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Updated: Feb 19, 2026

Immobilization of Multi-biocatalysts in Alginate Beads for Cofactor Regeneration and Improved Reusability
Published on: April 22, 2016
Application of trivalent cation cross-linked quorum quenching beads for biofouling mitigation and phosphorus removal
Hyeonwoo Choi1, Hyeok Kim2, Hyun-Suk Oh2
1Department of Environmental Engineering, The University of Seoul, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
This study applied quorum-quenching cell-entrapping beads (QQ-CEB) to mitigate membrane fouling and enhance phosphorus removal in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). Instead of suspending QQ-CEB in the MBR, immobilising it on a recovery net maintained the effluent total phosphorus removal at approximately 50%. It extended the system's operational period by about 2.2 times compared to a conventional MBR. Membrane fouling mitigation was attributed to quorum-quenching activity, reducing microbial products accumulated on the membrane surface by 28-47%. Signalling molecule analysis further confirmed that the QQ mechanism alleviated biofouling by inhibiting microbial quorum sensing. The Fe³+-cross-linked QQ-CEB exhibited an operational lifespan 1.53 times longer than that of the Ca2+-cross-linked QQ-CEB in the MBR process. Microbial community analysis of the Fe³+ QQ-CEB indicated that the intrusion of external microorganisms was effectively suppressed, thereby maintaining a stable microbial community within the beads.
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