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Extraction of Structural Extracellular Polymeric Substances from Aerobic Granular Sludge
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Glycerol conversion by aerobic granular sludge.

Ali Elahinik1, Maureen Haarsma1, Ben Abbas1

  • 1Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Delft, The Netherlands.

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|November 17, 2022
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Summary

Glycerol in wastewater is utilized by aerobic granular sludge for enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR). Microbes form a food chain, converting glycerol into products for nutrient removal, enabling effective wastewater treatment.

Keywords:
ActinobacteriaConsortiumEBPRFermentative organismsGlycerolPAO

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Wastewater Treatment Engineering
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Glycerol is a common industrial wastewater byproduct, particularly from biodiesel production.
  • Its potential as a microbial carbon source for nutrient removal in wastewater treatment remains underexplored.
  • Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes are crucial for managing phosphorus pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate glycerol utilization by aerobic granular sludge for EBPR.
  • To elucidate the microbial interactions and metabolic pathways involved in glycerol conversion.
  • To assess the feasibility of using glycerol-based EBPR for industrial wastewater treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactor operation.
  • Stoichiometric analysis of glycerol conversion.
  • Microbial community analysis using metagenomics, metaproteomics, and microscopy.
  • Identification of key enzymes involved in glycerol transport and metabolism.

Main Results:

  • Robust aerobic granular sludge with high phosphorus removal efficiency was successfully formed using glycerol as a carbon source.
  • Actinobacteria (Tessaracoccus, Micropruina) and Ca. Accumulibacter were identified as dominant microbial populations.
  • Glycerol fermentation initially produced 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), which was later consumed, leading to complete anaerobic COD uptake.
  • Key glycerol transport and metabolism genes (glpF, glpK) were found in Actinobacteria, suggesting their role in initial glycerol breakdown.

Conclusions:

  • Glycerol-containing wastewater can be effectively treated using the aerobic granular sludge process.
  • A microbial food chain involving fermentative bacteria and polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) can be established for glycerol-based EBPR.
  • This study provides insights into the microbial ecology and metabolic processes driving glycerol utilization in EBPR systems.