Long-term impact of nano zero-valent iron on methanogenic activity, microbial community structure, and transcription activity in anaerobic wastewater treatment system

Nano zero-valent iron (NZVI) is commonly used in industrial wastewater treatment. However, its long-term impact mechanisms of metabolization in anaerobic systems are not well understood. This study investigated the effects of long-term and continuous addition of NZVI on methanogenic activity, microbial community, and transcription activity. The results demonstrated that low levels of NZVI (1000 mg/L) induced inhibition of methanogenesis after 80 days, while high levels of NZVI (5000 mg/L) immediately led to a sharp decrease of cumulative methane production and chemical oxygen demand removal, which arrived at a steady state (14.4 % of control and 17 %) after 30 days. NZVI adversely affected cell viability, adenosine triphosphate production, and fatty acid evolution of cell membranes played a crucial role in resisting chronic NZVI toxicity. Moreover, high NZVI levels hindered the transcription of key enzymes CoM and mcrA, while low NZVI levels maintained its high CoM and mcrA activity, but down-regulated the transcription of cdh and hdr. Besides, amino-utilizing bacteria was reduced under the high NZVI concentration, while low NZVI changed dominant genus with potential protein hydrolysis function from Candidatus Cloacamonas to Sedimentibacter. These results provide a guideline for proper NZVI utilization in wastewater treatment.