Unraveling the dynamic changes in bacterial communities composition and diversity in chlorolignin waste contaminated sediments by metagenomics approach

Pulp and paper mills (PPMs) invariably produce a diverse array of unknown persistent pollutants that exhibit high resistance to environmental degradation, thereby presenting a significant and immediate threat to both the environment and human health. Investigation of the microbial community structures and dynamics in chlorolignin waste polluted sites is warranted to unravel their function in the bioremediation of chlorolignin compounds and eco-restoration of pulp paper mill waste contaminated sites. Metagenomic analysis of the sludge samples indicated a reinforcing relationship between organic pollutants and bacterial diversity. These results suggested that bacterial communities associated with PPS-2 were substantially different in diversity, and relative abundance of taxa compared to PPS-1. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first attempt to explore the impact of chlorolignin waste pollutants on the bacterial community structure within sediment from pulp and paper production.