Metagenomic Analysis of Nitrifying Bacteria in a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) from a Wastewater Treatment Works

August 12, 2025

Our laboratory has one mission: to innovate and reshape testing using the latest innovative tech. We have been developing our metagenomics offering for the past eight years and have witnessed the benefits it has brought so many of our customers in a wide range of industries from insurance claims to MBBRs for waste water treatments works like one of our latest cases.

Therefore Environmental were asked to perform metagenomic analysis on a Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) sample from a Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTW) to confirm whether nitrifying bacteria, specifically nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), had been successfully cultivated.

Nitrifying bacteria play a vital role in removing nitrogen from wastewater, helping prevent eutrophication, which occurs when untreated sewage discharges introduce excessive nutrients into water bodies. In the nitrification process, AOB oxidize ammonia (NH₄⁺) to nitrite (NO₂⁻), and NOB oxidize nitrite into nitrate (NO₃⁻). Therefore, cultivating and maintaining healthy nitrifying bacterial populations is essential for effective water treatment processes and environmental protection.

Biofilm, containing NOB and AOB populations, was carefully extracted from the MBBR media under controlled conditions. Using specialist in-house extraction protocols and DNA library preparation, metagenomic analysis was performed to generate a roundel diagram (Figure 1) showing the genomes detected and their percentage (%) quantification within the sample.

Figure 1 MBBR Roundel 

As shown in Figure 1, the MBBR sample contained the target nitrifying species Nitrobacter (NOB) and Nitrosomonas (AOB), this providing the client with indisputable reassurance that the onsite conditions successfully supported the growth and maintenance of the required bacterial populations.   Metagenomics allowed us to showcase exactly what was present in an easy to digest roundel for the client.

For undeniable reassurance with industry leading accuracy through metagenomic testing, email info@thereforeenvironmental.co.uk or visit the contact us page and fill out the contact form and a member of our team will be in touch.