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Doloman A, Sousa DZ. Mechanisms of microbial co-aggregation in mixed anaerobic cultures. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:407. [PMID: 38963458 PMCID: PMC11224092 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13246-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Co-aggregation of anaerobic microorganisms into suspended microbial biofilms (aggregates) serves ecological and biotechnological functions. Tightly packed aggregates of metabolically interdependent bacteria and archaea play key roles in cycling of carbon and nitrogen. Additionally, in biotechnological applications, such as wastewater treatment, microbial aggregates provide a complete metabolic network to convert complex organic material. Currently, experimental data explaining the mechanisms behind microbial co-aggregation in anoxic environments is scarce and scattered across the literature. To what extent does this process resemble co-aggregation in aerobic environments? Does the limited availability of terminal electron acceptors drive mutualistic microbial relationships, contrary to the commensal relationships observed in oxygen-rich environments? And do co-aggregating bacteria and archaea, which depend on each other to harvest the bare minimum Gibbs energy from energy-poor substrates, use similar cellular mechanisms as those used by pathogenic bacteria that form biofilms? Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of why and how mixed anaerobic microbial communities co-aggregate and discuss potential future scientific advancements that could improve the study of anaerobic suspended aggregates. KEY POINTS: • Metabolic dependency promotes aggregation of anaerobic bacteria and archaea • Flagella, pili, and adhesins play a role in the formation of anaerobic aggregates • Cyclic di-GMP/AMP signaling may trigger the polysaccharides production in anaerobes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Doloman
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Diana Z Sousa
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Centre for Living Technologies, Eindhoven-Wageningen-Utrecht Alliance, Princetonlaan 6, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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2
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Martínez-Calvo A, Trenado-Yuste C, Lee H, Gore J, Wingreen NS, Datta SS. Interfacial morphodynamics of proliferating microbial communities. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.23.563665. [PMID: 37961366 PMCID: PMC10634769 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.23.563665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
In microbial communities, various cell types often coexist by occupying distinct spatial domains. What determines the shape of the interface between such domains-which in turn influences the interactions between cells and overall community function? Here, we address this question by developing a continuum model of a 2D spatially-structured microbial community with two distinct cell types. We find that, depending on the balance of the different cell proliferation rates and substrate friction coefficients, the interface between domains is either stable and smooth, or unstable and develops finger-like protrusions. We establish quantitative principles describing when these different interfacial behaviors arise, and find good agreement both with the results of previous experimental reports as well as new experiments performed here. Our work thus helps to provide a biophysical basis for understanding the interfacial morphodynamics of proliferating microbial communities, as well as a broader range of proliferating active systems.
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3
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Sethi S, Gupta R, Bharshankh A, Sahu R, Biswas R. Celebrating 50 years of microbial granulation technologies: From canonical wastewater management to bio-product recovery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 872:162213. [PMID: 36796691 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microbial granulation technologies (MGT) in wastewater management are widely practised for more than fifty years. MGT can be considered a fine example of human innovativeness-driven nature wherein the manmade forces applied during operational controls in the biological process of wastewater treatment drive the microbial communities to modify their biofilms into granules. Mankind, over the past half a century, has been refining the knowledge of triggering biofilm into granules with some definite success. This review captures the journey of MGT from inception to maturation providing meaningful insights into the process development of MGT-based wastewater management. The full-scale application of MGT-based wastewater management is discussed with an understanding of functional microbial interactions within the granule. The molecular mechanism of granulation through the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and signal molecules is also highlighted in detail. The recent research interest in the recovery of useful bioproducts from the granular EPS is also emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shradhanjali Sethi
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre (CSIR-HRDC), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India; Wastewater Technology Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020, India
| | - Rohan Gupta
- Wastewater Technology Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020, India
| | - Ankita Bharshankh
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre (CSIR-HRDC), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India; Wastewater Technology Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020, India
| | - Rojalin Sahu
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre (CSIR-HRDC), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India; Wastewater Technology Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020, India
| | - Rima Biswas
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR-Human Resource Development Centre (CSIR-HRDC), Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201002, India; Wastewater Technology Division, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, Maharashtra 440020, India.
