Trace lanthanum activation drives deep biological phosphorus removal
Bohan Liu1, Jun Nan1, Rongcheng He1
1State Key Laboratory of Urban-rural Water Resource & Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, China.
Environmental Science and Ecotechnology
|May 29, 2026
Summary
A novel lanthanum aerogel (LZGA) enhances biological phosphorus removal in wastewater treatment. This sustainable approach activates microbial metabolism, significantly reducing effluent phosphorus with minimal chemical use and sludge production.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Materials Science
Background:
- Eutrophication from excess phosphorus discharge endangers aquatic ecosystems globally.
- Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is crucial but often needs optimization for strict standards.
- Conventional methods use excessive chemicals, increase sludge, and can harm polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate a low-dose, slow-release lanthanum aerogel (LZGA) for enhancing biological phosphorus removal.
- To assess LZGA's efficacy in reducing effluent phosphorus and its impact on PAO metabolism.
- To explore a sustainable alternative to conventional chemical phosphorus removal methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilized sequencing batch reactors with a novel lanthanum aerogel (LZGA) material.
- Analyzed effluent total phosphorus concentrations before and after LZGA application.
- Employed proteomic and microbial analyses to understand LZGA's effects on PAO metabolism and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production.
Main Results:
- LZGA reduced effluent total phosphorus from 0.85 mg L-1 to 0.14 mg L-1 at a low dose (15 mg L-1).
- Demonstrated a significant reduction in chemical consumption (0.7 g La per ton of wastewater).
- Revealed that trace La3+ stimulates PAO metabolism, upregulates energy pathways, and increases key protein expression in Candidatus Accumulibacter.
Conclusions:
- Targeted trace-metal activation of microbial pathways using LZGA offers an effective strategy for upgrading bioreactors.
- This approach enables deep biological phosphorus removal with a near-zero chemical footprint, enhancing sustainability.
- LZGA presents a versatile paradigm for global wastewater management and advanced eutrophication control.
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