Responses of microalgal-nitrifying granular sludge to cadmium stress

doi:10.19965/j.cnki.iwt.2024-0044

Abstract

Abstract:

To investigate the response of microalgae-nitrifying granular sludge to cadmium stress, a sequencing batch bioreactor was used to cultivate microalgae-nitrifying granular sludge. By adding different concentrations of Cd(Ⅱ) ions to the system, the pollutant removal efficiency, and changes of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS), photosynthetic pigments, and microbial community characteristics at each stage were analyzed. The results showed that granular sludge exhibited good adaptability to 1 mg/L Cd(Ⅱ). During this stage, the EPS in per unit mass of activated sludge increased from 46.2 mg/g to 87.2 mg/g. Cd(Ⅱ) of 5 mg/L inhibited the sludge to a certain extent, while Cd(Ⅱ) of 10 mg/L led to the collapse of the granular sludge system. The relative abundance of Nitrosomonas decreased by 6.3% under Cd(Ⅱ) stress. Microorganisms secreted a large amount of EPS under the stimulation of low concentrations of Cd(Ⅱ), which could effectively alleviate the invasion of Cd(Ⅱ), while high concentrations of Cd(Ⅱ) might break through the defense of EPS, leading to a decrease of microbial activity or even death. The relative abundance of Chlorella and Secenedesmus did not fluctuate significantly, but the content of photosynthetic pigments was negatively correlated with Cd(Ⅱ) concentration. Cd(Ⅱ) might have a greater impact on the photosynthetic capacity of algae, leading to insufficient oxygen supply in the system and affecting the process of nitrification, rather than causing massive algal death.

Key words: heavy metals, nitrosation, granular sludge, extracellular polymeric substances, photosynthetic pigment

摘要：

为探究微藻-亚硝化颗粒污泥在镉胁迫下的响应，采用序批式光生物反应器对微藻-亚硝化颗粒污泥进行培养，向体系内添加不同浓度的Cd（Ⅱ）离子，对各阶段的污染物去除效果、胞外聚合物（EPS）、光合色素以及微生物种群特征的变化进行分析。结果表明，颗粒污泥对1 mg/L的Cd（Ⅱ）表现出较好的适应性，该阶段单位质量活性污泥中的EPS从46.2 mg/g增加至87.2 mg/g；5 mg/L的Cd（Ⅱ）对污泥产生一定程度的抑制；而10 mg/L的Cd（Ⅱ）会导致颗粒污泥体系的崩溃，Nitrosomonas的相对丰度在其胁迫下减少6.3%。微生物在低浓度Cd（Ⅱ）的刺激下大量分泌EPS，能够有效缓解其入侵，而高浓度的Cd（Ⅱ）可能会突破EPS的防御使微生物活性下降甚至死亡。Chlorella和Secenedesmus的相对丰度并未大幅波动，但光合色素的含量与Cd（Ⅱ）浓度呈负相关，Cd（Ⅱ）可能更多地影响藻类的光合能力，使体系内供氧不足进而影响亚硝化进程，但其并不会导致藻类大量死亡。

关键词: 重金属, 亚硝化, 颗粒污泥, 胞外聚合物, 光合色素

CLC Number:

X703

Zhao CHEN, Shihao LIU, Lijuan ZHU, Dezheng CHANG, Yan GAO. Responses of microalgal-nitrifying granular sludge to cadmium stress[J]. Industrial Water Treatment, 2025, 45(2): 126-131.

陈召, 刘世豪, 朱丽娟, 常德政, 高岩. 微藻-亚硝化颗粒污泥对镉胁迫的响应研究[J]. 工业水处理, 2025, 45(2): 126-131.

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URL: https://www.iwt.cn/EN/10.19965/j.cnki.iwt.2024-0044

https://www.iwt.cn/EN/Y2025/V45/I2/126

Figures/Tables 4

Table 1 Operating conditions in different phases of PSBR

阶段	时间/d	Cd（Ⅱ）质量浓度/（mg·L^-1）	温度/℃	pH
P0	1~14	0	22.1±1.3	7.05±0.02
P1	15~42	1	22.3±1.2	7.03±0.04
P2	43~71	5	22.0±1.5	7.01±0.03
P3	72~84	0	22.2±1.2	7.03±0.02
P4	85~114	10	22.2±1.1	6.98±0.05

Fig.1 The removal efficiencies of pollutants at different operating stages

Fig.2 EPS and chlorophyl content in different phases of PSBR

Fig.3 Taxonomic classification results of PSBR at genus level

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