Insight into metabolic and cometabolic activities of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms in the biodegradation of emerging trace organic contaminants

Removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products from wastewater using algae-based technologies: a review

“…Even though, co-metabolism is believed to be the main process responsible for the degradation of PPCPs in WWTPs due to the fact that PPCPs are usually present in wastewater at low concentration levels within the ng L -1 to lg L -1 rang, which may not be higher enough to maintain the growth of microbes performing metabolic degradation (Onesios et al 2009). As reviewed by Tran et al (2013), autotrophs such as ammonia oxidizers co-metabolize a variety of emerging organic contaminants and heterotrophs degrade emerging organic contaminants via cometabolism and/or metabolism mechanisms, but cometabolism is mainly responsible for the biodegradation of emerging organic contaminants. In algae-based technologies, algae can also actively participate in biodegradation of organic contaminants.…”

“…Photosynthesis of algae provides O 2 for aerobic bacteria to degrade organic pollutants while bacterial respiration releases CO 2 in return for algae photosynthesis (Muñoz and Guieysse 2006). Algae also exude organic compounds such as carbohydrates and amino acids, which support the heterotrophic metabolism and provide substrates for the co-metabolism of organic contaminants (Battin et al 2016;Tran et al 2013). Bacteria in turn accelerate the regeneration of nutrients and trace elements, and release phytohormones to promote algae growth (Dang and Lovell 2016;Wang et al 2016a).…”

Trace organic contaminants in biosolids: Impact of conventional wastewater and sludge processing technologies and emerging alternatives

“…Based on a comprehensive review on TrOC biodegradation, Tran et al [11] contend that due to their low concentration in wastewater, TrOC biodegradation is most likely to occur via cometabolism. In other words, in many instances, TrOCs do not serve as primary carbon source for microbial growth, and their biodegradation occurs only when other carbon sources are available (e.g.…”

“…biodegradable COD in wastewater). Co-metabolic pathways may lead to the formation of metabolites that may eventually participate in metabolic reactions resulting in the complete mineralisation of the compounds [11]. Nevertheless, biodegradation of TrOCs by bacterial metabolism, i.e.…”

“…Nonetheless, literature suggests that optimisable operation parameters (e.g. pH, sludge retention time (SRT), and temperature) have some degree of influence on TrOC sorption and biodegradation [7,11]. Further treatment of biosolids can remove TrOCs with high efficiency, but may require additional equipment and resources that drive up the cost of biosolids management.…”