title: Changes in the microbial community structure of filaments and floc formers in response to various carbon sources and feeding patterns.
abstract: Filamentous bulking is a complicated problem in wastewater treatment plants treating various wastewaters, leading to the deterioration of the settling properties and the effluent quality. This study systematically investigated long-term effects of various carbon sources and feeding patterns on the growth of filamentous bacteria, in order to reveal the mechanism of filamentous bulking. Sludge volume index (SVI), microscopic observations, staining (Gram and Neisser staining), scan electron microscopic, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to monitor the bulking and track the changes of microbial morphology and community structure of activated sludge in six lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) fed with different carbon sources. Filamentous bulking was not observed in all SBRs under anoxic feeding pattern with a short fill time, in which SVI remained below 150 mL/g. In contrast, serious bulking (SVI > 500 mL/g) occurred under aerobic feeding pattern when fed with ethanol, propionate, acetate, and glucose, in which Thiothrix and Sphaerotilus natans proliferated as dominant filaments. Compared to glucose-fed reactor, relatively light bulking was caused in starch-fed reactor with the growth of Nostocoida limicola II. In addition, flocs in starch-fed reactor were more open and fluffy than flocs formed on readily biodegradable substrates. Finally, a framework integrating kinetic selection, diffusion selection, storage selection, and protozoa capture mechanism was proposed to explain filamentous bulking.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Beijing for Water Quality Science and Water Environmental Recovery Engineering, Beijing Engineering Research Center of Biological Nutrient Removal and Process Control, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China.
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yongzhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xiong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000693:Anaerobiosis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D058448:Biota / Q000187:drug effects*; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000378:metabolism; D062065:Wastewater / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D062065:Wastewater