title: The effect of tetrahydrofuran on the enzymatic activity and microbial community in activated sludge from a sequencing batch reactor.
abstract: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) is a toxic and carcinogenic compound that is commonly released from pharmaceutical, chemical and related industry wastewater. Currently, the effects of THF contamination on wastewater are unknown and a better understanding of THF toxicity toward biological processes in wastewater treatment is critical. In this study, we firstly investigated the toxic effects of THF on enzymatic activity and the microbial diversity in activated sludge from a sequencing batch reactor during long-term exposure to 10 mM THF. The activity of five enzymes (catalase, dehydrogenase, urease, phosphatase and protease) was remarkably decreased in the presence of 10 mM THF during a period of 85 days. Of these five affected enzymes, dehydrogenase activity was close to detection level limits and was nearly completely inhibited. Analysis of the microbial community demonstrated that THF, at a concentration of 10 mM, altered the distribution of microbes within the community and significantly decreased microbial diversity during long-term contamination, according to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis. The fraction of Actinobacteria increased in the community, while the fraction of Proteobacteria significantly decreased after THF exposure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology, College of Life Science, Zhejiang University, 388 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China. yaoyl0679@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Yanlai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Zhenmei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: Haichun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Fengxiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D039903:Actinobacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D019149:Bioreactors; D002374:Catalase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005663:Furans / Q000633:toxicity*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D014510:Urease / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005663:Furans; D012722:Sewage; C018674:tetrahydrofuran; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D002374:Catalase; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases; D014510:Urease