Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) biodegradation in acidogenic systems: One step further on where and who

Author(s)

Macedo, Williane Vieira ^{[1, 2]} ; Poulsen, Jan Struckmann ^[2] ; Duarte Oliveira, Guilherme Henrique ^[1] ; Nielsen, Jeppe Lund ^[2] ; Zaiat, Marcelo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Lab Biol Proc, Sao Carlos Sch Engn, 1100 Joao Dagnone Ave, BR-13563120 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Aalborg Univ, Ctr Microbial Communities, Dept Chem & Biosci, Fredrik Bajers Vej 71, DK-9220 Aalborg - Denmark

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Science of The Total Environment; v. 808, FEB 20 2022.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The occurrence of brominated flame retardants such as Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in water bodies poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems. Degradation of TBBPA in wastewater has successfully been demonstrated to occur through anaerobic digestion (AD), although the involved microorganisms and the conditions favouring the conversion remains unclear. In this study, it was observed that bioconversion of TBBPA did not occur during the hydrolytic stage of the AD, but during the strictly fermentative stage. Bioconversion occurred in hydrolytic-acidogenic as well as in strictly acidogenic continuous bioreactors. This indicates that the microorganisms that degrade TBBPA benefit from the electron flux taking place during glycolysis and further transformations into short-chain fatty acids. The degradation kinetics of TBBPA was inversely proportional to the complexity of the wastewater as the apparent kinetics constants were 2.11, 1.86, and 0.52 h(-1).gVSS(-1) for glucose, starch, and domestic sewage as carbon source, respectively. Additionally, the micropollutant loading rate relative to the overall organic loading rate is of major importance during the investigation of cometabolic transformations. The long-term exposure to TBBPA at environmentally realistic concentrations did not cause any major changes in the microbiome composition. Multivariate statistical analysis of the evolvement of the microbiome throughout the incubation suggested that Enterobacter spp. and Clostridium spp. are the key players in TBBPA degradation. Finally, a batch enrichment was conducted, which showed that concentrations of 0.5 mg.L-1 or higher are detrimental to Clostridium spp., even though these organisms are putative TBBPA degraders. The Clostridium genus was outcompeted by the Enterobacter and Klebsiella genera, hereby highlighting the effect of unrealistic concentrations frequently used in culture-dependent studies on the microbial community composition. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/17744-6 - Combined system for the treatment of Tetrabromobisphenol a (TBBPA) by anaerobic digestion and advanced oxidative processes
• Grantee: Williane Vieira Macêdo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 20/11984-5 - Tebrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) biodegradation by complex microbial communities: uncovering metabolic pathways by meta-omics analysis
• Grantee: Williane Vieira Macêdo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• 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