Metagenomics approach and canonical correspondence analysis of novel nitrifiers and ammonia-oxidizing archaea in full scale anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (A2/O) and oxidation ditch processes

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2021-01, Vol.319, p.124205-124205, Article 124205
• Main Authors: Park, Jun-Gyu, Lee, Beom, Heo, Tae-Young, Cheon, A-In, Jun, Hang-Bae
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonia-oxidizing archaea; Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria; Canonical correspondence analysis; Complete ammonia oxidizer; Illumina sequencing; Metagenomics
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124205

[Display omitted] •Nitrifier community in full scale A2/O and oxidation ditch processes was analyzed.•AOB and AOA were present at a higher ratio in oxidation ditch than in A2/O.•Microorganisms involved in the COMAMMOX reaction were found only in oxidation ditch.•The longer SRT and HRT contributed to improve AOA and COMAMMOX communities. Various microorganisms are involved in nitrogen removal, and their group compositions depend closely on operating parameters. The structures and functions of nitrification microorganisms in full-scale anaerobic-anoxic–oxic (A2/O) and oxidation ditch processes were analyzed using metagenomics and canonical correspondence analysis. The community structure of ammonia-oxidizing archaea in the oxidation ditch was 3.8 (winter) – 6.3 (summer) times higher than in A2/O, and the complete ammonia oxidizer was only found in the oxidation ditch process. The canonical correspondence analysis of various environmental variables showed that Nitrosomonadales, Crenarchaeota, and Nitrospira inopinata correlate highly with nitrification, and Nitrospira was involved in NO2−-N oxidation rather than Nitrobacter. The longer solid and hydraulic retention times in the oxidation ditch were more effective in achieving a wider range of novel nitrification than A2/O. This result indicates that microbial communities of novel nitrifiers and ammonia-oxidizing archaea improved in the oxidation ditch process, significantly contributing to stable nitrogen removal.