Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater Treatment
Aerobic granulation is an emerging process in wastewater treatment that has the potential to accelerate sedimentation of the microbial biomass during secondary treatment. Aerobic granulation has been difficult to achieve in the continuous flow reactors (CFRs) used in modern wastewater treatment plan...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/9/2328 |
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| author | Alison T. Gomeiz Yewei Sun Aaron Newborn Zhi-Wu Wang Bob Angelotti Benoit Van Aken |
| author_facet | Alison T. Gomeiz Yewei Sun Aaron Newborn Zhi-Wu Wang Bob Angelotti Benoit Van Aken |
| author_sort | Alison T. Gomeiz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aerobic granulation is an emerging process in wastewater treatment that has the potential to accelerate sedimentation of the microbial biomass during secondary treatment. Aerobic granulation has been difficult to achieve in the continuous flow reactors (CFRs) used in modern wastewater treatment plants. Recent research has demonstrated that the alternation of nutrient-abundant (feast) and nutrient-limiting (famine) conditions is able to promote aerobic granulation in a CFR. In this study, we conducted a metagenomic analysis with the objective of characterizing the bacterial composition of the granular biomass developed in three simulated plug flow reactors (PFRs) with different feast-to-famine ratios. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a clear distinction between the bacterial composition of aerobic granules in the pilot simulated PFRs as compared with conventional activated sludge. Larger and denser granules, showing improved sedimentation properties, were observed in the PFR with the longest famine time and were characterized by a greater proportion of bacteria producing abundant extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Functional metagenomic analysis based on KEGG pathways indicated that the large and dense aerobic granules in the PFR with the longest famine time showed increased functionalities related to secretion systems and quorum sensing, which are characteristics of bacteria in biofilms and aerobic granules. This study contributes to a further understanding of the relationship between aerobic granule morphology and the bacterial composition of the granular biomass. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:26:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a045a87834c04d62aaee9140463b5808 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:26:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-a045a87834c04d62aaee9140463b58082023-11-19T12:03:49ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-09-01119232810.3390/microorganisms11092328Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater TreatmentAlison T. Gomeiz0Yewei Sun1Aaron Newborn2Zhi-Wu Wang3Bob Angelotti4Benoit Van Aken5School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10900 University Blvd, Manassas, VA 20110, USAHazen and Sawyer, 4035 Ridge Top Road, Fairfax, VA 22030, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030, USADepartment of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1230 Washington St. SW, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USAUpper Occoquan Service Authority, 14631 Compton Rd, Centreville, VA 20121, USADepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr, Fairfax, VA 22030, USAAerobic granulation is an emerging process in wastewater treatment that has the potential to accelerate sedimentation of the microbial biomass during secondary treatment. Aerobic granulation has been difficult to achieve in the continuous flow reactors (CFRs) used in modern wastewater treatment plants. Recent research has demonstrated that the alternation of nutrient-abundant (feast) and nutrient-limiting (famine) conditions is able to promote aerobic granulation in a CFR. In this study, we conducted a metagenomic analysis with the objective of characterizing the bacterial composition of the granular biomass developed in three simulated plug flow reactors (PFRs) with different feast-to-famine ratios. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a clear distinction between the bacterial composition of aerobic granules in the pilot simulated PFRs as compared with conventional activated sludge. Larger and denser granules, showing improved sedimentation properties, were observed in the PFR with the longest famine time and were characterized by a greater proportion of bacteria producing abundant extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Functional metagenomic analysis based on KEGG pathways indicated that the large and dense aerobic granules in the PFR with the longest famine time showed increased functionalities related to secretion systems and quorum sensing, which are characteristics of bacteria in biofilms and aerobic granules. This study contributes to a further understanding of the relationship between aerobic granule morphology and the bacterial composition of the granular biomass.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/9/2328aerobic granulationplug flow reactor—PFRmetagenomicsextracellular polymeric substances—EPSfilamentous bacteria |
| spellingShingle | Alison T. Gomeiz Yewei Sun Aaron Newborn Zhi-Wu Wang Bob Angelotti Benoit Van Aken Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater Treatment Microorganisms aerobic granulation plug flow reactor—PFR metagenomics extracellular polymeric substances—EPS filamentous bacteria |
| title | Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater Treatment |
| title_full | Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater Treatment |
| title_short | Metagenomic Analysis of a Continuous-Flow Aerobic Granulation System for Wastewater Treatment |
| title_sort | metagenomic analysis of a continuous flow aerobic granulation system for wastewater treatment |
| topic | aerobic granulation plug flow reactor—PFR metagenomics extracellular polymeric substances—EPS filamentous bacteria |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/9/2328 |
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