LAUSR

The effects of combined 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) and Cu2+ on microbial community structures, functional genes for nitrogen and phosphorus removal, and heavy metal resistance genes (HMRGs) were explored in wastewater treatment using sequencing batch bioreactors (SBRs). Compared to influent 4-CP (2.3-4.5 mg/L), the removal of pollutants including chemical oxygen demands (COD), NH4+-N, PO43--P, and 4-CP was inhibited under Cu2+ stress (5 mg/L). The effects of Cu2+ on microbial community structures were more significant than those of 4-CP with respect to operational time, while the dominant function from gene information was not affected with or without influent 4-CP and Cu2+ via sequencing analysis. The influent 4-CP and Cu2+ largely influenced the dynamic changes of functional genes and HMRGs, and the abundance of partial HMRGs was correlated to the functional genes and dominant genera. This study provides insights into the treatment of combined chlorophenols and Cu2+ in wastewater.