Aerobic Granular Sludge

Microbial communities - especially functional bacteria for nutrient removal - are vital in biological wastewater treatment. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) has gained attention in the last two decades for its superior settling ability, resilience to operational fluctuations, and capacity to support diverse microbial populations, while activated sludge, though less efficient in settling, remains widely implemented. Pioneered in the 1990s, AGS represents an advancement in traditional aerobic suspended growth systems, such as activated sludge, by forming granules rather than flocs. This innovation results in a rapidly settling, high-density biomass that offers a smaller footprint and higher levels of nutrient removal due to the different redox zones across the granules and process cycle, all while requiring less energy. AGS has evolved into an attractive and globally well-established alternative to conventional activated sludge, and other techniques like moving bed bioreactors, and membrane bioreactors. Since the first full-scale implementation in 2005, there have been over 120 applications of Sequential Batch Reactor based AGS, with 14 operational plants in the UK and more under contract. Europe’s largest AGS application is at the Ringsend STP in Dublin, which treats a population of 2.4 million. The development of AGS has also advanced the concept of activated sludge process intensification. Nevertheless, there remains potential for advancing scientific insights that could lead to future further improvements. Moreover, carrier-medium-free microbial granules offer a unique perspective for studying biofilms traditionally associated with surface attachment. In the context of the circular economy, there is growing interest in recovering valuable resources from AGS, such as alginate-like exopolysaccharides, tryptophan, phosphorus, and polyhydroxyalkanoates. Discover how the Environmental Biotechnology Network's scientists are revolutionising Environmental Biotechnology by harnessing the synergy between microbiology and engineering. This video series explores this relationship in a range of areas from wastewater treatment to advanced biofuels. Our ground-breaking research is paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future. ** For the subtitled version of this, see:    • Aerobic Granular Sludge [Subtitled]   ** View our complete list of animations here:    • Environmental Biotechnology Animations: Mi...   Find out about all of our activities here: https://ebnet.ac.uk/