Bisphenol A alters volatile fatty acids accumulation during sludge anaerobic fermentation by affecting amino acid metabolism, material transport and carbohydrate-active enzymes.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a typical persistent organic pollutant in waste activated sludge, was chosen to explore its influence on the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), which is an important raw material, during anaerobic fermentation. BPA in the range of 0-200 mg/kg dry sludge was beneficial to VFAs production, from 1564 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L in the control to 2095 mg COD/L with 50 mg/kg BPA; the acetic acid yield was 563 and 1010 mg COD/L with 0 and 50 mg/kg BPA, respectively. The abundance of microorganisms that can consume VFAs was reduced and those responsible for producing VFAs was increased by BPA. Homologous genes of related enzymes in the pathways for amino acid metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, ABC transporters and quorum sensing were enhanced in the presence of BPA. The abundance of carbohydrate-active enzymes increased with BPA when compared with the control, benefitting VFAs production.