Anaerobic co-digestion of commercial laundry wastewater and domestic sewage in a pilot-scale EGSB reactor: The influence of surfactant concentration on microbial diversity

Author(s)

Centurion, V. B. ^[1] ; Moura, A. G. L. ^[2] ; Delforno, T. P. ^[1] ; Okada, D. Y. ^[3] ; Dos Santos, V. P. ^[1] ; Varesche, M. B. A. ^[2] ; Oliveira, V. M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Campinas Univ, UNICAMP, Res Ctr Chem Biol & Agr CPQBA, Microbial Resources Div, BR-13081970 Paulinia, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo EESC USP, Engn Sch Sao Carlos, Dept Hydraul & Sanitat, Lab Biol Proc, Campus 2, BR-13563120 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Campinas Univ, UNICAMP, Div Technol Environm Sanitat, Sch Technol, BR-13484332 Limeira, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION; v. 127, p. 77-86, FEB 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 14

Abstract

Different molecular tools (PCR-DGGE, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and sequencing of the bamA gene) were used to assess and compare the microbial diversity in a pilot-scale expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor used for the anaerobic co-digestion of commercial laundry wastewater and domestic sewage and subjected to increasing concentrations of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS). Using PCR-DGGE, a microbial stratification along the sludge bed of the reactor was observed. When analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the samples exhibited high microbial diversity and richness, with the lowest Shannon index obtained for the highest concentration of surfactant. For the Bacteria domain, the genera Bellilinea, Syntrophus, Syntrophobacter, Cytophaga, Bacteroides and Synergistes were the most abundant, whereas for the Archaea domain, the genera Methanosaeta and Methanolinea were predominant. The Pseudomonas genus was the only genus that was predicted to be involved in all steps of surfactant degradation. Additionally, bamA gene sequencing indicated the presence of the species Syntrophorhabdus aromaticivorans, Desulfosarcina cetonica and Syntrophus aciditrophicus, which have genetic potential for the aromatic ring cleavage under anaerobic conditions. Therefore, despite the high toxicity of LAS under anaerobic conditions, the use of different molecular tools revealed the great diversity and richness of the microbial community from the granular biomass of the EGSB pilot reactor, indicating that a microbial consortium is necessary for complete LAS degradation. Additionally, the sequencing analysis of the batnA gene represents a step forward in the understanding of the core microbial community involved in aromatic ring cleavage for anaerobic digestion of real laundry wastewater, which may guide future studies. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/06246-7 - Biorefinery concept applied to biological wastewater treatment plants: environmental pollution control coupled with material and energy recovery
• Grantee: Marcelo Zaiat
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/11948-3 - Effect of las loading rate on its removal efficiency by co-digestion of commercial laundry wastewater and domestic sewage in a pilot scale EGSB reactor
• Grantee: Alana Gandra Lima de Moura
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 15/08219-7 - Evaluation of microbial diversity of EGSB reactor on a pilot scale for the removal of anionic surfactant in wastewater commercial laundry diluited in sewage
• Grantee: Victor Borin Centurion Biruel
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 14/16426-0 - Metagenomics of microbiota of anaerobic reactors applied in anionic surfactant degradation in commercial laundry wastewater
• Grantee: Tiago Palladino Delforno
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral