title: Distribution of EPS and cell surface hydrophobicity in aerobic granules.
abstract: This study described the distribution of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) and hydrophobicity in aerobic granule as well as the essential role of EPS in maintaining the stable structure of aerobic granules. Aerobic granules showed a heterogeneous structure, which had an outer shell with high biomass density and an inner core having a relatively low biomass density. Results showed that the outer shell of aerobic granule was composed of poorly soluble and noneasily biodegradable EPS, whereas its core part was filled with readily soluble and biodegradable EPS. It was further found that the shell of aerobic granule exhibited a higher hydrophobicity than the core of granule. The insoluble EPS present in the granule shell would play a protective role with respect to the structure stability and integrity of aerobic granules.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore.
authors.forename: Zhi-Wu
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Joo-Hwa
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tay
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000737:chemistry*; D018533:Biomass; D019149:Bioreactors; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D010316:Particle Size; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D013499:Surface Properties; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides