An emerging unrated mobile reservoir for antibiotic resistant genes: Does transportation matter to the spread.

The regional distribution of antibiotic resistance genes has been caused by the use and preference of antibiotics. Not only environmental factors, but also the population movement associated with transportation development might have had a great impact, but yet less is known regarding this issue. This research study has investigated and reported that the high-speed railway train was a possible mobile reservoir of bacteria with antibiotic resistance, based on the occurrence, diversity, and abundance of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and mobile gene elements (MGEs) in untreated train wastewater.

Pilot-scale demonstration of one-stage partial nitritation/anammox process to treat wastewater from a coal to ethylene glycol (CtEG) plant.

One-stage partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) process has been recognized as a sustainable technology to treat various domestic and industrial wastewater, due to its low aeration consumption and chemical dosage. However, there is no study to investigate the feasibility of PN/A to treat coal to ethylene glycol (CtEG) wastewater yet, which contains very complex and toxic compounds including ammonium, ethylene glycol, methanol and phenolic. This study for the first time achieved stable one-stage PN/A process in a pilot-scale integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) reactor treating real wastewater produced from a CtEG plant.

In-sewer stability of selected analgesics and their metabolites.

Understanding the in-sewer stability of analgesic biomarkers is important for interpreting wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) data to estimate community-wide analgesic drugs consumption. The in-sewer stability of a suite of 19 analgesics and their metabolites was assessed using lab-scale sewer reactors. Target biomarkers were spiked into wastewater circulating in simulated gravity, rising main and control (no biofilm) sewer reactors.

Light Irradiation Enables Rapid Start-Up of Nitritation through Suppressing Gene Expression and Stimulating Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria.

Nitritation facilitates the application of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox)-based processes for cost-efficient nitrogen removal from wastewater. This study proposed light irradiation as a novel strategy to rapidly start up nitritation by stimulating both the activities and growth of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) while suppressing that of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Batch assays and kinetic model jointly suggested that AOB activity presented an initial increase followed by a decline while NOB decreased continuously throughout the light energy densities applied.

The storage compounds associated with Tetrasphaera PAO metabolism and the relationship between diversity and P removal.

In enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR), Tetrasphaera can potentially be an abundant and important polyphosphate accumulating organism (PAO), however ongoing questions remain concerning its storage compounds, phosphorus (P) removal capabilities and metabolic behaviour. This study investigated each of these points in an enriched Tetrasphaera culture (95% biovolume). The enriched Tetrasphaera culture fermented amino acids, while also converting and storing diverse amino acids as aspartic and glutamic acid within cells.

Interactions of heavy metal elements across sediment-water interface in Lake Jiaogang.

Heavy metal pollution in lake systems has arisen plenty of threats for public health because of its high toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Whereas heavy metals are inextricably linked with bioavailability in pore water and overlying water. Lake Jiaogang is classified as an important water-carrying lake situated in the northern part of the Anhui Province China.

Evaluation of the joint effects of Cu, Zn and Mn on completely autotrophic nitrogen-removal over nitrite (CANON) process.

The completely autotrophic nitrogen-removal over nitrite (CANON) process has merits in energy saving and consumption reducing, thus being considered as an attractive alternative over the common denitrification technology. In this study, the effects of three common heavy metals (Cu, Zn and Mn) in wastewater to the CANON process were evaluated comprehensively. A central composite design with response surface methodology was utilized to investigate the joint effect of these three metal ions on the nitrogen removal performance of CANON process.

Characterizing the premise plumbing microbiome in both water and biofilms of a 50-year-old building.

The premise plumbing portion of drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) has several characteristics that may favor microbial growth in the form of biofilms. These microbial communities are implicated as infectious sources for the spread of opportunistic waterborne pathogens by supporting their complex ecology and transmission through DWDS outlets to susceptible individuals. However, there is limited understanding of the drinking water biofilms in real premise plumbing networks due to challenges with accessibility.

