Abstract
Bioaugmentation with genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) in a membrane bioreactor (MBR) for enhanced removal of recalcitrant pollutants was explored. An atrazine-degrading genetically engineered microorganism (GEM) with green fluorescent protein was inoculated into an MBR and the effects of such a bioaugmentation strategy on atrazine removal were investigated. The results show that atrazine removal was improved greatly in the bioaugmented MBR compared with a control system. After a start-up period of 6 days, average 94.7% of atrazine was removed in bioaugmented MBR when atrazine concentration of influent was 14.5 mg/L. The volumetric removal rates increased linearly followed by atrazine loading increase and the maximum was 65.5 mg/(L·d). No negative effects were found on COD removal although carbon oxidation activity of bioaugmented sludge was lower than that of common sludge. After inoculation, adsorption to sludge flocs was favorable for GEM survival. The GEM population size initially decreased shortly and then was kept constant at about 104–105 CFU/mL. Predation of micro-organisms played an important role in the decay of the GEM population. GEM leakage from MBR was less than 102 CFU/mL initially and was then undetectable. In contrast, in a conventionally activated sludge bioreactor (CAS), sludge bulking occurred possibly due to atrazine exposure, resulting in bioaugmentation failure and serious GEM leakage. So MBR was superior to CAS in atrazine bioaugmentation treatment using GEM.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
van Limbergen H, Top E M, Verstraete W. Bioaugmentation in activated sludge: Current features and future perspectives. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 1998, 50: 16–23
Mcclure N C, Weightman J, Fry J C. Survival of Pseudomonas putida UWC1 containing cloned catabolic genes in a model activated sludge unit. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1989, 55: 2627–2634
Fujita M, Ike M, Hashimoto S. Feasibility of wastewater treatment using genetically engineered microorganisms. Water Res, 1991, 25: 979–984
Nublein K, Maris D, Timmis K N, Dwyer D F. Expression and transfer of engineered catabolic pathways harbored by Pseudomonas spp. introduced into activated sludge microcosms. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1992, 58: 3380–3386
Fujita M, Ike M, Kamiya T. Accelerated phenol removal by amplifying the gene expression with a recombinant plasmid encoding catechol-2, 3-oxygenase. Water Res, 1993, 27: 9–13
Fujita M, Ike M, Uesugi K. Operation parameters affecting the survival of genetically engineered microorganisms in activated sludge processes. Water Res, 1994, 28: 1667–1672
Bryers J D, Sharp R R. Retention and expression of recombinant plasmids in suspended and biofilm bound bacteria degrading trichloroethene (TCE). Water Sci Technol, 1997, 36: 1–8
Erb R W, Eichner C A, Wagner D I, Timmis K N. Bioprotection of microbial communities from toxic phenol mixtures by a genetically designed Pseudomonas. Nature Biotechnol, 1997, 15: 378–382
Soda S, Ike M, Fujita M. Effects of inoculation of a genetically engineered bacterium on performance and indigenous bacteria of a sequencing batch activated sludge process treating phenol. J Ferment Bioeng, 1998, 86: 90–96
Ravatn R, Zehnder A J B, van der Meer J R. Low-frequency horizontal transfer of an element containing the chlorocatechol degradation genes from Pseudomonas sp. strain B13 to Pseudomonas putida F1 and to indigenous bacteria in laboratory-scale activated-sludge microcosms. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1998, 64: 2162–2132
Boon N, Top E M, Verstraete W, Siciliao S D. Bioaugmentation as a tool to protect the structure and function of an activated sludge microbial community against a 3-chloroaniline shock load. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2003, 69: 1511–1520
Gentry T J, Rensing C, Pepper I L. New approaches for bioaugmentation as a remediation technology. Crit Rev Environ Sci Technol, 2004, 34: 447–494
Top E M, Springael D, Boon N. Catabolic mobile genetic elements and their potential use in bioaugmentation of polluted soil and water. FEMS Microbiol Ecol, 2002, 42: 199–208
Ghyoot W, Springael D, Dong Q. Bioaugmentation with the clc-element carrying Pseudomonas putida BN210 in a membrane separation bioreactor. Water Sci Technol, 2000, 41: 279–286
