Hydrolase activity and microbial community dynamic shift related to the lack in multivalent cations during cation exchange resin-enhanced anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge

The correlation of the lack in multivalent cations with hydrolase activity and microbial community in anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge was investigated in this study. It was demonstrated that considerable solid phase reduction of 41 % (7.87 g/L) was achievable through a cation exchange resin-enhanced anaerobic fermentation of 4 days. The protease and α-glucosidase, especially α-glucosidase, were easily influenced by a lack in multivalent cations. Furthermore, species abundance and diversity of microbial community gradually decreased. Meanwhile, the bacteria community structure presented obvious dynamic shifts. Ruminococcaceae_UCG_009, Bacteroides and Macellibacteroides responsible for organic matter biodegradation and SCFAs production became dominant bacteria in cation exchange resin-enhanced anaerobic fermentation, which was less influenced by the lack in multivalent cations, while the SCFA consumers (e.g. methanogens) were inhibited with reduced abundances due to their susceptibility to the lack in multivalent cations. Redundancy analysis revealed that the lack in multivalent cations were responsible for the microbial community evolution, which was proved by the high Grey relational coefficients (0.747−0.820) and significant negative Spearman coefficients (−0.5798 to −0.9429) between multivalent cation and microbial community. Obviously, the cation exchange resin-induced removal of multivalent cations reduced enzyme activity and modified microbial community structure, which created a beneficial environment for enhancing anaerobic fermentation.