Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 27, 2025

A Sensitive Visual Method for the Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide Producing Bacteria
Published on: June 27, 2022
Effect of ibuprofen on the sulfur autotrophic denitrification process and microbial toxic response mechanism
Nengyao Xu1, Haibo Li2, Tingting Guo3
1School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Taizhou University, Taizhou 318000, Zhejiang, China; School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China.
Abstract:
The effect of ibuprofen (IBU) on the sulfur autotrophic denitrification (SAD) process and microbial toxic response mechanism were investigated. Nitrate removal performance was inhibited by high IBU concentrations (10 and 50 mg/L), and the effect of low IBU concentrations (1 mg/L) on nitrate removal performance was negligible. The low IBU concentration induced basal oxidative stress for microbial self-protection, while the high IBU concentration induced high-intensity oxidative stress to damage the microbial cell membrane structure. Electrochemical characterization showed that the low IBU concentration stimulated the electron transfer efficiency, which was inhibited at the high IBU concentration. Moreover, the variation content of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and nitrate reductase showed that metabolic activity increased at low IBU concentrations and decreased at high IBU concentrations during the sulfur autotrophic nitrate reduction process. This study proposed the hormesis toxic response mechanism of the SAD process to IBU exposure.
Related Concept Videos
Sulfur Assimilation
Electrophilic Aromatic Substitution: Sulfonation of Benzene
Bioremediation
Microbial Nutrition
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Carbon-dioxide Fixation

