1
|
Yang Y, Zhu Y, Gan D, Cai X, Li X, Liu X, Xia S. Enhancing biofilm formation with powder carriers for efficient nitrogen and phosphorus removal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 951:175812. [PMID: 39197770 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/24/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
This study assesses the improvement in nitrogen and phosphorus removal from wastewater achieved through the integration of zeolite and attapulgite carrier materials into the activated sludge (AS) process. It was found that the addition of these materials significantly enhanced the processing performance of the reactor. Specifically, the use of zeolite and attapulgite powders increased sludge particle sizes to averages of 231.56 μm and 219.62 μm, respectively. This facilitated micro-granule formation, substantially improving the settling characteristics of the sludge and boosting the activity and proliferation of essential microbes. Illumina MiSeq sequencing demonstrated significant accumulations of DGAOs (Candidatus_Competibacter) and DPAOs (Candidatus_Accumulibacter). Furthermore, these carriers augmented the protein content in extracellular polymers, enhancing the hydrophobicity of the sludge and promoting aggregation. Comparative analysis based on the extended Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek (DLVO) theory indicated a preferential adhesion affinity of sludge for zeolite compared to attapulgite, attributed primarily to Lewis acid-base and electric double-layer interactions. These findings underscore zeolite's enhanced efficacy in biomass fixation and suggest significant potential for the technological advancement of wastewater treatment plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yuting Zhu
- Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Defu Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiang Cai
- College of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
| | - Xiaodi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xinchao Liu
- Tongji Architectural Design (Group) Co., Ltd., Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Siqing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li Z, Wang Q, Lei Z, Zheng H, Zhang H, Huang J, Ma Q, Li F. Biofilm formation and microbial interactions in moving bed-biofilm reactors treating wastewater containing pharmaceuticals and personal care products: A review. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 368:122166. [PMID: 39154385 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
The risk of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has been paid more attention after the outbreak of COVID-19, threatening the ecology and human health resulted from the massive use of drugs and disinfectants. Wastewater treatment plants are considered the final stop to restrict PPCPs from wide spreading into the environment, but the performance of conventional treatment is limited due to their concentrations and characteristics. Previous studies have shown the unreplaceable capability of moving bed-biofilm reactor (MBBR) as a cost-effective method with layered microbial structure for treating wastewater even with toxic compounds. The biofilm community and microbial interactions are essential for the MBBR process in completely degrading or converting types of PPCPs to secondary metabolites, which still need further investigation. This review starts with discussing the initiation of MBBR formation and its influencing parameters according to the research on MBBRs in the recent years. Then the efficiency of MBBRs and the response of biofilm after exposure to PPCPs are further addressed, followed by the bottlenecks proposed in this field. Some critical approaches are also recommended for mitigating the deficiencies of MBBRs based on the recently published publications to reduce the environmental risk of PPCPs. Finally, this review provides fundamental information on PPCPs removal by MBBRs with the main focus on microbial interactions, promoting the MBBRs to practical application in the real world of wastewater treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhichen Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Zhongfang Lei
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan
| | - Hao Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Haoshuang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Jiale Huang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Qihao Ma
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Fengmin Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science and Ecology, Ministry of Education, Qingdao, 266003, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Huang Y, Hu T, Lin B, Ke Y, Li J, Ma J. Microplastics-biofilm interactions in biofilm-based wastewater treatment processes: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 361:124836. [PMID: 39216664 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics, pervasive contaminants from plastic, present significant challenges to wastewater treatment processes. This review critically examines the interactions between microplastics and biofilm-based treatment technologies, specifically focusing on the concepts of "biofilm on microplastics" and "microplastics in biofilm". It discusses the implications of these interactions in contaminant removal and process performance. Advanced characterization techniques, including morphological characterization, chemical composition analysis, and bio-information analysis, are assessed to elucidate the complex interplay between microplastics and biofilms within biofilters, biological aerated filters (BAFs), rotating biological contactors (RBCs), and moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs). This review synthesizes current research findings, highlighting that microplastics can either hinder or enhance the treatment processes, contingent on their concentration, physicochemical properties, and the specific biofilm technology employed. The insights gained from this review are essential for developing strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of microplastics and for optimizing the design and operation of wastewater treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaning Huang