Insights of metallic nanoparticles and ions in accelerating the bacterial uptake of antibiotic resistance genes.

The increasing release of nanomaterials has attracted significant concerns for human and environmental health. Similarly, the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health crisis affecting approximately 700,000 people a year. However, a knowledge gap persists between the spread of AMR and nanomaterials.

Comparative life cycle assessment of sewer corrosion control by iron salts: Suitability analysis and strategy optimization.

Sewer deterioration caused by sulfide-induced concrete corrosion is spreading worldwide. Within the strategies to overcome this problem, dosing iron salts into the pipeline has attracted more attention. However, there is not yet research that evaluates this method whether it is overall environmentally friendly.

Performance and microbial community dynamics relationship within a step-feed anoxic/oxic/anoxic/oxic process (SF-A/O/A/O) for coking wastewater treatment.

A step-feed anoxic/oxic/anoxic/oxic (SF-A/O/A/O) was developed and successfully applied to full-scale coking wastewater treatment. The performance and microbial community were evaluated and systematically compared with the anoxic/oxic/oxic (A/O/O) process. SF-A/OA/O process exhibited efficient removal of COD, NH-N, TN, phenols, and cyanide with corresponding average effluent concentrations of 317.

Accumulibacter diversity at the sub-clade level impacts enhanced biological phosphorus removal performance.

Accumulibacter is a well-known group of organisms, typically considered to be polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs), but potentially capable of glycogen accumulating organism (GAO) metabolism under limiting influent phosphate levels. Metabolic features of Accumulibacter are typically linked to its phylogenetic identity at the Type or clade level, though it is unclear the extent to which Accumulibacter diversity can correlate with its capacity to perform P removal. This paper investigates the fine-scale diversity of Accumulibacter and its link with enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) performance under various operating conditions, to understand the conditions and community structure leading to successful and unsuccessful EBPR operation.

Insights into Nitrous Oxide Mitigation Strategies in Wastewater Treatment and Challenges for Wider Implementation.

Nitrous oxide (NO) emissions account for the majority of the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Many NO mitigation strategies have since been developed while a holistic view is still missing. This article reviews the state-of-the-art of NO mitigation studies in wastewater treatment.

Toxicity Assessment of Nano-ZnO Exposure on the Human Intestinal Microbiome, Metabolic Functions, and Resistome Using an In Vitro Colon Simulator.

Nano-ZnO, as a commonly used nanomaterial, has been found in drinking water, food, and medicine; therefore, it poses potential health risks via the digestion system. However, little is known about the toxicity of nano-ZnO on the human intestinal microbiome, which plays critical roles in human health. This study comprehensively investigated the impact of nano-ZnO on the human gut microbiome, metabolic functions, and resistome using an in vitro colon simulator.

Chlorine disinfection facilitates natural transformation through ROS-mediated oxidative stress.

The bacterial infection that involves antimicrobial resistance is a rising global threat to public health. Chlorine-based water disinfection processes can inactivate antibiotic resistant bacteria. However, at the same time, these processes may cause the release of antibiotic resistance genes into the water as free DNA, and consequently increase the risk to disseminate antibiotic resistance via natural transformation.

Simultaneous removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, and micropollutants by a modified photo-Fenton process.

Although photo-driven advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been developed to treat wastewater, few studies have investigated the feasibility of AOPs to simultaneously remove antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and micropollutants (MPs). This study employed a modified photo-Fenton process using ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) to chelate iron(III), thus maintaining the reaction pH in a neutral range. Simultaneous removal of ARB and associated extracellular (e-ARGs) and intracellular ARGs (i-ARGs), was assessed by bacterial cell culture, qPCR and atomic force microscopy.

An evolved native microalgal consortium-snow system for the bioremediation of biogas and centrate wastewater: Start-up, optimization and stabilization.

