial Community ◽  
16S Rrna ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Seasonal Dynamics ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Amplicon Sequencing ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Sequencing Batch Reactors ◽  
Copy Numbers

ABSTRACT Activated sludge is comprised of diverse microorganisms which remediate wastewater. Previous research has characterized activated sludge using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, which can help to address questions on the relative abundance of microorganisms. In this study, we used 16S rRNA transcript sequencing in order to characterize “active” populations (via protein synthesis potential) and gain a deeper understanding of microbial activity patterns within activated sludge. Seasonal abundances of individual populations in activated sludge change over time, yet a persistent group of core microorganisms remains throughout the year which are traditionally classified on presence or absence without monitoring of their activity or growth. The goal of this study was to further our understanding of how the activated sludge microbiome changes between seasons with respect to population abundance, activity, and growth. Triplicate sequencing batch reactors were sampled at 10-min intervals throughout reaction cycles during all four seasons. We quantified the gene and transcript copy numbers of 16S rRNA amplicons using real-time PCR and sequenced the products to reveal community abundance and activity changes. We identified 108 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with stable abundance, activity, and growth throughout the year. Nonproliferating OTUs were commonly human health related, while OTUs that showed seasonal abundance changes have previously been identified as being associated with floc formation and bulking. We observed significant differences in 16S rRNA transcript copy numbers, particularly at lower temperatures in winter and spring. The study provides an analysis of the seasonal dynamics of microbial activity variations in activated sludge based on quantifying and sequencing 16S rRNA transcripts. IMPORTANCE Sequencing batch reactors are a common design for wastewater treatment plants, particularly in smaller municipalities, due to their low footprint and ease of operations. However, like for most treatment plants in temperate/continental climates, the microbial community involved in water treatment is highly seasonal and its biological processes can be sensitive to cold temperatures. The seasonality of these microbial communities has been explored primarily in conventional treatment plants and not in sequencing batch reactors. Furthermore, most studies often only address which organisms are present. However, the activated sludge microbial community is very diverse, and it is often hard to discern which organisms are active and which organisms are simply present. In this study, we applied additional sequencing techniques to also address the issues of which organisms are active and which organisms are growing. By addressing these issues, we gained new insights into seasonal microbial populations dynamics and activity patterns affecting wastewater treatment.

scholarly journals Microbial community similarity and dissimilarity inside and across full-scale activated sludge processes for simultaneous nitrification and denitrification

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 333-344
Author(s):  
Jianfeng Wen ◽  
Mark W. LeChevallier ◽  
Wendong Tao
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Community ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Activated Sludge ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Batch Reactors ◽  
Simultaneous Nitrification And Denitrification ◽  
Sequencing Batch Reactors ◽  
Mixed Liquor

Abstract Simultaneous nitrification and denitrification under low dissolved oxygen conditions is an energy-saving modification of the activated sludge process to achieve efficient nitrogen removal. Geographically distinct full-scale treatment plants are excellent platforms to address the links of microbial community with operating parameters. Mixed liquor samples were collected from a sequencing batch reactor plant, oxidation ditch plant, and step-feed activated sludge plant. Next-Generation Sequencing of the samples showed that the microbial communities were similar at the phylum level among the plants, being dominated by Proteobacteria. Microbial composition of functional groups was similar between the react fill and react phases of the sequencing batch reactors, among four sequencing batch reactors, and among four oxidation ditches. Nitrospira was the only identified genus of autotropic nitrifying bacteria with a relative abundance of 2.2–2.5% in the oxidation ditches and 0.4–0.7% at the other plants. Heterotrophic nitrifying–aerobic denitrifying bacteria were dominated by Dechloromonas with a relative abundance of 0.4–1.0%. Microbial community composition and nitrogen removal mechanisms were related to overall level and local zonation of dissolved oxygen, mixed liquor suspended solids concentration, nitrogen and organic loadings, and solids retention time. Low dissolved oxygen and low organic and nitrogen loadings favored growth of Nitrospira.

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