Toxicity of silver nanoparticles on Achromobacter denitrificans: effect of concentration, temperature and coexisting anions

Abstract

Abstract The indoor culture method was carried out to study the toxic effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on Achromobacter denitrificans. Specifically, the effects of AgNPs concentration, temperature and coexisting anions were analyzed. The results showed that AgNPs exerted significant inhibition on the bacteria, which was closely correlated with its concentration and temperature. Both the ammonia oxidation and generation capacity of Achromobacter denitrificans decreased significantly with an increase in AgNPs concentration. Compared with the inhibition performance at 30 °C, NH4+-N generation rates decreased by 45.31% at 20 °C and 17.58% at 40 °C, respectively, revealing that too low or too high temperature induced to reduce the nitrogen conversion ability of Achromobacter denitrificans. While compared with temperature, the effect of coexisting ions (Cl− and SO42−) was not significant (P > 0.05). Electron microscopy observations found that AgNPs non-specifically bound to the cells (content ranging from 0.04% to 0.10%) and acted on the cell surface structure, causing wrinkles, depressions, and ruptures on the surface of cell membranes, and leakage of substances in the membranes. AgNPs increased the rate of cell apoptosis and decreased the cell body volume mainly with short-term acute effects.