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Sulfamethoxazole removal and ammonium conversion in microalgae consortium: Physiological responses and microbial
Iyobosa Eheneden1, Rongchang Wang1, Gaoxiang Chen1
1Institute of Biofilm Technology, Key Laboratory of Yangtze Aquatic Environment (MOE), State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|September 30, 2024
Summary
This study shows microalgae can remove sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and nutrients from wastewater. SMX enhanced ammonium removal and microalgae growth, with biodegradation as the primary removal mechanism.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Wastewater Treatment
Background:
- Antibiotics like sulfamethoxazole (SMX) are emerging contaminants in wastewater.
- Microalgae consortia show potential for bioremediation of pollutants.
- Understanding microalgae response to SMX is crucial for wastewater treatment applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of a microalgae (Mychonastes sp.) consortium for simultaneous nutrient and SMX removal.
- To assess the impact of varying SMX concentrations on microalgae performance and microbial community structure.
- To elucidate the mechanisms of SMX degradation and microalgae response to SMX exposure.
Main Methods:
- Cultivation of a microalgae consortium in ammonia-rich wastewater with SMX concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 μg/L.
- Monitoring of ammonium nitrogen removal, SMX degradation efficiency, and biomass/lipid productivity.
- Analysis of chlorophyll content, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, and antioxidant enzyme activities.
- Assessment of microbial community structure using Shannon indices and relative abundance analysis.
Main Results:
- SMX addition (100-1000 μg/L) improved ammonium removal and enhanced microalgae biomass and lipid productivity.
- High SMX removal efficiency (96%) was achieved at 100 μg/L SMX, with biodegradation as the dominant mechanism (78% at 800 μg/L SMX).
- SMX exposure increased EPS production and antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, POD, MDA), while decreasing catalase (CAT).
- Mychonastes sp. relative abundance increased significantly with SMX concentration, altering the bacterial community structure and favoring adapted species.
Conclusions:
- Microalgae consortia can effectively remove SMX and nutrients simultaneously from wastewater.
- SMX can stimulate microalgae growth and improve nutrient removal, indicating a potential for enhanced bioremediation.
- The microalgae consortium exhibits adaptive responses to SMX, including increased EPS production and antioxidant defense mechanisms.
- This study demonstrates the feasibility of using microalgae systems for treating complex wastewater contaminated with antibiotics.
