Efficiency of Cerium Nitrate and Hydrogen Peroxide in Removing Ammonia and Nitrite from Aquaculture Wastewater and Its Impact on Microbial Community Dynamics

Abstract

Aquaculture wastewater is rich in nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus. If discharged directly without treatment, it can cause eutrophication of water bodies and the proliferation of algae. This study explores the treatment of aquaculture wastewater using cerium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide. To improve the treatment efficiency of ammonia and nitrite in aquaculture wastewater, a Box–Behnken design with three factors at three levels was used to optimize the process of treating aquaculture wastewater with cerium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide. The optimal process conditions for removing ammonia and nitrite were determined to be a Ce(NO3)3 dosage of 0.18 g/L, an H2O2 reaction concentration of 1.0%, and a reaction time of 30 min. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the degradation rate of ammonia and nitrite can reach 80% or more. Finally, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to explore the impact of cerium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide treatment on microbial community structure and metabolic pathways. The results showed that, at the phylum level, the dominant positions of Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidota were maintained throughout the entire culture period. At the genus level, the relative abundance of the hgcI_clade genus under Actinobacteriota significantly increased, becoming the main dominant genus throughout the culture period. Under the condition of adding cerium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide, the metabolic functions of the microbial community were enhanced. The addition of cerium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide increased the abundance of key nitrogen metabolism genes such as amo, hao, and nap, thereby enhancing the potential nitrification/denitrification capabilities of microorganisms. The combination of cerium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide showed positive effects in the treatment of aquaculture wastewater, providing a new strategy for the green treatment of wastewater.