Starch degradation and intermediate dynamics in flocculated and dispersed microcosms

What is it about?

A large part of the organic substrate in wastewater is particulate. Particles are too big to be transported into bacteria and are therefore degraded outside the cell. In this work we looked at how particles are degraded by bacteria. We studied the intermediates formed and compared how initial biomass composition affected degradation.

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Why is it important?

Understanding how particles are degraded are important for biological wastewater treatment processes. Intermediates formed during particle degradation can accumulate in the bulk liquid, and if the hydraulic retention time is short these intermediates can be lost in the effluent. In addition the knowledge on particle degradation in wastewater systems is relevant for bioenergy and biofuel production from particulate substrates.