Characteristics of different molecular weight EPS fractions from mixed culture dominated by AnAOB and their role in binding metal ions.

Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorbance spectra were adopted to quantify the binding of metal ions (e.g., Fe(III), Cu(II), Pb(II), and Cd(II)) on three MW fractions (> 100, 10~100, and < 10 k Da) of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from mixed cultures dominated by anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB). The results showed that the AnAOB EPS with different MW size ranges all had strongest binding capability of Fe(III), and the lowest binding capability of Cd(II). The complexation ability of metal ions for the EPS of AnAOB with molecular weight < 10 kDa was stronger than EPS with >100 and 10~100 kDa, very likely because of the contribution of the tyrosine-, tryptophan-, and aromatic protein-like components. It was obvious that the different size fractions of EPS affect the metal binding ability. Essentially, the content of proteins, polysaccharides, TOC, and UVA254 distributed within various MW fractions of EPS from AnAOB were different, as well as the different fluorescent components and total functional groups.