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4
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Trebuch LM, Schoofs K, Vaessen SMF, Neu TR, Janssen M, Wijffels RH, Vet LEM, Fernandes TV. N 2 -fixation can sustain wastewater treatment performance of photogranules under nitrogen-limiting conditions. Biotechnol Bioeng 2023; 120:1303-1315. [PMID: 36779371 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater characteristics can vary significantly, and in some municipal wastewaters the N:P ratio is as low as 5 resulting in nitrogen-limiting conditions. In this study, the microbial community, function, and morphology of photogranules under nitrogen-replete (N+) and limiting (N-) conditions was assessed in sequencing batch reactors. Photogranules under N- condition were nitrogen deprived 2/3 of a batch cycle duration. Surprisingly, this nitrogen limitation had no adverse effect on biomass productivity. Moreover, phosphorus and chemical oxygen demand removal were similar to their removal under N+ conditions. Although performance was similar, the difference in granule morphology was obvious. While N+ photogranules were dense and structurally confined, N- photogranules showed loose structures with occasional voids. Microbial community analysis revealed high abundance of cyanobacteria capable of N2 -fixation. These were higher at N- (38%) than N+ (29%) treatments, showing that photogranules could adjust and maintain treatment performance and high biomass productivity by means of N2 -fixation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas M Trebuch
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kobe Schoofs
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stijn M F Vaessen
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas R Neu
- Microbiology of Interfaces, Department River Ecology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Marcel Janssen
- Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - René H Wijffels
- Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.,Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
| | - Louise E M Vet
- Department of Terrestrial Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Tânia V Fernandes
- Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Wageningen, The Netherlands
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5
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Historical contingencies and phage induction diversify bacterioplankton communities at the microscale. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2117748119. [PMID: 35862452 PMCID: PMC9335236 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2117748119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In many natural environments, microorganisms decompose microscale resource patches made of complex organic matter. The growth and collapse of populations on these resource patches unfold within spatial ranges of a few hundred micrometers or less, making such microscale ecosystems hotspots of heterotrophic metabolism. Despite the potential importance of patch-level dynamics for the large-scale functioning of heterotrophic microbial communities, we have not yet been able to delineate the ecological processes that control natural populations at the microscale. Here, we address this challenge by characterizing the natural marine communities that assembled on over 1,000 individual microscale particles of chitin, the most abundant marine polysaccharide. Using low-template shotgun metagenomics and imaging, we find significant variation in microscale community composition despite the similarity in initial species pools across replicates. Chitin-degrading taxa that were rare in seawater established large populations on a subset of particles, resulting in a wide range of predicted chitinolytic abilities and biomass at the level of individual particles. We show, through a mathematical model, that this variability can be attributed to stochastic colonization and historical contingencies affecting the tempo of growth on particles. We find evidence that one biological process leading to such noisy growth across particles is differential predation by temperate bacteriophages of chitin-degrading strains, the keystone members of the community. Thus, initial stochasticity in assembly states on individual particles, amplified through ecological interactions, may have significant consequences for the diversity and functionality of systems of microscale patches.
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6
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Giri DD, Dwivedi H, Khalaf D Alsukaibi A, Pal DB, Otaibi AA, Areeshi MY, Haque S, Gupta VK. Sustainable production of algae-bacteria granular consortia based biological hydrogen: New insights. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 352:127036. [PMID: 35331885 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microbes recycling nutrient and detoxifying ecosystems are capable to fulfil the future energy need by producing biohydrogen by due to the coupling of autotrophic and heterotrophic microbes. In granules microbes mutualy exchanging nutrients and electrons for hydrogen production. The consortial biohydrogen production depend upon constituent microbes, their interdependence, competition for resources, and other operating parameters while remediating a waste material in nature or bioreactor. The present review deals with development of granular algae-bacteria consortia, hydrogen yield in coculture, important enzymes and possible engineering for improved hydrogen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deen Dayal Giri
- Department of Botany, Maharaj Singh College, Saharanpur-247001,Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Himanshu Dwivedi
- Department of Botany, Maharaj Singh College, Saharanpur-247001,Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Dan Bahadur Pal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi-835215, Jharkhand, India
| | - Ahmed Al Otaibi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 2440, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Y Areeshi
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shafiul Haque
- Research and Scientific Studies Unit, College of Nursing, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia; Bursa Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine,Görükle Campus, 16059, Nilüfer, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Vijai Kumar Gupta
- Center for Safe and Improved Food, SRUC, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK; Biorefining and Advanced Materials Research Center, SRUC, Kings Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
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7
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Liu YQ, Cinquepalmi S. Exploration of mechanisms for calcium phosphate precipitation and accumulation in nitrifying granules by investigating the size effects of granules. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 206:117753. [PMID: 34688097 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Calcium phosphate could be accumulated in aerobic granules, which attracts attention recently for phosphorus removal and recovery from wastewater. In this study, partial nitrifying granules with high calcium precipitate content were sorted into different size groups for characterization and evaluation to reveal the dynamic balance of granules at stead state and relevant calcium phosphate precipitation and accumulation mechanism. It was found that light yellow small granules without calcium precipitates but high microbial activity co-existed with deep brown granules with calcium precipitate of around 91% and low microbial activity. Characterization with specific oxygen uptake rates, specific ammonium oxidation rates, calcium and phosphate removal rates from solution, EPS contents, elemental compositions by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for different size groups of granules enabled a proposal of a new hypothesized mechanism for calcium precipitation and accumulation. With this proposed mechanism, it is believed that sufficient granule retention time in reactors was critical for the accumulation of calcium precipitates followed by a slow microbial growth rate of biomass due to mass transfer resistance. The co-precipitation of calcium carbonate and calcium phosphate mainly occurred in granules with a size less than 710 µm while calcium phosphate dominant minerals were accumulated in granules larger than 710 µm. The results and conclusions in this study shed light on the mechanisms of calcium phosphate accumulation in granules, which could be used to better operate and control aerobic granular sludge with calcium phosphates for phosphorus removal and recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Qiang Liu
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom.
