The Impact of Silver Nanoparticles on Bacterial Aerobic Nitrate Reduction Process

Abstract

Due to the effective antimicrobial properties of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), these particles are receiving an extensive interest for applying in wide range of consumer products and water purification systems. Entering the Ag-based material in wastewater system can influence the biological cycle such as nitrogen. Denitrification as a part of nitrogen cycle is an effective biological process in wastewater systems which can be affected by Ag NPs. The objective of this research was to study the impact of Ag NPs on aerobic nitrate reduction. We showed that Rhizobium sp and Azotobacter sp isolates were able to reduce nitrate aerobically. Adding 0.2 ppm of Ag NPs in culture medium of Azotobacter PHB+ enhanced the of the nitrate reduction activity about 20% and Ag NPs at this concentration has no significant effect on the nitrate reduction activity of periplasmic extracts of the selected isolates in aerobic conditions. Thus, entering certain ation of Ag NPs in environments has no significant impact on microbial aerobic denitrification as an important part of nitrogen cycle.