Denitrification Assays for Testing Effects of Xenobiotics on Aquatic Denitrification and Their Degradation in Aquatic Environments

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Authors

PANIKOVA Kristina WEIGELHOFER Gabriele BÍLKOVÁ Zuzana MALA Jitka

Year of publication 2023
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Water
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Web https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/15/14/2536
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w15142536
Keywords denitrification; xenobiotics; batch assays; method testing; removal efficiency; metolachlor
Attached files
Description We developed, tested, and optimized two laboratory denitrification assays for both managers and scientists to assess the effects of xenobiotics on the denitrification process over 7 days (short batch assay, SBA) and 28 days (long semi-continuous assay, LSA). The assays facilitate (1) measuring the efficiency of nitrate removal under the influence of xenobiotics, (2) determining the removal of the tested xenobiotics via adsorption or biotic decomposition, and (3) testing the influencing parameters for optimizing the denitrification process. The adsorption of the xenobiotics was assessed by inhibiting all biological processes through the addition of HgCl2. Our tests demonstrate that the ratio of the initial nitrate concentration to the amount of bioavailable organic matter provided is essential to avoid organic carbon or nitrate limitation. While a pH < 7 resulted in decreased denitrification, a pH > 8 led to nitrite accumulation, indicating incomplete denitrification. Over durations of more than a week, weekly replenishments of the nitrate and HgCl2 and weekly purging with argon gas to reduce the oxygen concentrations are needed. The assays provide information about the accumulation of xenobiotics in the bioreactors that is necessary for the environmentally friendly treatment of the bioreactor fillings and provide insight into the potential of the bioreactors to remove pesticides from polluted water resources.
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