Insights into the impact of 6PPD-Q and 6PPD on nitrogen metabolism and microbial community in the anammox system

N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N′-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is an antioxidant commonly used in tire manufacturing, and its release into the environment has significantly increased due to rapid urbanization. When subjected to ozonation, 6PPD converts into the harmful pollutant 6PPD quinone (6PPDQ). These substances enter wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) via stormwater runoff and pipelines, posing significant risks to the functional microorganisms. Anammox, a strictly controlled and sensitive microbial nitrogen removal process, is especially susceptible to the effects of the pollutants. This study investigates the comprehensive impact of 6PPD-Q and 6PPD on anammox communities based on characterization analysis and metagenomics. At environmental concentrations, 6PPD-Q at 200 ng/L-1000 ng/L led to the disintegration of anammox granules. Extended exposure to both 6PPD-Q and 6PPD significantly reduces the population of anammox bacteria (AnAOB). By utilizing organic matter from dead cells and incoming carbonate as a carbon source, the system evolved into a nitrogen metabolism network primarily focused on denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). This transformation was accompanied by a reshuffling of the microbial community and associated genes, resulting in an accumulation of NH4+-N. These findings underscore the toxicity of 6PPD-Q and 6PPD to anammox and stress the importance of incorporating 6PPD into regulatory and preventive strategies. •Initial findings reveal the detrimental impacts of 6PPD-Q and 6PPD on the anammox system.•Exposure to 6PPD-Q leads to the disintegration of the anammox consortium.•Both 6PPD-Q and 6PPD strongly inhibit AnAOB, causing a succession in nitrogen metabolism from the anammox process to DNRA (dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium) and denitrification.