| | - Simone Cinquepalmi
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, United Kingdom
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8
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Ronan E, Aqeel H, Wolfaardt GM, Liss SN. Recent advancements in the biological treatment of high strength ammonia wastewater. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 37:158. [PMID: 34420110 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-021-03124-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The estimated global population growth of 81 million people per year, combined with increased rates of urbanization and associated industrial processes, result in volumes of high strength ammonia wastewater that cannot be treated in a cost-effective or sustainable manner using the floc-based conventional activated sludge approach of nitrification and denitrification. Biofilm and aerobic granular sludge technologies have shown promise to significantly improve the performance of biological nitrogen removal systems treating high strength wastewater. This is partly due to enhanced biomass retention and their ability to sustain diverse microbial populations with juxtaposing growth requirements. Recent research has also demonstrated the value of hybrid systems with heterogeneous bioaggregates to mitigate biofilm and granule instability during long-term operation. In the context of high strength ammonia wastewater treatment, conventional nitrification-denitrification is hampered by high energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Anammox-based processes such as partial nitritation-anammox and partial denitrification-anammox represent more cost-effective and sustainable methods of removing reactive nitrogen from wastewater. There is also growing interest in the use of photosynthetic bacteria for ammonia recovery from high strength waste streams, such that nitrogen can be captured and concentrated in its reactive form and recycled into high value products. The purpose of this review is to explore recent advancements and emerging approaches related to high strength ammonia wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan Ronan
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Hussain Aqeel
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada.,School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Gideon M Wolfaardt
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada.,Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa
| | - Steven N Liss
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, M5B 2K3, Canada. .,School of Environmental Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada. .,Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland, 7602, South Africa.
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9
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Zhao T, Qiao K, Wang L, Zhang W, Meng W, Liu F, Gao X, Zhu J. Isolation and characterization of a strain with high microbial attachment in aerobic granular sludge. J Environ Sci (China) 2021; 106:194-203. [PMID: 34210435 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2021.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic granule is a special microbial aggregate associated with biofilm structure. The formation of aerobic granular sludge is primarily depending on its bacterial community and relevant microbiological properties. In this experiment, a strain with high microbial attachment was isolated from aerobic granular sludge, and the detailed characteristics were examined. Its high attachment ability could reach 2.34 (OD600nm), while other low attachment values were only around 0.06-0.32, which indicated a big variation among the different bacteria. The strain exhibited a very special morphology with many fibric fingers under SEM observation. A distinctive behaviour was to form a spherical particle by themselves, which would be very beneficial for the formation and development of granular sludge. The EPS measurement showed that its PN content was higher than low attachment bacteria, and 3D-EEM confirmed that there were some different components. Based on the 16S rRNA analysis, it was identified to mostly belong to Stenotrophomonas. Its augmentation to particle sludge cultivation demonstrated that the strain could significantly promote the formation of aerobic granule. Conclusively, it was strongly suggested that it might be used as a good and potential model strain or chassis organism for the aerobic granular sludge formation and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhao
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; R & D Centre of Aerobic Granule Technology, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Kai Qiao
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; State Key Laboratory of Water Simulation, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; R & D Centre of Aerobic Granule Technology, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wei Meng
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Fan Liu
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xu Gao
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; State Key Laboratory of Water Simulation, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jianrong Zhu
- School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; R & D Centre of Aerobic Granule Technology, Beijing 100875, China.
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10
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Muñoz-Palazon B, Rodriguez-Sanchez A, Hurtado-Martinez M, Gonzalez-Lopez J, Vahala R, Gonzalez-Martinez A. Evaluating the nitrogen-contaminated groundwater treatment by a denitrifying granular sludge bioreactor: effect of organic matter loading. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:41351-41364. [PMID: 33783701 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13648-5] [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: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A sequential bed granular bioreactor was adapted to treat nitrate-polluted synthetic groundwater under anaerobic conditions and agitation with denitrification gas, achieving very efficient performance in total nitrogen removal at influent organic carbon concentrations of 1 g L-1 (80-90%) and 0.5 g L-1 (70-80%) sodium acetate, but concentrations below 0.5 g L-1 caused accumulation of nitrite and nitrate and led to system failure (30-40% removal). Biomass size and settling velocity were higher above 0.5 g L-1 sodium acetate. Trichosporonaceae dominated the fungal populations at all times, while a dominance of terrestrial group Thaumarchaeota and Acidovorax at 1 and 0.5 g L-1 passed to a domination of Methanobrevibacter and an unclassified Comamonadaceae clone for NaAc lower than 0.5 g L-1. The results obtained pointed out that the denitrifying granular sludge technology is a feasible solution for the treatment of nitrogen-contaminated groundwater, and that influent organic matter plays an important role on the conformation of microbial communities within it and, therefore, on the overall efficiency of the system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Muñoz-Palazon
- Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, C/Ramon y Cajal, 4, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Miguel Hurtado-Martinez
- Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, C/Ramon y Cajal, 4, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Jesús Gonzalez-Lopez
- Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, C/Ramon y Cajal, 4, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Riku Vahala
- Department of Built Environment, School of Engineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15200, Aalto, FI-00076, Espoo, Finland
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11
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Adler A, Holliger C. Multistability and Reversibility of Aerobic Granular Sludge Microbial Communities Upon Changes From Simple to Complex Synthetic Wastewater and Back. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:574361. [PMID: 33324361 PMCID: PMC7726351 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.574361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is a promising alternative wastewater treatment to the conventional activated sludge system allowing space and energy saving. Basic understanding of AGS has mainly been obtained using simple wastewater containing acetate and propionate as carbon source. Yet, the aspect and performances of AGS grown in such model systems are different from those obtained in reactor treating real wastewater. The impact of fermentable and hydrolyzable compounds on already formed AGS was assessed separately by changing the composition of the influent from simple wastewater containing volatile fatty acids to complex monomeric wastewater containing amino acids and glucose, and then to complex polymeric wastewater containing also starch and peptone. The reversibility of the observed changes was assessed by changing the composition of the wastewater from complex monomeric back to simple. The introduction of fermentable compounds in the influent left the settling properties and nutrient removal performance unchanged, but had a significant impact on the bacterial community. The proportion of Gammaproteobacteria diminished to the benefit of Actinobacteria and the Saccharibateria phylum. On the other hand, the introduction of polymeric compounds altered the settling properties and denitrification efficiency, but induced smaller changes in the bacterial community. The changes induced by the wastewater transition were only partly reversed. Seven distinct stables states of the bacterial community were detected during the 921 days of experiment, four of them observed with the complex monomeric wastewater. The transitions between these states were not only caused by wastewater changes but also by operation failures and other incidences. However, the nutrient removal performance and settling properties of the AGS were globally maintained due to the functional redundancy of its bacterial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Adler
