Enhanced degradation of bisphenol A and ibuprofen by an up-flow microbial fuel cell-coupled constructed wetland and analysis of bacterial community structure

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 217; pp. 599 - 608
• Main Authors: Li, Hua, Zhang, Shuai, Yang, Xiao-Li, Yang, Yu-Li, Xu, Han, Li, Xian-Ning, Song, Hai-Liang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2019
• Subjects: ammonium nitrogen; anodes; bacteria; Bacteria - metabolism; bacterial communities; Benzhydryl Compounds - chemistry; Bioelectric Energy Sources - microbiology; Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; Bisphenol A; chemical oxygen demand; community structure; Constructed wetland; constructed wetlands; Electricity; electricity generation; fuels; high-throughput nucleotide sequencing; Ibuprofen; Ibuprofen - chemistry; Microbial community; Microbial fuel cell; Microbiota; personal care products; Phenols - chemistry; toxicity; Waste Water - chemistry; wastewater; Water Purification - methods; Wetlands; Bisphenol A; Microbial fuel cell; Constructed wetland; Microbial community; Ibuprofen
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.11.022
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298

This study aims to demonstrate that an up-flow microbial fuel cell-coupled constructed wetland (UCW-MFC) can effectively treat synthetic wastewater that contains a high concentration of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs, 10 mg L−1 level), such as ibuprofen (IBP) and bisphenol A (BPA). A significant decline in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) removal was observed when BPA was added, which indicated that BPA was more toxic to bacteria. The closed circuit operation of UCW-MFC performed better than the open circuit mode for COD and NH4+-N removal. Similarly, the removal rates of IBP and BPA were increased by 9.3% and 18%, respectively, compared with the open circuit mode. The majority of PPCPs were removed from the bottom and anode layer, which accounted for 63.2–78.7% of the total removal. The main degradation products were identified. The removal rates of IBP and BPA decreased by 14.6% and 23.7% due to a reduction in the hydraulic detention times (HRTs) from 16 h to 4 h, respectively. Electricity generation performance, including voltage and maximum power density, initially increased and then declined with a decrease in the HRT. Additionally, both the current circuit operation mode and the HRT have an impact on the bacterial community diversity of the anode according to the results of high-throughput sequencing. The possible bacterial groups involved in PPCP degradation were identified. In summary, UCW-MFC is suitable for enabling the simultaneous removal of IBP and BPA and successful electricity production. [Display omitted] •Removal rate of IBP and BPA was higher in the closed circuit operation UCW-MFC.•The possible degradation bacteria were enriched in the closed circuit mode system.•High bacterial diversity was obtained in the closed circuit mode system.•The main degradation products of IBP and BPA in UCW-MFC were determined.