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Physiological stabilization, community characterization, and nitrogen degradation dynamics in an anammox consortium from estuarine sediments
Author(s) -
Ronzón Bravo Jaime J.,
María CuervoLópez Flor,
Andrade Torres Antonio,
ArteagaVázquez Mario A.,
Martínez Hernández Sergio
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
water environment research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.356
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1554-7531
pISSN - 1061-4303
DOI - 10.1002/wer.1466
Subject(s) - anammox , degradation (telecommunications) , estuary , environmental science , nitrogen , environmental chemistry , oceanography , environmental engineering , chemistry , denitrification , geology , engineering , denitrifying bacteria , organic chemistry , telecommunications
Abstract Anammox is a cost‐effective and sustainable process for nitrogen removal; however, the production of a physiologically stable inoculum is a critical point in the start‐up process. In this work, estuarine sediments were used as incubation seeds to obtain cultures with stable anammox activity. Assays were performed in batch cultures fed with stoichiometric amounts of ammonium and nitrite, analyzing physiological response variables and the microbial community. Estuarine sediments showed a stable anammox process after 90 days, consuming ammonium and nitrite simultaneously with concomitant generation of N 2 and nitrate in stoichiometric amounts. In kinetic assays, substrates were fully consumed after 210 hr, exhibiting N 2 and nitrate yields of 0.85 and 0.10, respectively. The microbial community analysis using PCR‐DGGE indicated the presence of uncultured anammox bacteria and members of the genus Candidatus Jettenia . The results evidenced the achievement of anammox cultures, although their start‐up and kinetic characteristics were less favorable than those recorded in man‐made systems. Practitioner points Estuarine sediments were used as incubation seeds to obtain cultures with stable anammox activity. The sediments were fed with stoichiometric amounts of ammonium and nitrite, analyzing the physiological response variables and the microbial community. Sediments showed a stable anammox process after 90 days, converting the substrates into N 2 and nitrate according to stoichiometry. Anammox cultures were achieved although their start‐up and kinetic characteristics were less favorable than those recorded in man‐made systems. Microbial community analysis using PCR‐DGGE indicated the presence of uncultured anaerobic ammonia‐oxidizing bacterium and members of genus Candidatus Jettenia .