Differential ion transport and biomass charges create strong electric fields in anammox granules

IF 11.4 1区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Water Research Pub Date : 2025-04-16 DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2025.123663

Matteo Tucci , Federico Aulenta , Mie Mai Corneliussen , Luis F.M. Rosa , Cristian Picioreanu , Ugo Marzocchi

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Abstract

Quantifying mass transport of substrates and products within biofilms is crucial for the identification of limiting factors and thereby for the optimization of bioprocess. Current models assume that concentration gradients (i.e., molecular diffusion) control the transport of solutes within biofilms. Here, we document for the first time the presence of electric fields within anammox granules. The measured intensity of these electric potential fields was unprecedented (up to 360 V/m) compared to other biological systems. Mathematical modeling indicates that biomass behaves as a weak ion exchanger towards NH₄⁺, thereby inducing a diffusion potential. These electric fields, in turn, support the migration of ions, and the contribution of ionic migration to the total transport of NO₂⁻, NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ matches the magnitude of molecular diffusion. Our data indicates that neglecting ionic migration could result in significant error in estimating mass transport and therefore limiting reactants and reaction rates within anammox granules and, potentially, in a broader range of natural and artificial biofilms.

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不同的离子传输和生物质电荷在厌氧氨氧化颗粒中产生强电场

定量底物和产物在生物膜内的质量运输对于确定限制因素并因此优化生物过程至关重要。目前的模型假设浓度梯度（即分子扩散）控制生物膜内溶质的运输。在这里，我们首次记录了厌氧氨氧化颗粒中电场的存在。与其他生物系统相比，这些电位场的测量强度是前所未有的（高达360 V/m）。数学模型表明，生物质对NH4+表现为弱离子交换剂，从而诱导扩散电位。这些电场反过来支持离子的迁移，并且离子迁移对NO2-、NH4+和NO3-总迁移的贡献与分子扩散的大小相匹配。我们的数据表明，忽略离子迁移可能会导致估计质量传递的重大错误，从而限制厌氧氨氧化颗粒内的反应物和反应速率，并可能在更大范围的天然和人工生物膜中。

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来源期刊

Water Research 环境科学-工程：环境

CiteScore

20.80

自引率

9.40%

发文量

1307

审稿时长

38 days

期刊介绍： Water Research, along with its open access companion journal Water Research X, serves as a platform for publishing original research papers covering various aspects of the science and technology related to the anthropogenic water cycle, water quality, and its management worldwide. The audience targeted by the journal comprises biologists, chemical engineers, chemists, civil engineers, environmental engineers, limnologists, and microbiologists. The scope of the journal include: •Treatment processes for water and wastewaters (municipal, agricultural, industrial, and on-site treatment), including resource recovery and residuals management; •Urban hydrology including sewer systems, stormwater management, and green infrastructure; •Drinking water treatment and distribution; •Potable and non-potable water reuse; •Sanitation, public health, and risk assessment; •Anaerobic digestion, solid and hazardous waste management, including source characterization and the effects and control of leachates and gaseous emissions; •Contaminants (chemical, microbial, anthropogenic particles such as nanoparticles or microplastics) and related water quality sensing, monitoring, fate, and assessment; •Anthropogenic impacts on inland, tidal, coastal and urban waters, focusing on surface and ground waters, and point and non-point sources of pollution; •Environmental restoration, linked to surface water, groundwater and groundwater remediation; •Analysis of the interfaces between sediments and water, and between water and atmosphere, focusing specifically on anthropogenic impacts; •Mathematical modelling, systems analysis, machine learning, and beneficial use of big data related to the anthropogenic water cycle; •Socio-economic, policy, and regulations studies.