Proactive monitoring of changes in the microbial community structure in wastewater treatment bioreactors using phospholipid fatty acid analysis

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dc.contributor.authorMensah, Lawson
dc.contributor.authorCartmell, Elise
dc.contributor.authorFletton, Mandy
dc.contributor.authorScrimshaw, Mark
dc.contributor.authorCampo, Pablo
dc.date.accessioned2024-12-20T12:04:27Z
dc.date.available2024-12-20T12:04:27Z
dc.date.freetoread2024-12-20
dc.date.issued2024-12-01
dc.date.pubOnline2024-11-16
dc.description.abstractDiverse microbial community structures (MCS) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are vital for effectively removing nutrients and chemicals from wastewater. However, the regular monitoring of MCS in WWTP bioreactors remains unattractive owing to the skill and cost required for deploying modern microbial molecular techniques in the routine assessment of engineered systems. In contrast, low-resolution methods for assessing broad changes in the MCS, such as phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, have been used effectively in soil studies for decades. Despite using PLFA analysis in soil remediation studies to capture the long-term effects of environmental changes on MCS, its application in WWTPs, where the microbial mass is dynamic and operational conditions are more fluid, remains limited. In this study, microbial communities in a controlled pilot plant and 12 full-scale activated sludge plants (ASPs) were surveyed over a two-year period using PLFA analysis. This study revealed that changes in the MCS in wastewater bioreactors could be detected using PLFA analysis. The MCS comprised 59 % Gram-negative and 9 % Gram-positive bacteria, 31 % fungi, and 1 % actinomycetes. The abundances of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi were strongly inversely correlated, with an R2 = 0.93, while the fatty acids cy17:0 and 16:1ω7c positively correlated (R2 = 0.869). Variations in temperature, solid retention time, and WWTP configuration significantly influenced the MCS in activated sludge reactors. This study showed that WWTP bioreactors can be routinely monitored using PLFA analysis, and changes in the bioreactor profile that may indicate imminent bioreactor failure can be identified.
dc.description.journalNameEngineering Microbiology
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was funded by UK Water Industry Research.
dc.identifier.citationMensah L, Cartmell E, Fletton M, et al., (2024) Proactive monitoring of changes in the microbial community structure in wastewater treatment bioreactors using phospholipid fatty acid analysis. Engineering Microbiology, Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2024, Article number 100177
dc.identifier.eissn2667-3703
dc.identifier.elementsID559335
dc.identifier.issn2667-3703
dc.identifier.issueNo4
dc.identifier.paperNo100177
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.engmic.2024.100177
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/23281
dc.identifier.volumeNo4
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667370324000390?via%3Dihub
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject4004 Chemical Engineering
dc.subject40 Engineering
dc.subject4011 Environmental Engineering
dc.titleProactive monitoring of changes in the microbial community structure in wastewater treatment bioreactors using phospholipid fatty acid analysis
dc.typeArticle
dc.type.subtypeJournal Article
dcterms.dateAccepted2024-10-29

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