Abstract
This study investigates the microbial community composition in the biofilms grown on two different support media in fixed biofilm reactors for aerobic wastewater treatment, using next generation sequencing (NGS) technology. The chemical composition of the new type of support medium (TDR) was found to be quite different from the conventionally used support medium (stone). The analysis of 16S rRNA gene fragments recovered from the laboratory scale biofilm system show that biofilm support media and temperature conditions influence bacterial community structure and composition. Greater bacterial diversity was observed under each condition, primarily due to the large number of sequences available and sustenance of rare species. There were 6 phyla found, with the highest relative abundance shown by the phylum Proteobacteria (52.71%) followed by Bacteroidetes (33.33%), Actinobacteria (4.65%), Firmicutes, Verrucomicrobia (3.1%) and Chloroflex (>1%). The dataset showed 17 genera of bacterial populations to be commonly shared under all conditions, suggesting the presence of a core microbial community in the biofilms for wastewater treatment. However, some genera in the biofilms on TDR were observed in high proportions, which may be attributed to its chemical composition, explaining the improved level of wastewater treatment. The findings show that the structure of microbial communities in biofilm systems for wastewater treatment is affected by the properties of support matrix.
Highlights
Biological wastewater treatment systems play an important role in improving water quality and human health worldwide
This study investigates the microbial community composition in the biofilms grown on two different support media in fixed biofilm reactors for aerobic wastewater treatment, using generation sequencing (NGS) technology
Some genera in the biofilms on tyre-derived rubber (TDR) were observed in high proportions, which may be attributed to its chemical composition, explaining the improved level of wastewater treatment
Summary
Biological wastewater treatment systems play an important role in improving water quality and human health worldwide. The aim of this study was to provide new knowledge and insight into the structure and composition of bacterial communities found on a commonly used natural support media, stones (ST), and on a synthetic medium, tyre-derived rubber (TDR), during real wastewater treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the rst application of NGS to characterize and compare bio lm samples on different types of media used in bioreactors for wastewater treatment Such information is important for the best operation, transformed engineering design, management of the FBR technology, and the selection of most suitable bio lm support media for wastewater treatment in the areas with higher temperature conditions in the developing countries
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