- Laboratory for Environmental Biotechnology, School for Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Environmental Engineering Institute, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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12
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Kirkland CM, Krug JR, Vergeldt FJ, van den Berg L, Velders AH, Seymour JD, Codd SL, Van As H, de Kreuk MK. Characterizing the structure of aerobic granular sludge using ultra-high field magnetic resonance. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2020; 82:627-639. [PMID: 32970616 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2020.341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite aerobic granular sludge wastewater treatment plants operating around the world, our understanding of internal granule structure and its relation to treatment efficiency remains limited. This can be attributed in part to the drawbacks of time-consuming, labor-intensive, and invasive microscopy protocols which effectively restrict samples sizes and may introduce artefacts. Time-domain nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) allows non-invasive measurements which describe internal structural features of opaque, complex materials like biofilms. NMR was used to image aerobic granules collected from five full-scale wastewater treatment plants in the Netherlands and United States, as well as laboratory granules and control beads. T1 and T2 relaxation-weighted images reveal heterogeneous structures that include high- and low-density biofilm regions, water-like voids, and solid-like inclusions. Channels larger than approximately 50 μm and connected to the bulk fluid were not visible. Both cluster and ring-like structures were observed with each granule source having a characteristic structural type. These structures, and their NMR relaxation behavior, were stable over several months of storage. These observations reveal the complex structures within aerobic granules from a range of sources and highlight the need for non-invasive characterization methods like NMR to be applied in the ongoing effort to correlate structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Kirkland
- Department of Civil Engineering, Montana State University, 205 Cobleigh, Bozeman, Montana, 59717, USA E-mail: ; Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, 366 Barnard, Bozeman, Montana, 59717, USA
| | - Julia R Krug
- Laboratory of BioNanoTechnology, Wageningen University and Research, Axis building, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands; Laboratory of Biophysics and MAGNEtic Resonance Research FacilitY (MAGNEFY), Wageningen University and Research, Helix building, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J Vergeldt
- Laboratory of Biophysics and MAGNEtic Resonance Research FacilitY (MAGNEFY), Wageningen University and Research, Helix building, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lenno van den Berg
- Department of Water Management, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Aldrik H Velders
- Laboratory of BioNanoTechnology, Wageningen University and Research, Axis building, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph D Seymour
- Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, 366 Barnard, Bozeman, Montana, 59717, USA; Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Montana State University, 306 Cobleigh, Bozeman, Montana, 59717, USA
| | - Sarah L Codd
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Montana State University, 220 Roberts, Bozeman, Montana, 59717, USA
| | - Henk Van As
- Laboratory of Biophysics and MAGNEtic Resonance Research FacilitY (MAGNEFY), Wageningen University and Research, Helix building, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WG, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Merle K de Kreuk
- Department of Water Management, Delft University of Technology, Stevinweg 1, 2628 CN, Delft, The Netherlands
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13
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Li ZH, Zhu YM, Zhang YL, Zhang YR, He CB, Yang CJ. Characterization of aerobic granular sludge of different sizes for nitrogen and phosphorus removal. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2019; 40:3622-3631. [PMID: 29855222 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2018.1483971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Granular size plays a key role in the performance of the aerobic granular sludge (AGS). As the diameter of the granule increases, stratification may begin to appear due to the increase in mass transfer resistance. Aerobic granules harvested from a lab-scale anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor (AO-SBR) were classified into three categories according to their size: (a) 0.15-0.28 mm, (b) 0.28-0.45 mm and (c) larger than 0.45 mm. In this study, the categories were called small-size, medium-size and large-size granules, respectively. A fraction of the different forms of phosphate and denitrification efficiency was investigated in each category. Results show that small-size granules present much more easily mobile phosphorus than other granules. Moreover, the denitrification performance has been tested by using dumping and trickling patterns for COD and NO3--N feeding. The results demonstrated that the large-size granules exhibit poor denitrification rates, as opposed to the medium-size granules. Therefore, medium-size granules, with a size of 0.28-0.45 mm, are regarded as the most suitable granular size for AGS in this experiment from the perspective of denitrification and phosphorus removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Hua Li
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology , Xi'an , People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Mo Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology , Xi'an , People's Republic of China
| | - Ya-Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology , Xi'an , People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Rong Zhang
- School of Civil Engineering, Lanzhou University of Technology , Lanzhou , People's Republic of China
| | - Chun-Bo He
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology , Trondheim , Norway
| | - Cheng-Jian Yang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental & Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology , Xi'an , People's Republic of China
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14
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Armitage DW, Jones SE. How sample heterogeneity can obscure the signal of microbial interactions. THE ISME JOURNAL 2019; 13:2639-2646. [PMID: 31249391 PMCID: PMC6794314 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-019-0463-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Microbial community data are commonly subjected to computational tools such as correlation networks, null models, and dynamic models, with the goal of identifying the ecological processes structuring microbial communities. A major assumption of these methods is that the signs and magnitudes of species interactions and vital rates can be reliably parsed from observational data on species' (relative) abundances. However, we contend that this assumption is violated when sample units contain any underlying spatial structure. Here, we show how three phenomena-Simpson's paradox, context-dependence, and nonlinear averaging-can lead to erroneous conclusions about population parameters and species interactions when samples contain heterogeneous mixtures of populations or communities. At the root of this issue is the fundamental mismatch between the spatial scales of species interactions (micrometers) and those of typical microbial community samples (millimeters to centimetres). These issues can be overcome by measuring and accounting for spatial heterogeneity at very small scales, which will lead to more reliable inference of the ecological mechanisms structuring natural microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David W Armitage
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 100 Galvin Life Science Center, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA.
| | - Stuart E Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 100 Galvin Life Science Center, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
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15
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Zhou JH, Yu HC, Ye KQ, Wang HY, Ruan YJ, Yu JM. Optimized aeration strategies for nitrogen removal efficiency: application of end gas recirculation aeration in the fixed bed biofilm reactor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:28216-28227. [PMID: 31368074 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06050-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Aeration strategy played an important role in reactor performance. In this study, when superficial upflow air velocity (SAV) decreased from 0.16 to 0.08 cm s-1, low dissolved oxygen concentration (DO) of 2.0 mg L-1 occurred in reactor. The required depth for anoxic microenvironment in biofilm decreased from 902.3 to 525.9 μm, which enhanced the growth of denitrifying bacteria and total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency. However, decreasing aeration intensity resulted in insufficient hydraulic shear stress, which led to weak biofilm matrix structure. Mass biofilm detachment and reactor deterioration then occurred after 87 days of operation. An end gas recirculation aeration strategy was proposed to separately manipulate DO and aeration intensity. Low DO and high aeration intensity were simultaneously achieved, which enhanced the metabolism of denitrifying bacteria (such as Flavobacterium sp., Pseudorhodobacter sp., and Dok59 sp.) and EPS-producing bacteria (such as Zoogloea sp. and Rhodobacter sp.). Consequently, high TN removal performance (82.1 ± 2.7%) and stable biofilm structure were achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Heng Zhou
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Hao Cheng Yu
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 310014, CNo. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Qiang Ye
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Hong Yu Wang
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 310014, CNo. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Jie Ruan
- College of Bio-systems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, |Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Jian Ming Yu
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, 310014, CNo. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China.
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16
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Giri S, Waschina S, Kaleta C, Kost C. Defining Division of Labor in Microbial Communities. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:4712-4731. [PMID: 31260694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In order to survive and reproduce, organisms must perform a multitude of tasks. However, trade-offs limit their ability to allocate energy and resources to all of these different processes. One strategy to solve this problem is to specialize in some traits and team up with other organisms that can help by providing additional, complementary functions. By reciprocally exchanging metabolites and/or services in this way, both parties benefit from the interaction. This phenomenon, which has been termed functional specialization or division of labor, is very common in nature and exists on all levels of biological organization. Also, microorganisms have evolved different types of synergistic interactions. However, very often, it remains unclear whether or not a given example represents a true case of division of labor. Here we aim at filling this gap by providing a list of criteria that clearly define division of labor in microbial communities. Furthermore, we propose a set of diagnostic experiments to verify whether a given interaction fulfills these conditions. In contrast to the common use of the term, our analysis reveals that both intraspecific and interspecific interactions meet the criteria defining division of labor. Moreover, our analysis identified non-cooperators of intraspecific public goods interactions as growth specialists that divide labor with conspecific producers, rather than being social parasites. By providing a conceptual toolkit, our work will help to unambiguously identify cases of division of labor and stimulate more detailed investigations of this important and widespread type of inter-microbial interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Giri
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Silvio Waschina
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christoph Kaleta
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christian Kost
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany.
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17
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Zhou JH, Zhou YC, Yu HC, Zhao YQ, Ye KQ, Fang JY, Wang HY. Determining the effects of aeration intensity and reactor height to diameter (H/D) ratio on granule stability based on bubble behavior analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:784-796. [PMID: 30415362 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3666-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic granular sludge was considered as a leading wastewater technology in the next century. However, the loss of granule stability limited the application of this promising biotechnology. Increasing aeration intensity and height to diameter (H/D) ratio were conventional strategies to enhance granule stability. In this study, hydraulic effects of aeration intensity and H/D ratio were explored basing on bubble behavior analysis. However, results revealed that due to viscous resistance, increasing aeration intensity and H/D ratio had limited effects on enhancing hydraulic shear stress, not to mention the extra operation and construction cost. A deflector component was further applied to regulate hydraulic shear stress on large granules under low aeration intensity and H/D ratio. Hydraulic shear stress of large granules was constantly around 3.0 times higher than that in the conventional reactor, resulting in higher percentage of granules within optimal size range (81.95 ± 5.13%). A high abundance of denitrifying bacteria was observed in reactors, which led to high TN removal efficiency of 88.6 ± 3.8%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Heng Zhou
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Cheng Zhou
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Cheng Yu
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Qun Zhao
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Qiang Ye
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Yuan Fang
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Yu Wang
- College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, No. 18 Chaowang Road, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China.
