Exploring potential impact(s) of cerium in mining wastewater on the performance of partial-nitrification process and nitrogen conversion microflora

Cerium Ce(III) is one of the major pollutants contained in wastewater generated during Ce(III) mining. However, the effect(s) of Ce(III) on the functional genera responsible for removing nitrogen biologically from wastewater has not been studied and reported. In this study, the effects of Ce(III) on aspects of partial-nitritation-(PN) process including ammonia oxidation rate (AOR), process kinetics, and microbial activities were investigated. It was found that the effect of dosing Ce(III) in the PN system correlated strongly with the AOR. Compared to the control, batch assays dosed with 5 mg/L Ce(III) showed elevated PN efficiency of about 121%, an indication that maximum biological response was feasible upon Ce(III) dose. It was also found that, PN performance was not adversely affected, given that Ce(III) dose was ≤20 mg/L. Process kinetics investigated also suggested that the maximum Ce(III) dose without any visible inhibition to the activities of ammonium oxidizing bacteria was 1.37 mg/L, but demonstrated otherwise when Ce(III) dose exceeded 5.63 mg/L. Compared to the control, microbes conducted efficient Ce(III) removal (averaged 98.66%) via biosorption using extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Notably, significant deposits of Ce(III) was found within the EPS produced as revealed by SEM, EDX, CLSM and FTIR. 2-dimensional correlation infrared-(2DCOS-IR) revealed ester group (uronic acid) as a major organic functional group that promoted Ce(III) removal. Excitation-emission matrix-(EEM) spectrum and 2DCOS-IR suggested the dominance of Fulvic acid, hypothesized to have promoted the performance of the PN process under Ce(III) dosage. The source of nitrogen-enriched mine wastewater (NMW) and the problems and solutions of partial nitritation process treatment of NMW wastewater [Display omitted] •Effect of Ce(III)) on ammonium oxidation rate was investigated.•Hormesis effect was noticeable between Ce(III) dose and AOR.•No inhibition when Ce(III) was 1.37 mg/L, but otherwise when dose was > 5.63 mg/L.•Efficient removal of Ce(III) was reached via biosorption using in-situ EPS.•Fulvic acid and uronic acid promoted PN and Ce(III) removal, respectively.