Combination of ¹⁵N Tracer and Microbial Analyses Discloses N₂O Sink Potential of the Anammox Community

Abstract

Although nitrogen removal by partial nitritation and anammox is more cost-effective than conventional nitrification and denitrification, one downside is the production and accumulation of nitrous oxide (N₂O). The potential exploitation of N₂O-reducing bacteria, which are resident members of anammox microbial communities, for N₂O mitigation would require more knowledge of their ecophysiology. This study investigated the phylogeny of resident N₂O-reducing bacteria in an anammox microbial community and quantified individually the processes of N₂O production and N₂O consumption. An up-flow column-bed anammox reactor, fed with NH₄⁺ and NO₂^- and devoid of oxygen, emitted N₂O at an average conversion ratio (produced N₂O: influent nitrogen) of 0.284%. Transcriptionally active and highly abundant <i>nosZ</i> genes in the reactor biomass belonged to the <i>Burkholderiaceae</i> (clade I type) and <i>Chloroflexus</i> genera (clade II type). Meanwhile, less abundant but actively transcribing <i>nosZ</i> strains were detected in the genera <i>Rhodoferax</i>, <i>Azospirillum</i>, <i>Lautropia</i>, and <i>Bdellovibrio</i> and likely act as an N₂O sink. A novel ¹⁵N tracer method was adapted to individually quantify N₂O production and N₂O consumption rates. The estimated true N₂O production rate and true N₂O consumption rate were 3.98 ± 0.15 and 3.03 ± 0.18 mg_N·g_VSS^-1·day^-1, respectively. The N₂O consumption rate could be increased by 51% (4.57 ± 0.51 mg_N·g_VSS^-1·day^-1) with elevated N₂O concentrations but kept comparable irrespective of the presence or absence of NO₂^-. Collectively, the approach allowed the quantification of N₂O-reducing activity and the identification of transcriptionally active N₂O reducers that may constitute as an N₂O sink in anammox-based processes.