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18
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Leventhal GE, Boix C, Kuechler U, Enke TN, Sliwerska E, Holliger C, Cordero OX. Strain-level diversity drives alternative community types in millimetre-scale granular biofilms. Nat Microbiol 2018; 3:1295-1303. [DOI: 10.1038/s41564-018-0242-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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19
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Wilén BM, Liébana R, Persson F, Modin O, Hermansson M. The mechanisms of granulation of activated sludge in wastewater treatment, its optimization, and impact on effluent quality. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:5005-5020. [PMID: 29705957 PMCID: PMC5960003 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8990-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Granular activated sludge has gained increasing interest due to its potential in treating wastewater in a compact and efficient way. It is well-established that activated sludge can form granules under certain environmental conditions such as batch-wise operation with feast-famine feeding, high hydrodynamic shear forces, and short settling time which select for dense microbial aggregates. Aerobic granules with stable structure and functionality have been obtained with a range of different wastewaters seeded with different sources of sludge at different operational conditions, but the microbial communities developed differed substantially. In spite of this, granule instability occurs. In this review, the available literature on the mechanisms involved in granulation and how it affects the effluent quality is assessed with special attention given to the microbial interactions involved. To be able to optimize the process further, more knowledge is needed regarding the influence of microbial communities and their metabolism on granule stability and functionality. Studies performed at conditions similar to full-scale such as fluctuation in organic loading rate, hydrodynamic conditions, temperature, incoming particles, and feed water microorganisms need further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt-Marie Wilén
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.
| | - Raquel Liébana
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Frank Persson
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Oskar Modin
- Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil and Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Malte Hermansson
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
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20
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Sarma SJ, Tay JH. Carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus removal mechanisms of aerobic granules. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2018; 38:1077-1088. [DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2018.1451481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Jyoti Sarma
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Bennett University, Greater Noida, India
- Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Joo-Hwa Tay
- Department of Civil Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
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21
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Fan XY, Gao JF, Pan KL, Li DC, Zhang LF, Wang SJ. Shifts in bacterial community composition and abundance of nitrifiers during aerobic granulation in two nitrifying sequencing batch reactors. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2018; 251:99-107. [PMID: 29272774 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Shifts in bacterial community composition and abundance of nitrifiers during aerobic granulation, and the effects of wastewater composition on them were investigated using Illumina sequencing and quantitative PCR. The bacterial diversity decreased sharply during the post-granulation period. Although cultivated with different wastewater types, aerobic granular sludge (AGS) formed with similar bacterial structure. The bacterial structure in AGS was completely different from that of seed sludge. The minor genera in seed sludge, e.g., Arcobacter, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium and Acinetobacter, became the dominant genera in AGS. These genera have the potential to secrete excess extracellular polymer substances. Whereas, the dominant genera in seed sludge were found in less amount or even disappeared in AGS. During aerobic granulation, ammonia-oxidizing archaea were gradually washed-out. While, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, complete ammonia oxidizers and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were retained. Overall, in this study, the bacterial genera with low relative abundance in seed sludge are important for aerobic granulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Fan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jing-Feng Gao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China.
| | - Kai-Ling Pan
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Ding-Chang Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Li-Fang Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Shi-Jie Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Advanced Municipal Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
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22
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Milferstedt K, Kuo-Dahab WC, Butler CS, Hamelin J, Abouhend AS, Stauch-White K, McNair A, Watt C, Carbajal-González BI, Dolan S, Park C. The importance of filamentous cyanobacteria in the development of oxygenic photogranules. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17944. [PMID: 29263358 PMCID: PMC5738420 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16614-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Microorganisms often respond to their environment by growing as densely packed communities in biofilms, flocs or granules. One major advantage of life in these aggregates is the retention of its community in an ecosystem despite flowing water. We describe here a novel type of granule dominated by filamentous and motile cyanobacteria of the order Oscillatoriales. These bacteria form a mat-like photoactive outer layer around an otherwise unconsolidated core. The spatial organization of the phototrophic layer resembles microbial mats growing on sediments but is spherical. We describe the production of these oxygenic photogranules under static batch conditions, as well as in turbulently mixed bioreactors. Photogranulation defies typically postulated requirements for granulation in biotechnology, i.e., the need for hydrodynamic shear and selective washout. Photogranulation as described here is a robust phenomenon with respect to inoculum characteristics and environmental parameters like carbon sources. A bioprocess using oxygenic photogranules is an attractive candidate for energy-positive wastewater treatment as it biologically couples CO2 and O2 fluxes. As a result, the external supply of oxygen may become obsolete and otherwise released CO2 is fixed by photosynthesis for the production of an organic-rich biofeedstock as a renewable energy source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim Milferstedt
- LBE, Univ Montpellier, INRA, 102 Avenue des étangs, 11100, Narbonne, France.
| | - W Camilla Kuo-Dahab
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Caitlyn S Butler
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Jérôme Hamelin
- LBE, Univ Montpellier, INRA, 102 Avenue des étangs, 11100, Narbonne, France
| | - Ahmed S Abouhend
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
- Marine Pollution Laboratory, National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Hurghada, 84511, Egypt
| | - Kristie Stauch-White
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Adam McNair
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Christopher Watt
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | | | - Sona Dolan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
| | - Chul Park
- LBE, Univ Montpellier, INRA, 102 Avenue des étangs, 11100, Narbonne, France.
