Insights into simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal in biofilm: The overlooked comammox Nitrospira and the positive role of glycogen-accumulating organisms

Simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal (SNPR) biofilm system is an effective wastewater treatment process. However, the understanding on the mechanism of functional microorganisms driving SNPR is still limited, especially the role of complete ammonia oxidation (comammox) Nitrospira and glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAO). In this study, a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) performing SNPR was operated for 249 d. Based on the 16S rRNA gene, comammox amoA amplicon sequencing, metagenomics and batch experiment, we found that comammox Nitrospira was the main ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms (AOM) and provided nitrite for anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) bacteria (AnAOB). Besides, GAO was dominated by the bacteria of genus Defluviicoccus and played a primary role in reducing nitrate rather than nitrite. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis confirmed that Nitrospira was enriched in the inner layer of the biofilm. Thus, we put forward a novel insight into the mechanism of SNPR biofilm system. Comammox Nitrospira was responsible for nitrite and nitrate production in the inner biofilm, and AnAOB consumed the produced nitrite during the anammox process. While GAO reduced nitrate to nitrite and polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAO) converted nitrite to dinitrogen via denitrifying phosphorus removal in the outer biofilm. These findings provide a new understanding in SNPR biofilm system.

Automated summary

In this study, the authors analyzed a biofilm system for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment. They found that comammox Nitrospira was the main ammonia-oxidizing microorganism, providing nitrite for anaerobic ammonia oxidation bacteria. Additionally, the bacteria of genus Defluviicoccus dominated the glycogen-accumulating organisms and primarily reduced nitrate. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis confirmed the enrichment of Nitrospira in the inner layer of the biofilm. This study provides new insights into the mechanism of SNPR biofilm systems.