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tanqiu Hu
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bincheng Lin
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Youqing Ke
- China Construction Eighth Engineering Division. Corp. Ltd., Guangzhou 510663, China
| | - Jibin Li
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Jinxing Ma
- Guangdong Basic Research Center of Excellence for Ecological Security and Green Development, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Ecology, Environment and Resources, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Corsino SF, Bruno F, Di Bella G. Nutrients removal in overloaded WWTP by intermittently aerated IFAS: Effects of biofilm carrier and intermittent aeration cycle. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 365:121516. [PMID: 38901318 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.121516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Updating of the current Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC) will demand stricter regulations for nutrients removal. In this frame, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) of small-to-medium potential will face new challenges for achieving process intensification. Integrating intermittent aeration (IA) and integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) technologies could be a promising solution to meet such requirements. This study analyzed how IA cycles affected nutrients removal in IFAS reactors with different biofilm carriers (e.g., plastic and sponge media). The plants responses to different carbon/nitrogen/phosphorous (C/N/P) ratios were evaluated while operating under low sludge retention time (SRT) to simulate overloaded conditions. A short IA cycle (1 h) with an aeration/not aeration ratio of 2:1 enabled high organic carbon and nitrification performances when operating at high C/N/P (11.8/1/1), whereas low denitrification and phosphorous removal yields were obtained because of the short not-aerated phase. Decreasing C/N ratio (8.8/1/1) without changing the IA cycle resulted in nitrification worsening because of the reduced metabolic kinetics of biofilm. Under such load conditions, a higher IA cycle (2 h) was necessary to improve process performance. A longer not-aerated phase was also positive for denitrification and phosphorous removal because of the establishment of anoxic and anaerobic environments within the bulk and inner biofilm layers. Besides, results suggested that sponge carriers offered advantages over plastic ones, enabling a higher biofilm retention capacity, better nutrient removal, as well as robustness and resilience to operating condition changes. This would result in simpler management systems for implementing the IA process, thus reducing process complexity and costs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Santo Fabio Corsino
- Department of Engineering, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Federica Bruno
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna ''Kore'', Cittadella Universitaria, 94100, Enna, Italy
| | - Gaetano Di Bella
- Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Enna ''Kore'', Cittadella Universitaria, 94100, Enna, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sandeep R, Muscolino JF, Macêdo WV, Piculell M, Christensson M, Poulsen JS, Nielsen JL, Vergeynst L. Effect of biofilm thickness on the activity and community composition of phosphorus accumulating bacteria in a moving bed biofilm reactor. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120599. [PMID: 37717325 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Can biofilms enhance the rates of phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment? In order to narrow the scientific gap on the effect of biofilm thickness on the activity and microbial community of phosphorus-accumulating bacteria, this study investigated biofilms of 30 to 1000 µm thickness in a moving bed biofilm reactor. Measurements on 5 different biofilm carriers showed that biomass-specific phosphorus release and uptake rates increased as a function of biofilm thickness for biofilms thinner than about 110 µm but were lower for thicker biofilms of about 550-1000 µm. The reduced phosphorus uptake and release rates in the thickest biofilms can result from substrate mass transfer limitations whereas the low activity in the thinnest biofilms can be related to a too high turnover rate in the biofilm due to heterotrophic growth. Additionally, the microbial ecology of the different biofilms confirms the observed phosphorus uptake and release rates. The results from the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the bacterial community showed that the thicker biofilms were characterized by higher relative abundance (40-58%) of potential phosphorus accumulating genera Zoogloea, Acinetobacter, Dechloromonas and Ca. Accumulibacter. In contrast, the thinner biofilms were dominated by the genus Ferribacterium (34-60%), which might be competing with phosphorus-accumulating bacteria as indicated by the relatively high acetate uptake rates in the thinner biofilms. It is concluded that there is an optimal biofilm thickness of 100-500 µm, at which the phosphorus accumulating bacteria have the highest activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rellegadla Sandeep
- Centre for Water Technology (WATEC), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Juan Franco Muscolino
- Centre for Water Technology (WATEC), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Williane Vieira Macêdo