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
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23
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Szabó E, Liébana R, Hermansson M, Modin O, Persson F, Wilén BM. Comparison of the bacterial community composition in the granular and the suspended phase of sequencing batch reactors. AMB Express 2017; 7:168. [PMID: 28871435 PMCID: PMC5583138 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-017-0471-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulation of activated sludge is an increasingly important area within the field of wastewater treatment. Granulation is usually achieved by high hydraulic selection pressure, which results in the wash-out of slow settling particles. The effect of the harsh wash-out conditions on the granular sludge ecosystem is not yet fully understood, but different bacterial groups may be affected to varying degrees. In this study, we used high-throughput amplicon sequencing to follow the community composition in granular sludge reactors for 12 weeks, both in the granular phase and the suspended phase (effluent). The microbiome of the washed out biomass was similar but not identical to the microbiome of the granular biomass. Certain taxa (e.g. Flavobacterium spp. and Bdellovibrio spp.) had significantly (p < 0.05) higher relative abundance in the granules compared to the effluent. Fluorescence in situ hybridization images indicated that these taxa were mainly located in the interior of granules and therefore protected from erosion. Other taxa (e.g. Meganema sp. and Zooglea sp.) had significantly lower relative abundance in the granules compared to the effluent, and appeared to be mainly located on the surface of granules and therefore subject to erosion. Despite being washed out, these taxa were among the most abundant members of the granular sludge communities and were likely growing fast in the reactors. The ratio between relative abundance in the granular biomass and in the effluent did not predict temporal variation of the taxa in the reactors, but it did appear to predict the spatial location of the taxa in the granules.
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24
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Feng S, Tan CH, Constancias F, Kohli GS, Cohen Y, Rice SA. Predation by Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus significantly reduces viability and alters the microbial community composition of activated sludge flocs and granules. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2017; 93:3044202. [PMID: 28334102 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fix020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently isolated and characterised a predatory Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus strain from activated sludge (Ulu Pandan Water Reclamation Plant, Singapore), and this strain, B. bacteriovorus UP, was able to prey upon a broad spectrum of bacterial isolates from the activated sludge when grown as planktonic cells or as biofilms. Here, we have tested the effect of Bdellovibrio predation on floccular and granular sludge to determine if the spatial organisation, loosely or tightly aggregated communities, was protective from predation. The effect of predation was assessed using a combination of biomass quantification, cellular activity measurement and microscopic image analysis to determine community viability. Additionally, changes in the microbial communities due to predation by B. bacteriovorus UP were analysed through total RNA sequencing. Predation led to a significant reduction in microbial activity and total biomass for both floccular and granular sludge communities. Predation was also associated with significant changes in the microbial community composition in both communities, with >90% of the community members reduced in relative abundance after 24 h. Of those community members, the dominant organisms, such as Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, were the most affected phylotypes. This suggests that predatory bacteria, which display indiscriminant feeding, could significantly shift the species composition and thus, may disturb the operational performance of wastewater treatment systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shugeng Feng
- The Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Chuan Hao Tan
- The Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.,The School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Florentin Constancias
- The Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Gurjeet S Kohli
- The Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Yehuda Cohen
- The Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Scott A Rice
- The Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.,The School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore.,The Centre for Marine Bio-Innovation, The School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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25
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Cooperation in carbon source degradation shapes spatial self-organization of microbial consortia on hydrated surfaces. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43726. [PMID: 28262696 PMCID: PMC5338011 DOI: 10.1038/srep43726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence suggests that natural microbial communities exhibit a high level of spatial organization at the micrometric scale that facilitate ecological interactions and support biogeochemical cycles. Microbial patterns are difficult to study definitively in natural environments due to complex biodiversity, observability and variable physicochemical factors. Here, we examine how trophic dependencies give rise to self-organized spatial patterns of a well-defined bacterial consortium grown on hydrated surfaces. The model consortium consisted of two Pseudomonas putida mutant strains that can fully degrade the aromatic hydrocarbon toluene. We demonstrated that obligate cooperation in toluene degradation (cooperative mutualism) favored convergence of 1:1 partner ratio and strong intermixing at the microscale (10–100 μm). In contrast, competition for benzoate, a compound degraded independently by both strains, led to distinct segregation patterns. Emergence of a persistent spatial pattern has been predicted for surface attached microbial activity in liquid films that mediate diffusive exchanges while permitting limited cell movement (colony expansion). This study of a simple microbial consortium offers mechanistic glimpses into the rules governing the assembly and functioning of complex sessile communities, and points to general principles of spatial organization with potential applications for natural and engineered microbial systems.
