Designing an in situ remediation strategy for polluted surface water bodies through the specific regulation of microbial community

Abstract

Remediation of polluted water body via microbial community regulation is proposed.

EAS-induced microbial growth can enhance self-purification of polluted water body.

Principle of EAS is elaborated by the conceptual model description.

This paper proposes an in situ restoration strategy, ecosystem activation system (EAS), for self-purification abilities of polluted water ecosystems through the specific regulation of microbial community. EAS utilizes polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) to modify indigenous microbial communities of polluted water bodies. Microorganisms preferentially utilizing PHA as the carbon source for their enhanced growth are defined as specific, and those with no special selectivity to PHA and raw-water dissolved organic matter are defined as non-specific and can be phased out during EAS operation. As a result, the microbial community can be regulated to the specific structure, which is beneficial for the water quality improvement. The developed model described the above principle with accounting for the growth kinetics of specific microorganisms, competitive inhabitation of specific microorganisms on non-specific microorganisms, and coupled EAS-induced self-purification of polluted water bodies. The conceptual model is believed to be a primary step toward quantitative design, operation, and optimization of EAS.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Remediation / Surface water / Polyhydroxyalkanoates / Microbial proliferation

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