On-site blackwater treatment fosters microbial groups and functions to efficiently and robustly recover carbon and nutrients

Eiko E. Kuramae*, Mauricio R. Dimitrov, Gustavo H.R. da Silva, Adriano R. Lucheta, Lucas W. Mendes, Ronildson L. Luz, Louise E.M. Vet, Tania V. Fernandes

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Wastewater is considered a renewable resource water and energy. An advantage of decentralized sanitation systems is the separation of the blackwater (BW) stream, contaminated with human pathogens, from the remaining household water. However, the composition and functions of the microbial community in BW are not known. In this study, we used shotgun metagenomics to assess the dynamics of microbial community structure and function throughout a new BW anaerobic digestion system installed at The Netherlands Institute of Ecology. Samples from the influent (BW), primary effluent (anaerobic digested BW), sludge and final effluent of the pilot upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and microalgae pilot tubular photobioreactor (PBR) were analyzed. Our results showed a decrease in microbial richness and diversity followed by a decrease in functional complexity and co-occurrence along the different modules of the bioreactor. The microbial diversity and function decrease were reflected both changes in substrate composition and wash conditions. Our wastewater treatment system also decreased microbial functions related to pathogenesis. In summary, the new sanitation system studied here fosters microbial groups and functions that allow the system to efficiently and robustly recover carbon and nutrients while reducing pathogenic groups, ultimately generating a final effluent safe for discharge and reuse.

Original languageEnglish
Article number75
Pages (from-to)1-14
JournalMicroorganisms
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding: This research was supported by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) under grant number 729.004.003; São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) under grant number 2013/50351-4; Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) under grant number 206884/2014-1; CAPES under grant number CSF-PVE’s—99999.008090/2015-07; CAPES/Nuffic under grant number NUFFIC 0622/2014. Publication number 7124 of The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW).

Funding Information:
This research was supported by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) under grant number 729.004.003; S?o Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) under grant number 2013/50351-4; Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) under grant number 206884/2014-1; CAPES under grant number CSF-PVE?s?99999.008090/2015-07; CAPES/Nuffic under grant number NUFFIC 0622/2014. Publication number 7124 of The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the authors. Li-censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

Funding

Funding: This research was supported by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) under grant number 729.004.003; São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) under grant number 2013/50351-4; Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) under grant number 206884/2014-1; CAPES under grant number CSF-PVE’s—99999.008090/2015-07; CAPES/Nuffic under grant number NUFFIC 0622/2014. Publication number 7124 of The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW). This research was supported by The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) under grant number 729.004.003; S?o Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) under grant number 2013/50351-4; Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) under grant number 206884/2014-1; CAPES under grant number CSF-PVE?s?99999.008090/2015-07; CAPES/Nuffic under grant number NUFFIC 0622/2014. Publication number 7124 of The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW).

Keywords

  • Blackwater microbiome
  • Chlorella sorokiniana
  • Nitrogen
  • Phosphorus
  • Shotgun metagenomics

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