Mulan Zhang

Microbial biodegradation of microcystin-RR by bacterium Sphingopyxis sp. USTB-05

A strain, USTB-05, isolated from Lake Dianchi, China, degraded the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-RR (MC-RR) at the rate of 16.7 mg/L per day. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequence showed that the strain was Sphingopyxis sp. Enzymatic degradation pathways for MC-RR by Sphingopyxis sp. USTB-05 were identified. Adda-Arg peptide bond of MC-RR was cleaved and then a hydrogen and a hydroxyl were combined onto the NH2 group of Adda and the carboxyl group of arginine to form a linear molecule as intermediate product within the first few hours. Then, through dehydration reaction, two hydrogen of amino group on arginine reacted with adjacent hydroxyl on carbon to form a linear MC-RR with two small peptide rings as the final product after 24 hr. These biodegradation pathways were different from those reported for other strains, implying that MC-RR may undergo different transformations and different products were formed due to various bacteria in natural lakes and reservoirs.

Rainwater utilization and storm pollution control based on urban runoff characterization

The characteristics of urban runoffs and their impact on rainwater utilization and storm pollution control were investigated in three different functional areas of Zhengzhou City, China. The results showed that in the same rain event the pollutant loads (chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS)) in the sampling areas were in the order of industrial area > commercial area > residential area, and within the same area the COD and TSS concentrations of road runoffs were higher than those of roof runoffs. The first flush effects in roof and road runoffs were observed, hence the initial rainwater should be treated separately to reduce rainwater utilization cost and control storm pollution. The initial roof rainfall of 2 mm in residential area, 5 mm in commercial area and 10 mm in industrial area, and the initial road rainfall of 4 mm in residential area and all the road rainfall in commercial and industrial areas should be collected and treated accordingly before direct discharge or utilization. Based on the strong correlation between COD and TSS (R2, 0.87-0.95) and the low biodegradation capacity (biochemical oxygen demand BOD5/COD < 0.3), a sedimentation process and an effective filtration system composed of soil and slag were designed to treat the initial rainwater, which could remove over 90% of the pollutant loads. The above results may help to develop better rainwater utilization and pollution control strategies for cities with water shortages.

Microbial degradation of microcystin-LR by Ralstonia solanacearum.

A bacterial strain was isolated from Lake Dianchi (China) and its degradability and degradative pathways of the cyanobacterial toxin microcystin-LR (MC-LR) were studied. On the basis of morphological, physiological and biochemical tests, the strain was identified as Ralstonia solanacearum. The acute oral toxicity tests showed that Ralstonia solanacearum belongs to a non-toxic class. This bacterium degraded MC-LR at the rate of 9.4 mg/L per day, which was higher than those of the other bacterial strains reported in the literature. As for the degradative pathways, the results showed that the Adda–Arg peptide bond of MC-LR was initially hydrolysed by Ralstonia solanacearum to form a linear molecule as an intermediate. The intermediate product subsequently underwent a cyclisation reaction via dehydration to form a final product with a small peptide ring at one end of the molecule. These biodegradative pathways were different from those reported with other bacterial strains, suggesting that MC-LR may undergo different transformations, and different products were formed due to different compositions of bacteria present in natural lakes and reservoirs. These results suggest that there is a significant potential for Ralstonia solanacearum as a degrader for MC-LR removal from wastewater.