Impact of operational mode on the relationship between quorum sensing and sludge bulking

IF 6.6 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Journal of water process engineering Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-27 DOI:10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109590

Shi Wang , Chundi Gao , Jiaxin Liu , Xuening Chang , Chen Jia , Yongzhen Peng

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Abstract

Suboptimal reactor conditions are pivotal in triggering sludge bulking, where quorum sensing (QS) mediates the deterioration of sludge settleability through regulating the physiological behavior of specific microorganisms. The effects of two operational modes (R1: anoxic/aerobic; R2: fully aerobic) on the performance, QS, and microbial community of the sequencing batch reactors were investigated using a prolonged feeding strategy. Both modes induced severe sludge bulking; however, the anoxic condition in R1 delayed bulking onset by approximately 10 days relative to R2. QS analysis indicated that the increase in C4-homoserine lactone (-HSL) and the decrease in C12-HSL in R1, as well as the increase in C6-HSL and the decrease in C10-HSL in R2, were significantly correlated with the sludge volume index. Functional gene dynamics revealed that the upregulation of autoinducer receptor genes coupled with the downregulation of degradation enzyme genes synergistically enhanced QS signal accumulation. Pearson's correlation analysis demonstrated that these acyl-HSLs regulated secretion of extracellular polymeric substances, particularly polysaccharides, by mediating the metabolic activities of dominant genera such as Thiothrix and Zoogloea; N-acyl-L-HSL concentrations were subject to fine-tuned feedback regulation within the microbial community, which varied with operational mode. The continuous dynamic interplay between QS and the microbial community drove changes in core system performance indicators, including pollutant removal efficiency, sludge settling characteristics, and extracellular polymeric substance secretion patterns. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the microscopic mechanisms underlying filamentous sludge bulking.

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运行模式对群体感应与污泥膨胀关系的影响

次优反应器条件是引发污泥膨胀的关键，其中群体感应（QS）通过调节特定微生物的生理行为来调节污泥沉降性的恶化。采用长时间投料策略，研究了两种操作模式（R1：缺氧/好氧；R2：全好氧）对序批式反应器性能、QS和微生物群落的影响。两种模式均引起严重的污泥膨胀；然而，R1的缺氧条件相对于R2延迟了大约10天的肿胀发作。QS分析表明，R1中c4 -高丝氨酸内酯（-HSL）的升高和C12-HSL的降低，R2中C6-HSL的升高和C10-HSL的降低与污泥体积指数显著相关。功能基因动力学表明，自诱导剂受体基因的上调与降解酶基因的下调协同增强了QS信号的积累。Pearson’s相关分析表明，这些酰基hsl通过介导优势属（如硫刺虫和Zoogloea）的代谢活动来调节细胞外聚合物物质的分泌，特别是多糖的分泌；n -酰基- l- hsl浓度在微生物群落中受微调反馈调节，随操作模式的不同而变化。QS与微生物群落之间的持续动态相互作用推动了核心系统性能指标的变化，包括污染物去除效率、污泥沉降特性和胞外聚合物分泌模式。这些发现为理解丝状污泥膨胀的微观机制提供了理论基础。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of water process engineering Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology-Biotechnology

CiteScore

10.70

自引率

8.60%

发文量

846

审稿时长

24 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Water Process Engineering aims to publish refereed, high-quality research papers with significant novelty and impact in all areas of the engineering of water and wastewater processing . Papers on advanced and novel treatment processes and technologies are particularly welcome. The Journal considers papers in areas such as nanotechnology and biotechnology applications in water, novel oxidation and separation processes, membrane processes (except those for desalination) , catalytic processes for the removal of water contaminants, sustainable processes, water reuse and recycling, water use and wastewater minimization, integrated/hybrid technology, process modeling of water treatment and novel treatment processes. Submissions on the subject of adsorbents, including standard measurements of adsorption kinetics and equilibrium will only be considered if there is a genuine case for novelty and contribution, for example highly novel, sustainable adsorbents and their use: papers on activated carbon-type materials derived from natural matter, or surfactant-modified clays and related minerals, would not fulfil this criterion. The Journal particularly welcomes contributions involving environmentally, economically and socially sustainable technology for water treatment, including those which are energy-efficient, with minimal or no chemical consumption, and capable of water recycling and reuse that minimizes the direct disposal of wastewater to the aquatic environment. Papers that describe novel ideas for solving issues related to water quality and availability are also welcome, as are those that show the transfer of techniques from other disciplines. The Journal will consider papers dealing with processes for various water matrices including drinking water (except desalination), domestic, urban and industrial wastewaters, in addition to their residues. It is expected that the journal will be of particular relevance to chemical and process engineers working in the field. The Journal welcomes Full Text papers, Short Communications, State-of-the-Art Reviews and Letters to Editors and Case Studies