Assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilms
Aerobic granular sludge is based on self-granulated flocs forming mobile biofilms with a gel-like consistence. Bacterial and structural dynamics from flocs to granules were followed in anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactors fed with synthetic wastewater, namely a bubble column (BC-SBR) operated...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2013-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2013.00175/full |
| _version_ | 1818112537562972160 |
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| author | David G. Weissbrodt Thomas R. Neu Ute eKuhlicke Yoan eRappaz Christof eHolliger |
| author_facet | David G. Weissbrodt Thomas R. Neu Ute eKuhlicke Yoan eRappaz Christof eHolliger |
| author_sort | David G. Weissbrodt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aerobic granular sludge is based on self-granulated flocs forming mobile biofilms with a gel-like consistence. Bacterial and structural dynamics from flocs to granules were followed in anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactors fed with synthetic wastewater, namely a bubble column (BC-SBR) operated under wash-out conditions for fast granulation, and two stirred-tank enrichments of Accumulibacter (PAO-SBR) and Competibacter (GAO-SBR) operated at steady-state. In the BC-SBR, granules formed within two weeks by swelling of Zoogloea colonies around flocs, developing subsequently smooth zoogloeal biofilms. However, Zoogloea predominance (37-79%) led to deteriorated nutrient removal during the first months of reactor operation. Upon maturation, improved nitrification (80-100%), nitrogen removal (43-83%), and high but unstable dephosphatation (75-100%) were obtained. Proliferation of dense clusters of nitrifiers, Accumulibacter, and Competibacter from granule cores outwards resulted in heterogeneous bioaggregates, inside which only low abundance Zoogloea (<5%) were detected in biofilm interstices. The presence of different extracellular glycoconjugates detected by fluorescence lectin-binding analysis showed the complex nature of the intracellular matrix of these granules. In the PAO-SBR, granulation occurred within two months with abundant and active Accumulibacter populations (56±10%) that were selected under full anaerobic uptake of volatile fatty acids and that aggregated as dense clusters within heterogeneous granules. Flocs self-granulated in the GAO-SBR after 480 days during a period of over-aeration caused by biofilm growth on the oxygen sensor. Granules were dominated by heterogeneous clusters of Competibacter (37±11%). Zoogloea were never abundant in biomass of both PAO- and GAO-SBRs. This study showed that Zoogloea, Accumulibacter, and Competibacter affiliates can form granules, and that the granulation mechanisms rely on the dominant population involved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:20:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4e48d5c7adea4bcfa7757e8a0545a54b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T03:20:31Z |
| publishDate | 2013-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-4e48d5c7adea4bcfa7757e8a0545a54b2022-12-22T01:22:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2013-07-01410.3389/fmicb.2013.0017550799Assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilmsDavid G. Weissbrodt0Thomas R. Neu1Ute eKuhlicke2Yoan eRappaz3Christof eHolliger4Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de LausanneAerobic granular sludge is based on self-granulated flocs forming mobile biofilms with a gel-like consistence. Bacterial and structural dynamics from flocs to granules were followed in anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactors fed with synthetic wastewater, namely a bubble column (BC-SBR) operated under wash-out conditions for fast granulation, and two stirred-tank enrichments of Accumulibacter (PAO-SBR) and Competibacter (GAO-SBR) operated at steady-state. In the BC-SBR, granules formed within two weeks by swelling of Zoogloea colonies around flocs, developing subsequently smooth zoogloeal biofilms. However, Zoogloea predominance (37-79%) led to deteriorated nutrient removal during the first months of reactor operation. Upon maturation, improved nitrification (80-100%), nitrogen removal (43-83%), and high but unstable dephosphatation (75-100%) were obtained. Proliferation of dense clusters of nitrifiers, Accumulibacter, and Competibacter from granule cores outwards resulted in heterogeneous bioaggregates, inside which only low abundance Zoogloea (<5%) were detected in biofilm interstices. The presence of different extracellular glycoconjugates detected by fluorescence lectin-binding analysis showed the complex nature of the intracellular matrix of these granules. In the PAO-SBR, granulation occurred within two months with abundant and active Accumulibacter populations (56±10%) that were selected under full anaerobic uptake of volatile fatty acids and that aggregated as dense clusters within heterogeneous granules. Flocs self-granulated in the GAO-SBR after 480 days during a period of over-aeration caused by biofilm growth on the oxygen sensor. Granules were dominated by heterogeneous clusters of Competibacter (37±11%). Zoogloea were never abundant in biomass of both PAO- and GAO-SBRs. This study showed that Zoogloea, Accumulibacter, and Competibacter affiliates can form granules, and that the granulation mechanisms rely on the dominant population involved.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2013.00175/fullpyrosequencingaerobic granular sludgebiological wastewater treatmentconfocal laser scanning microscopyT-RFLPfluorescence in situ hybridization |
| spellingShingle | David G. Weissbrodt Thomas R. Neu Ute eKuhlicke Yoan eRappaz Christof eHolliger Assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilms Frontiers in Microbiology pyrosequencing aerobic granular sludge biological wastewater treatment confocal laser scanning microscopy T-RFLP fluorescence in situ hybridization |
| title | Assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilms |
| title_full | Assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilms |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilms |
| title_short | Assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilms |
| title_sort | assessment of bacterial and structural dynamics in aerobic granular biofilms |
| topic | pyrosequencing aerobic granular sludge biological wastewater treatment confocal laser scanning microscopy T-RFLP fluorescence in situ hybridization |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/fmicb.2013.00175/full |
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