Metagenomics of microbiota of anaerobic reactors applied in anionic surfactant degradation in commercial laundry wastewater

Abstract

The objective of the work is to evaluate the microbial community of samples from anaerobic reactors applied in the degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) in commercial laundry wastewater, using a metagenomic approach. This possibility aims to fill gaps in the microbiological approaches that have been employed in the study of microbial communities associated with LAS degradation, providing information about the diversity and biotechnological potential of such microbial communities. In addition, the data obtained will open new perspectives about what microorganisms are involved in the degradation of the LAS molecule, which enzymes are responsible for LAS catabolism and possible metabolic pathways involved in this process. Therefore, this research plan will act synergistically with works being developed at LPB-EESC-USP, inserting a metagenomic perspective. This approach has not been used in any research carried until current days. The samples will be collected from three different anaerobic biological reactors, named: Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), Expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) and anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR), applied in the LAS degradation. In total, six samples will be sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform for the study of the phylogenetic and functional profile. It should be emphasized that the project will be developed at Centro Pluridisciplinar de Pesquisas Químicas, Biológicas e Agrícolas (CPQBA/UNICAMP; Divisão de Recursos Microbianos). The techniques and bioinformatics tools used will be disseminated along with researchers and technicians of Laboratório de Processos Biológicos LPB-EESC-USP. This will stimulate and give support for the implementation of a metagenomic approach in the studies in progress at LPB. (AU)