The Effects of an Antimicrobial on Anaerobic Digestion Microbial Communities

Authors

Patrick J. McNamara, Marquette UniversityFollow
Timothy M. LaPara, University of Minnesota
Paige M. Novak, University of Minnesota

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Language

eng

Format of Original

5 p.

Publication Date

10-1-2014

Publisher

Water Environment Federation

Source Publication

Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Source ISSN

1938-6478

Abstract

Over two hundred metric tons of micropollutants are discharged to the environment with biosolids each year in the U.S. Of particular concern is the antimicrobial agent triclosan, which accumulates under methanogenic conditions in wastewater treatment plants. Experiments were setup to test the impacts of triclosan on methanogenic community structure and function. Microbial communities that had not been exposed to triclosan were able to adapt to triclosan at environmentally relevant levels and maintain function. However, when communities with previous exposure to triclosan were amended with triclosan at approximately four-fold current environmental levels, their community structures shifted and methane production was cut in half.

Comments

Published as part of Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation, October 1, 2014. Publisher link.

Recommended Citation

McNamara, Patrick J.; LaPara, Timothy M.; and Novak, Paige M., "The Effects of an Antimicrobial on Anaerobic Digestion Microbial Communities" (2014). Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research and Publications. 108.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/civengin_fac/108