Properties and Dynamics of Flocculated, Granular and Fixed Film Microbial Structures in Wastewater Treatment Systems

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The future of water/wastewater infrastructure must evolve innovatively in response to pressures (e.g. climate change, water quality deterioration, energy/resource costs, inadequate approaches to supporting isolated and remote communities, and urbanization) on legacy systems, and inadequate or ageing infrastructure, as well as opportunities created by the circular economy. The proposed research presents a new perspective to describing, managing and harnessing the properties of biomass within biological wastewater treatment systems. This is important to the changing requirements for effluent treatment, modification and development of new biological treatment systems, migration from large--scale to distributed systems that occupy smaller footprints, and to advance emerging and sustainable technologies. Motivation for the proposed research arises from four emerging insights and developments in our laboratory: (i) A spectrum of microbial structures including floc, granular sludge, granules and fixed-films that can dynamically co-exist and interact in a single stable system, rather than a set of discrete microbial structures; (ii) Aerobic granule systems are not necessarily homogeneous suspensions, and a proportion of the biomass consists of flocculated forms and a range of granular structures representing a yet undefined set of hybrid systems; (iii) Recent observations of rapid granulation in integrated fixed--film sequencing batch reactors and interactions between aerobic granules and fixed-films warrants further study; and, (iv) Unique configurations and microbial interactions in wastewater treatment systems present conditions that contribute to emergence of antimicrobial resistance and mobility of antimicrobial resistance genes in the environment. Our approach employs laboratory-- and pilot--scale bioreactors and examination of fundamental aspects of microbial structures and properties under well--controlled conditions. This includes a recently established novel laboratory--scale continuous flow system designed with features to achieve granulation. Novel methods and advanced tools to further develop insights on the role of extracellular polymers in the properties and behavior of microbial structures in engineered systems. Details of the microbial communities and interactions will involve a combination of molecular based approaches to describe the community composition and dynamics, and the relationship between structural features and microbial interactions. At the core of the research program is training and the development of talent. Our platform includes advanced tools and novel methods that have proven valuable to young trainees and investigators (engineers and scientists) working on environmental problems and at the interface of biology and engineering. Training opportunities will be further enhanced through participation in the NSERC supported CREATE-program - LEaders in wAter anD watERshed Sustainability (the LEADERS).