It is necessary to develop sustainable technologies for centrate wastewater (CW) and biogas treatment from sludge anaerobic digestion (AD) systems in an environmentally friendly and economical manner. The microalgae-based bioremediation approach presents a competitive alternative due to its capacity for nutrient recovery and carbon sequestration. However, process instabilities and operating challenges limit its development and implementation largely due to the complexities in the CW and biogas.

Transformation of phthalates and their metabolites in wastewater under different sewer conditions.

There is an increasing demand to monitor the human exposure to phthalates, and a few studies have used phthalate metabolites in wastewater to estimate exposure to these chemicals in the population. However, it is suspected that the stability of phthalates and phthalate metabolites during sewer transport can influence the final estimates. In this study, we used laboratory sewer reactors to evaluate the in-sewer transformation of phthalates and their metabolites, and deconjugation of phthalate metabolites.

Single-step dynamic dewatering of microalgae from dilute suspensions using flocculant assisted filtration.

Background: Dewatering constitutes a major challenge to the production of microalgae, accounting for 20-30% of the product cost. This presents a setback for the applicability of microalgae in the development of several sustainable products. This study presents an investigation into the dynamic dewatering of microalgae in a combined flocculation-filtration process.

Transcriptomics Uncovers the Response of Anammox Bacteria to Dissolved Oxygen Inhibition and the Subsequent Recovery Mechanism.

Understanding the recovery of anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacteria after inhibition by dissolved oxygen (DO) is critical for the successful applications of anammox-based processes. Therefore, the effects of oxygen exposure (2 mg L DO for 90 min) and subsequent recovery treatments [N purging or nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) addition] on the activity and gene expression in a enrichment culture were examined. Combining the self-organizing map clustering and enrichment analysis, we proposed the oxidative stress response of anammox bacteria based on the existing concepts of oxidative stress in microbes: the DO exposure triggered a stringent response in , which downregulated the transcription levels of genes involved in the central metabolism and diverted energy to a flagellar assembly and metal transport modules; these changes possibly promoted survival during the inhibition of anammox activity.

Structural changes in model compounds of sludge extracellular polymeric substances caused by exposure to free nitrous acid.

Previous studies demonstrate that free nitrous acid (FNA i.e. HNO) detaches sewer biofilms, breaks down flocs of waste activated sludge (WAS) and enhances biogas production from WAS.

Salinity effect on freshwater Anammox bacteria: Ionic stress and ion composition.

The biggest challenge to apply Anammox to treat wastewater with elevated salt content is the inhibitory effect of salinity on freshwater Anammox bacteria (FAB). Most of the research into salinity inhibition has focused on the osmotic pressure effect, while the inhibitory effect and its mechanisms induced by ion composition are poorly understood. In this study, the individual and combined effect of NaCl, KCl and NaSO on FAB (>99% belonging to Ca.

Structural Changes in Cell-Wall and Cell-Membrane Organic Materials Following Exposure to Free Nitrous Acid.

Previous studies demonstrate that free nitrous acid (FNA, i.e., HNO) is biocidal for a range of microorganisms.

National wastewater reconnaissance of artificial sweetener consumption and emission in Australia.

Artificial sweeteners are used as sugar substitutes in our daily lives yet consumption and release patterns are currently unknown in Australia. The spatial distribution of artificial sweetener consumption and WWTP effluent emission in Australia was estimated by wastewater analysis. Wastewater influent and effluent samples were collected from 69 WWTPs across Australia during the week of the 2016 Australian census.

Assessing the potential for up-cycling recovered resources from anaerobic digestion through microbial protein production.

Anaerobic digesters produce biogas, a mixture of predominantly CH and CO , which is typically incinerated to recover electrical and/or thermal energy. In a context of circular economy, the CH and CO could be used as chemical feedstock in combination with ammonium from the digestate. Their combination into protein-rich bacterial, used as animal feed additive, could contribute to the ever growing global demand for nutritive protein sources and improve the overall nitrogen efficiency of the current agro- feed/food chain.