Biofilm regulation through biological autocrine signaling molecules and its deuterogenic benefits on gaseous dichloromethane degradation

[Display omitted] •A biological autocrine signaling molecule was economically developed.•Biofilm formation and dichloromethane biodegradation promoted synchronously.•Efficient startup, stability, and performance enhancement were achieved in biotrickling filters.•Efficient intermediate removal facilitated performance promotion.•Deuterogenic benefits on performance enhancement were achieved by enriching functional genes. Biofilm regulation based on quorum sensing is an effective bioaugmentation method for air purification; however, it has uncertain stability and obscure deuterogenic mechanisms. A biological autocrine signaling molecule (SMH13) with a C6-HSL component was prepared based on a dichloromethane (DCM) degrader—Methylobacterium rhodesianum H13—that enhanced DCM removal by 16% and maximally shortened the startup time by 39% in labscale biotrickling filters with substantially robust responses to shock loads and starvation resistance. Bioaugmentation closely correlated with increased microbial viability and activated metabolism, especially the enhanced degradation of a metabolic intermediate—HCOOH. Thus, the deuterogenic benefits of initial SMH13 addition on performance improvement was uncovered via the regulation of the microbial community and enrichment of functional genes, including the ones related to DCM removal, such as dcmA. These findings offer an innovative approach for the efficient and economical treatment of chlorinated volatile organic compounds.