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Updated: Jan 25, 2026

Biology of Microbial Communities - Interview
Published on: May 28, 2007
Long-term impacts of carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes on the performance, microbial enzymatic
Bingrui Ma1, Feng Gao2, Naling Yu1
1Key Lab of Marine Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China.
Abstract:
The performance, microbial community and enzymatic activity of sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were evaluated under long-term exposure of 0, 10 and 30 mg/L carboxyl functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH). The presence of 10 mg/L MWCNTs-COOH displayed no adverse impacts on the COD and NH4+-N removal of SBR, whereas 30 mg/L MWCNTs-COOH declined the COD and NH4+-N removal. MWCNTs-COOH inhibited the denitrifying process and led to the accumulation of effluent NO2--N concentration. The inhibition of MWCNTs-COOH on the oxygen utilization rate, nitrogen removal rate and enzymatic activity of activated sludge gradually enhanced with the increase of operating time and influent MWCNTs-COOH concentration. MWCNTs-COOH stimulated more reactive oxygen species production and lactate dehydrogenase release, which might affect the microbial physiological functions and morphology. The microbial diversity and richness was declined evidently after long-term exposure of MWCNTs-COOH. The relative abundance of nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria showed some changes under MWCNTs-COOH stress.
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