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Effects of degradable and non-degradable microplastics on SPNEDPR-AGS system: Sludge characteristics, nutrient transformation, key enzyme, and microbial community
Summary
Researchers examined how degradable and non-degradable microplastics affect an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) wastewater treatment system, measuring impacts on granule formation, microbial community, and treatment performance. Degradable microplastics caused more pronounced disruption to the AGS system than conventional non-degradable plastics.
The environmental risk of microplastics (MPs) in aerobic granular sludge (AGS) system is unclear. This study evaluates the effects of non-biodegradable polyvinyl chloride microplastics (PVC-MPs) and biodegradable polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) on AGS systems. The results showed that both destroyed the performance of AGS systems, with PVC-MPs achieving this by disrupting the AGS structure, while PLA-MPs mainly by causing the expansion of filamentous bacteria induced through the stimulation by lactic acid metabolite (R0: 5.52 ± 0.49 μg/L; R5: 11.67 ± 0.56 μg/L). Moreover, both MPs inhibited nitrogen removal by disrupting partial nitrification and endogenous denitrification and suppressed key microbes such as Candidatus Competibacter and Nitrosomonas. Metabolic pathway analysis and molecular docking have further confirmed the mechanisms by which MPs affect critical metabolic pathways and key enzymes. Consequently, the hazards of biodegradable MPs to the stable operation of sewage treatment plants should also be of concern.