Development of four-stage moving bed biofilm reactor train with a pre-denitrification configuration for the removal of thiocyanate and cyanate.

Two trains (A and B) of four-stage moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) were developed for the degradation of thiocyanate (SCN(-)), cyanate (OCN(-)) and ammonia (NH3). A pre-denitrification configuration was established in the first-stage reactor of the B train using SCN(-) and OCN(-) as the sole carbon source. SCN(-), OCN(-) and NH3 were completely removed in both trains.

Biodegradation of endocrine disruptors in solid-liquid two-phase partitioning systems by enrichment cultures.

Naturally occurring and synthetic estrogens and other molecules from industrial sources strongly contribute to the endocrine disruption of urban wastewater. Because of the presence of these molecules in low but effective concentrations in wastewaters, these endocrine disruptors (EDs) are only partially removed after most wastewater treatments, reflecting the presence of these molecules in rivers in urban areas. The development of a two-phase partitioning bioreactor (TPPB) might be an effective strategy for the removal of EDs from wastewater plant effluents.

Isolation of estrogen-degrading bacteria from an activated sludge bioreactor treating swine waste, including a strain that converts estrone to β-estradiol.

An estrogen-degrading bacterial consortium from a swine wastewater biotreatment was enriched in the presence of low concentrations (1 mg/L) of estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (βE2), and equol (EQO) as sole carbon sources. The consortium removed 99% ± 1% of these three estrogens in 48 h. Estrogen removal occurred even in the presence of an ammonia monooxygenase inhibitor, suggesting that nitrifiers are not involved.

Construction and functional screening of a metagenomic library using a T7 RNA polymerase-based expression cosmid vector.

The metagenomic approach has greatly accelerated the discovery of new enzymes by giving access to the genetic potential of microorganisms from various environments. Function-based screening depends on adequate expression of the foreign genes in the heterologous host, which can be challenging in large-insert libraries. In this study, the shuttle cosmid vector pFX583 was used for the construction and screening of a metagenomic library.

Impact of an aerobic thermophilic sequencing batch reactor on antibiotic-resistant anaerobic bacteria in swine waste.

The introduction of antibiotics to animal feed has contributed to the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in concentrated animal feeding operations. The aim of this work was to characterize the impact of an aerobic thermophilic biotreatment on anaerobic antibiotic-resistant bacteria in swine waste. Despite 162- to 6,166-fold reduction in antibiotic-resistant populations enumerated in the swine waste at 25 degrees C and 37 degrees C, resistant populations remained significant (10(4) to 10(5) most probable number per milliliter) in the treated swine waste.