Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Mar 28;13(4):252.
doi: 10.3390/toxics13040252.

Role of Microbial Communities and Their Functional Gene in Anammox Process for Biodegradation of Bisphenol A and S in Pharmaceutical Wastewater

Ruili Yang  1 , Yonghao Sha  1 , Zhuqiu Sun  1 , Bairen Yang  1 , Farheen Solangi  2
Affiliations
Review

Role of Microbial Communities and Their Functional Gene in Anammox Process for Biodegradation of Bisphenol A and S in Pharmaceutical Wastewater

Ruili Yang et al. Toxics. .

Abstract

Substantial amounts of nitrogenous (N) compounds, as well as bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), contribute to the impurities of pharmaceutical contamination (PC) in wastewater, which have detrimental effects on the environment, humans, and aquaculture. The anammox processes is primarily used to treat wastewater contamination, in which certain microbial communities play a crucial role. In this regard, the present study focuses on microbial communities and the functional genes involved in the anammox process. Further, the current study highlights the secondary (biological) and tertiary (advanced) methods; these techniques are more effective solutions for PC treatment. Anammox bacteria are the primary drivers of the wastewater's ammonium and nitrite removal process. However, overall, 25 anammox species have been recognized between five important genera, including Anammoxoglobus, Anammoximicrobium, Brocadia, Kuenenia, and Jettenia, which are mainly found in activated sludge and marine environments. The group of bacteria called anammox has genes that encode enzymes such as hydrazine synthase (HZS), hydrazine dehydrogenase (HDH), nitrite oxidoreductase reductase (NIR), hydroxylamine oxidoreductase (HAO), and ammonium monooxygenase (AMO). The anammox process is responsible for developing about 30% to 70% N gases worldwide, making it a critical component of the nitrogen cycle as well. Therefore, this review paper also investigates the pathways of hydrazine, an intermediate in the anammox process, and discusses the potential way to significantly decrease the N-compound contamination from wastewater systems and the environmental effects of determined organic contaminants of BPA and BPS.

Keywords: advanced oxidation technologies; anaerobic; biphenyl A and S; pharmaceutical contamination; wastewater.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare there are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Pathways of causing pharmaceutical contaminants (PCs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Creative general idea of pharmaceutical contaminants (PCs).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Different treatments for PC including biological and advanced methods.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The nitrogen cycle and anammox process.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The diagram shows the anammox process and their bacterial group.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Challenges and limitations of the current nitritation-based anammox process.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Hydrazine intermediate pathways in anaerobic ammonium oxidation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Wang Y., Shi Y., Xu X., Zhu Y. A Study on the Efficiency of Green Technology Innovation in Listed Chinese Water Environment Treatment Companies. Water. 2024;16:510. doi: 10.3390/w16030510. - DOI
    1. Gokulanathan V., Arun K., Priyadharshini P. Fresh and Hardened Properties of Five Non-Potable Water Mixed and Cured Concrete: A Comprehensive Review. Constr. Build. Mater. 2021;309:125089.
    1. Patel M., Kumar R., Kishor K., Mlsna T., Pittman C.U., Jr., Mohan D. Pharmaceuticals of Emerging Concern in Aquatic Systems: Chemistry, Occurrence, Effects, and Removal Methods. Chem. Rev. 2019;119:3510–3673. - PubMed
    1. Boxall A.B.A., Rudd M.A., Brooks B.W., Caldwell D.J., Choi K., Hickmann S., Innes E., Ostapyk K., Staveley J.P., Verslycke T. Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products in the Environment: What Are the Big Questions? Environ. Health Perspect. 2012;120:1221–1229. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Samal K., Trivedi S. A Statistical and Kinetic Approach to Develop a Floating Bed for the Treatment of Wastewater. J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 2020;8:104102.

LinkOut - more resources