- Centre for Water Technology (WATEC), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | | | - Jan Struckmann Poulsen
- Center for Microbial Communities, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Jeppe Lund Nielsen
- Center for Microbial Communities, Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
| | - Leendert Vergeynst
- Centre for Water Technology (WATEC), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
König AW, Ariano SS, Joksimovic D. Analysis of sampling strategies for pulse loads of SARS-CoV-2: implications for wastewater-based epidemiology. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 88:1039-1057. [PMID: 37651336 PMCID: wst_2023_233 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
A faecal transport model was applied to a 11.3 km2 wastewater servicing area in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to explore the role that different wastewater sampling campaigns have on estimating the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a population of 60,000. A stochastic wastewater and water quality model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of 11 sampling campaigns during periods of high and low COVID-19 infection among the population, tested using virtual sampling during dry-weather flow. The virtual sampling campaigns were based on the most common automatic sampler programming capabilities and widely used wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) sampling campaigns reported in the literature. Sampling campaigns differ in weighting method (time, volume, or flow-weighted sampling), sample count, collection period, or sample time. Results suggest that grab samples should be avoided and/or that sampling campaigns with the greatest sample counts and durations are the most robust at capturing COVID-19 infection among the population. Most surprisingly, changes to the weighting method were negligible indicating that a greater number of samples, and larger sample volumes are preferred. This work suggests that investment in flow monitoring equipment for flow- or volume-weighted sampling will not improve WBE results, and that standard time based sampling is sufficient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Albert Wilhelm König
- Institute of Urban Water Management and Landscape Water Engineering, Graz University of Technolog, Stremayrgasse 10/1, Graz 8010, Austria E-mail:
| | - Sarah Sydney Ariano
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, McGill University, 3450 University Street, Montreal, QC, H3A 0E8, Canada
| | - Darko Joksimovic
- Department of Civil Engineering, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yu L, Zhang Q, Li R, Qiao B, Wang Z, Zheng L, Peng D. Extracellular polymeric substances trigger microbial immigration from partial denitrification (PD) to anammox biofilms in a long-term operated PD/anammox process in low-strength wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 229:119382. [PMID: 36446177 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The immigration of microbial communities in a synergistic partial denitrification/anammox (SPDA) system was investigated in a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) inoculated with partial denitrification (PD) and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) biofilms. The SPDA system was operated at 25 ± 1 °C over 260 days. The total nitrogen (TN) of the effluent was only 3.71 ± 0.92 mg·L-1 in the stable phase with a TN removal efficiency of 95.23%. The anammox process was the dominant nitrogen removal pathway with an average contribution of 74.31% to TN removal. The results of the in situ activity and key enzymatic activity revealed that the nitrate-reducing bacteria tended to immigrate to anammox biofilms. Correspondingly, the abundance of the genus Thauera, the second most dominant bacteria in anammox biofilms, quickly increased from 0.78 to 10.69% on day 50 and eventually to 16.45% on day 221 according to the Illumina MiSeq sequencing data. The microbial immigration might be caused by different extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-mediated mechanisms in PD and anammox biofilms. For fast-growing denitrifiers, PD biofilms tend to increase the ability of mass transfer by excreting more polysaccharides to form loosely-bound EPS at the expense of the ability to harbor the nitrate-reducing bacteria. However, for the slow-growing anaerobic ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB), the anammox biofilms tend to increase the retention of AnAOB by excreting more proteins to form enhanced tightly-bound EPS at the expense of the mass transfer ability, thereby causing the detached nitrate-reducing bacteria to immigrate into anammox biofilms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Yu
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 13#, Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, China.
| | - Qiong Zhang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 13#, Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Ren Li
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 13#, Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Bingchuang Qiao
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 13#, Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Ze Wang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 13#, Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, China
| | - Lanxiang Zheng
- College of Ecology and Environment, Ningxia University, Yinchuan 750021, China; China Wine Industry Technology Institute, Yinchuan 750021, China
| | - Dangcong Peng
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, 13#, Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
The influence of cupuaçu extract in the production of biofilms based on babassu coconut mesocarp. Polym Bull (Berl) 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00289-022-04487-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
|