Relationship between phenol degradation efficiency and microbial community structure in an anaerobic SBR

Phenol is a common wastewater contaminant from various industrial processes, including petrochemical refineries and chemical compounds production. Due to its toxicity to microbial activity, it can affect the efficiency of biological wastewater treatment processes. In this study, the efficiency of an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water research (Oxford) 2013-11, Vol.47 (17), p.6739-6749
Main Authors: Rosenkranz, F., Cabrol, L., Carballa, M., Donoso-Bravo, A., Cruz, L., Ruiz-Filippi, G., Chamy, R., Lema, J.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anaerobic digestion
Anaerobiosis
Applied sciences
ASBR
Bacteria - metabolism
Bacteriology
Batch Cell Culture Techniques
Biodegradation, Environmental
Biodiversity and Ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Biological treatment of waters
Bioreactors - microbiology
Biotechnology
Cluster Analysis
Community structure
correspondence analysis
Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis
DGGE
Environment and pollution
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Sciences
Exact sciences and technology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Global Changes
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Industrial wastewaters
Inhibition
Life Sciences
Methane - metabolism
microbial activity
microbial communities
Microbiology and Parasitology
Oxygen - chemistry
Phenol
Phenol - metabolism
Phylogeny
Pollution
ribotypes
Time Factors
toxicity
wastewater
wastewater treatment
Wastewaters
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Phenol is a common wastewater contaminant from various industrial processes, including petrochemical refineries and chemical compounds production. Due to its toxicity to microbial activity, it can affect the efficiency of biological wastewater treatment processes. In this study, the efficiency of an Anaerobic Sequencing Batch Reactor (ASBR) fed with increasing phenol concentrations (from 120 to 1200 mg L−1) was assessed and the relationship between phenol degradation capacity and the microbial community structure was evaluated. Up to a feeding concentration of 800 mg L−1, the initial degradation rate steadily increased with phenol concentration (up to 180 mg L−1 d−1) and the elimination capacity remained relatively constant around 27 mg phenol removed∙gVSS−1 d−1. Operation at higher concentrations (1200 mg L−1) resulted in a still efficient but slower process: the elimination capacity and the initial degradation rate decreased to, respectively, 11 mg phenol removed∙gVSS−1 d−1 and 154 mg L−1 d−1. As revealed by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis, the increase of phenol concentration induced level-dependent structural modifications of the community composition which suggest an adaptation process. The increase of phenol concentration from 120 to 800 mg L−1 had little effect on the community structure, while it involved drastic structural changes when increasing from 800 to 1200 mg L−1, including a strong community structure shift, suggesting the specialization of the community through the emergence and selection of most adapted phylotypes. The thresholds of structural and functional disturbances were similar, suggesting the correlation of degradation performance and community structure. The Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) confirmed that the ASBR functional performance was essentially driven by specific community traits. Under the highest feeding concentration, the most abundant ribotype probably involved in successful phenol degradation at 1200 mg L−1 was affiliated to the Anaerolineaceae family. •Phenol degradation rate not was influenced by the presence of co-substrate.•In batch assays, adaptation occurred after three successive phenol additions.•The ASBR maintained high elimination capacity (EC) up to 800 mg L−1.•Highest phenol concentration involved strong structural shifts.•Community structure was the major factor driving the ASBR performance.
ISSN:0043-1354
1879-2448
DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2013.09.004