Abstract

The anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) process is sensitive to environmental pollutants, such as antibiotics. In this study, the harmful effect of tetracycline (TC) on the performance of an anammox reactor and the mitigation of TC inhibition by iron-loaded sludge biochar (Fe-BC) were studied by analyzing extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), microbial community structure and functional genes. The total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal rate of the TC reactor was reduced by 5.86% compared to that of the control group, while that of the TC + Fe-BC reactor improved by 10.19% compared to that of the TC reactor. Adding Fe-BC increased the activity of anammox sludge by promoting the secretion of EPS (including protein, humic acids and c-Cyts). The results of the enzymolysis experiment showed that protein can improve the activity of anammox sludge, while the ability of polysaccharide to improve the activity of anammox was related to the treated enzymes. In addition, Fe-BC alleviated the inhibitory effect of TC by mediating the anammox electron transfer process. Furthermore, Fe-BC increased the absolute abundance of hdh and hzsB by 2.77 and 1.18 times compared to the TC reactor and improved the relative abundance of Candidatus Brocadia in the absence of TC. The addition of Fe-BC is an effective way to alleviate the inhibitory effect of TC on the anammox process.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.