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26
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Analysis of bacterial, fungal and archaeal populations from a municipal wastewater treatment plant developing an innovative aerobic granular sludge process. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 33:14. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-016-2179-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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27
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Zhou JH, Zhang ZM, Zhao H, Yu HT, Alvarez PJJ, Xu XY, Zhu L. Optimizing granules size distribution for aerobic granular sludge stability: Effect of a novel funnel-shaped internals on hydraulic shear stress. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2016; 216:562-570. [PMID: 27281434 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.05.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A novel funnel-shaped internals was proposed to enhance the stability and pollutant removal performance of an aerobic granular process by optimizing granule size distribution. Results showed up to 68.3±1.4% of granules in novel reactor (R1) were situated in optimal size range (700-1900μm) compared to less than 29.7±1.1% in conventional reactor (R2), and overgrowth of large granules was effectively suppressed without requiring additional energy. Consequently, higher total nitrogen (TN) removal (81.6±2.1%) achieved in R1 than in R2 (48.1±2.7%). Hydraulic analysis revealed the existence of selectively assigning hydraulic pressure in R1. The total shear rate (τtotal) on large granules was 3.07±0.14 times higher than that of R2, while τtotal of small granules in R1 was 70.7±4.6% in R2. Furthermore, large granules in R1 with intact extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) outer layer structure entrapped hydroxyapatite at center, which formed a core structure and further enhanced the stability of aerobic granules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Heng Zhou
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; College of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hang Zhao
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hai-Tian Yu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Pedro J J Alvarez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Xiang-Yang Xu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Liang Zhu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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28
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Henriet O, Meunier C, Henry P, Mahillon J. Improving phosphorus removal in aerobic granular sludge processes through selective microbial management. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2016; 211:298-306. [PMID: 27023385 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2015] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to improve phosphorus removal in aerobic granular sludge sequential batch reactors (AGS-SBR) by a differential selection of the granules containing the highest proportion of phosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs). The abundance of PAOs in granules with different density was analyzed by PCR-DGGE, pyrosequencing and qPCR. Dense granules contained a higher proportion of Candidatus Accumulibacter (PAO) with a 16S rRNA gene frequency up to 45%. Starting with an AGS-SBR with low height/diameter ratio performing unstable P removal, two strategies of biomass removal were assessed. First, a high selective pressure (short settling time) was applied and second, an increase of the settling time was combined with a homogeneous purge of the sludge bed. The first strategy resulted in a reduction of P removal efficiency while the second improved and stabilized P removal over 90%. This study offers a new approach of biomass management in AGS-SBR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Henriet
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Christophe Meunier
- CEBEDEAU, Research and Expertise Center for Water, Allée de la découverte, 11 (B53), Quartier Polytech 1, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Paul Henry
- CEBEDEAU, Research and Expertise Center for Water, Allée de la découverte, 11 (B53), Quartier Polytech 1, B-4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Jacques Mahillon
- Laboratory of Food and Environmental Microbiology, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
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29
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Cordero OX, Datta MS. Microbial interactions and community assembly at microscales. Curr Opin Microbiol 2016; 31:227-234. [PMID: 27232202 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2016.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In most environments, microbial interactions take place within microscale cell aggregates. At the scale of these aggregates (∼100μm), interactions are likely to be the dominant driver of population structure and dynamics. In particular, organisms that exploit interspecific interactions to increase ecological performance often co-aggregate. Conversely, organisms that antagonize each other will tend to spatially segregate, creating distinct micro-communities and increased diversity at larger length scales. We argue that, in order to understand the role that biological interactions play in microbial community function, it is necessary to study microscale spatial organization with enough throughput to measure statistical associations between taxa and possible alternative community states. We conclude by proposing strategies to tackle this challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto X Cordero
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Computational and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Manoshi S Datta
- Computational and Systems Biology Graduate Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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30
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Ding Z, Bourven I, Guibaud G, van Hullebusch ED, Panico A, Pirozzi F, Esposito G. Role of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production in bioaggregation: application to wastewater treatment. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:9883-905. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6964-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Revised: 08/23/2015] [Accepted: 08/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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31
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Sadri Moghaddam S, Alavi Moghaddam M. Cultivation of aerobic granules under different pre-anaerobic reaction times in sequencing batch reactors. Sep Purif Technol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2014.12.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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32
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Yang YC, Liu X, Wan C, Sun S, Lee DJ. Accelerated aerobic granulation using alternating feed loadings: alginate-like exopolysaccharides. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2014; 171:360-366. [PMID: 25218208 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.08.092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2014] [Revised: 08/20/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Alginate-like exopolysaccharides (ALE) likely contribute markedly to strength of aerobic granules. This study cultivated aerobic granules from propionate wastewaters using strategies with different organic loading rates (OLRs) (4.4-17.4 kg/m(3)-d). When the OLR increased suddenly, the constituent cells (Pseudomonas, Clostridium, Thauera and Arthrobacter) were stimulated to secret extracellular cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP) and produced excess ALE, which formed a large quantity of sticky materials that served as the precursor of aerobic granules. Formation of excess ALE was the prerequisite for accelerated granulation. Conversely, this study observed no enrichment of poly guluronic acid blocks in ALE during granulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Chun Yang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Xiang Liu
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Chunli Wan
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Supu Sun
- Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Duu-Jong Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan.
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