Enhancement of denitrification performance with reduction of nitrite accumulation and N2O emission by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in microbial denitrifying process

Bio-denitrification (i.e., microbial reduction of nitrate to gaseous nitrogen) is usually reported to be affected by operating and environmental parameters, such as carbon source type, pH value, and temperature. In this paper, the enhancement of denitrification performance with the elimination of nitrite accumulation and nitrous oxide emission by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 were investigated and the mechanisms were explored. It was found that S. oneidensis MR-1 itself had marginal nitrate removal capacity, but its presence in the denitrification system of a well-studied denitrifier (Paracoccus denitrificans) obviously enhanced nitrate removal efficiency (from 65.3% to 97.8%) and reduced nitrite accumulation (0.67 against none-detectable) and N2O generation (from 8.87 μm/mM-TN to none-detectable). The mechanism study showed that S. oneidensis MR-1 promoted electrons transfer activity via the formation of nanotube between cells, which resulted in the increase of denitrification enzymes activity, carbon source metabolism, ATP level and cell viability. As the generation, transfer and consumption of electrons were enhanced by S. oneidensis MR-1, the improvement of denitrification performance with reduction of nitrite accumulation and N2O emission was therefore achieved. Finally, the performance of denitrification enhanced by S. oneidensis MR-1 was testified by laboratory groundwater treatment experiment. This study suggested the potential role of S. oneidensis MR-1 in accelerating nitrate bio-transformation in nitrogen geochemical cycle and increasing bio-treatment of nitrate contamination with negligible harmful intermediates (nitrite and N2O) accumulation.