Springael D, Peys K, Ryngaert A. Community shifts in a seeded 3-chlorobenzoate degrading membrane biofilm reactor: Indications for involvement of in situ horizontal transfer of the clc-element from inoculum to contaminant bacteria. Environ Microbiol, 2002, 4: 70–80
Steinberg C E W, Lorenz R, Spieser O H. Effects of atrazine on swimming behavior of zebrafish, Brachydanio rerio. Water Res, 1995, 29: 981–985
Cerejeira M J, Viana P, Batista S, Pereira T, Silva E, Valério M J, Ferreira M. Pesticides in Portuguese surface and ground waters. Water Res, 2003, 37: 1055–1063
Rebich R A, Coupe R H, Thurman E M. Herbicide concentrations in the Mississippi River Basin: The importance of chloroacetanilide herbicide degradates. Sci Total Environ, 2004, 321: 189–199
Sánchez-Camazano M, Lorenzo L F, Sánchez-Martín M J. Atrazine and alachlor inputs to surface and ground waters in irrigated corn cultivation areas of Castilla-Leon region, Spain. Environ Monit Assess, 2005, 105: 11–24
Guzzella L, Pozzoni F, Giuliano G. Herbicide contamination of surficial groundwater in Northern Italy. Environ Pollut, 2006, 142: 344–353
Graymore M, Stagnitti F, Allinson G. Impacts of atrazine in aquatic ecosystems. Environ Int, 2001, 26: 483–495
Ren J, Jiang K. Impact of atrazine disposal on the water resources of the Yang River in Zhangjiakou area in China. B Environ Contam Tox, 2002, 68: 893–900
Wackett L P, Sadowsky M J, Martinez B, Shapir N. Biodegradation of atrazine and related s-triazine compounds: From enzymes to field studies. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002, 58: 39–45
De Souza M L, Wackett L P. Cloning, characterization, and expression of a gene region from Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP involved in the dechlorination of atrazine. Appl Environ Microbiol, 1995, 61: 3373–3378
Sambrook J, Maniatis T, Fritsch E F. Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual. New York: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 1989
Huang X, Liu R, Qian Y. Behavior of soluble microbial products in a membrane bioreactor. Process Biochem, 2000, 36: 401–406
State Environmental Protection Administration of China. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 4th ed. Beijing: State Environmental Protection Administration of China, 2002 (in Chinese)
Inamori Y, Murakami K, Sudo R, Kurihara Y. Interaction between GEMs and indigenous microorganisms in aquatic ecosystem. Water Sci Technol, 1996, 34: 397–405
Bryers J D, Sharp R R. Retention and expression of recombinant plasmids in suspended and biofilm bound bacteria degrading trichloroethene (TCE). Water Sci Technol, 1997, 36: 1–8
Bouchez T, Patureau D, Dabert P, Wagner M, Delgeres J P, Moletta R. Successful and unsuccessful bioaugmentation experiments monitored by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Water Sci Technol, 2000, 41: 61–68
Bott T L, Kaplan L A. Autecological properties of 3-chloro-benzoate- degrading bacteria and their population dynamics when introduced into sediments. Microbial Ecol, 2002, 43: 199–216
Protzman R S, Lee P H, Ong S K, Moorman T B. Treatment of formulated atrazine rinsate by Agrobacterium radiobacter strain J14a in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor. Water Res, 1999, 33: 1399–1404
Kontchou C Y, Gschwind N. Biodegradation of s-triazine compounds by a stable mixed bacterial community. Ecotox Environ Safe, 1999, 43: 47–56
Ghosh W R, Philip L. trazine degradation in anaerobic environment by a mixed microbial consortium. Water Res, 2004, 34: 2277–2284
Murakami K, Inamori Y, Sudo R, Kurihara Y. Effect of temperature on prosperity and decay of genetically engineered microorganisms in a microcosm system. Water Sci Technol, 1992, 26: 2165–2168
Nsabinmana E, Bohatier J, Belan A, Pepirr D, Charles L. Effects of the herbicide atrazine on the activated sludge process: Microbiology and functional views. Chmosphere, 1996, 33: 479–494
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Liu, C., Huang, X. Enhanced atrazine removal using membrane bioreactor bioaugmented with genetically engineered microorganism. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. China 2, 452–460 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-008-0050-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-008-0050-8