Fungal-sponge composite carriers coupled with denitrification and biomineralization bacteria to remove nitrate, calcium, and cadmium in a bioreactor.

The coexistence of nitrate (NO3--N) and heavy metals in the aquatic environment causes harm to both the aquatic ecosystem and human health. Here, fungal-sponge composite carriers (FSC) were assembled and immobilized with strain WZ39 in a bioreactor to remove NO3--N, Ca2+, and Cd2+. Stable bioreactor performance under heavy metal pressure was achieved. The highest removal efficiencies of NO3--N, Ca2+, and Cd2+ reached 100, 71.81, and 92.50%, respectively. Bacteria and precipitates were found in fungal mycelium and sponge. The precipitates composed of Ca3.9(Ca4.7Cd0.7)(PO4)6(OH)1.8, CaCO3, and CdCO3. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) and flow cytometric (FCM) analysis indicated bacteria in FSC exhibited a strong metabolic activity and high percentage of intact cells under heavy metal stress. High-throughput sequencing results showed Pseudomonas sp. WZ39 played a major role in the bioreactor. The potential functions associated with metabolism, heavy metal transfer, and biofilm formation had high relative abundance in the bioreactor.