Harnessing gravity-driven membranes in activated sludge bioreactors: Enhancing energy efficiency and mitigating biofouling via quorum quenching

IF 10.4 1区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

npj Clean Water Pub Date : 2025-06-15 DOI:10.1038/s41545-025-00490-2

Jun-U Jang, Jeongmi Park, Hyunjung Kim, Seonki Lee, Kwang-Ho Choo, Kibaek Lee

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Abstract

This study developed a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (GD-MBR) to reduce energy consumption in wastewater treatment. The system maintained a stable flux of 6 L/m²/h when treating high-organic wastewater loads (TOC: 270 mg/L, SS: 7,000 mg/L), surpassing conventional GDMs (2–4 L/m²/h). Quorum quenching (QQ) extended stable flux duration and increased cumulative permeate volume by 26%, treating 130 L and 73 L over 65 and 35 days, respectively, compared to 105 L and 50 L in the non-QQ system. QQ reduced biofilm extracellular polymeric substances (polysaccharides by 30% and proteins by 20%) and significantly lowered N-acylhomoserine lactone concentrations (e.g., C8-HSL: 0.02 ± 0.01 pM vs. 0.34 ± 0.03 pM after 106 days). Next-generation sequencing showed increased microbial network complexity (edges: 32 vs. 27) and downregulation of biofilm- and quorum-sensing-related genes (HigA-1, Fis, LuxR family). These results highlight the potential of QQ-enhanced GD-MBRs for energy-efficient treatment of high-organic wastewater loads.

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在活性污泥生物反应器中利用重力驱动膜：通过群体猝灭提高能源效率和减轻生物污染

为降低废水处理过程中的能耗，研制了重力驱动膜生物反应器（GD-MBR）。在处理高有机废水负荷（TOC: 270 mg/L, SS: 7000 mg/L）时，系统保持了6 L/m2/h的稳定通量，超过了常规gdm （2 ~ 4 L/m²/h）。群体猝灭（QQ）延长了稳定通量持续时间，增加了26%的累积渗透体积，在65天和35天内分别处理了130 L和73 L，而非QQ系统分别处理了105 L和50 L。QQ降低了生物膜胞外聚合物质（多糖减少30%，蛋白质减少20%），显著降低了n -酰基高丝氨酸内酯浓度（例如，106天后，C8-HSL: 0.02±0.01 pM vs. 0.34±0.03 pM）。下一代测序显示微生物网络复杂性增加（边缘：32比27），生物膜和群体感应相关基因（HigA-1, Fis， LuxR家族）下调。这些结果突出了qq增强型gd - mbr在高效处理高有机废水负荷方面的潜力。

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来源期刊

npj Clean Water Environmental Science-Water Science and Technology

CiteScore

15.30

自引率

2.60%

发文量

审稿时长

5 weeks

期刊介绍： npj Clean Water publishes high-quality papers that report cutting-edge science, technology, applications, policies, and societal issues contributing to a more sustainable supply of clean water. The journal's publications may also support and accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6, which focuses on clean water and sanitation.