Impacts of carrier properties, environmental conditions and extracellular polymeric substances on biofilm formation of sieved fine particles from activated sludge

To investigate the effect of properties of carriers, environmental conditions and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) on the initial adhesion of biofilm formation in biofilm-based reactors, a quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) was applied to monitor the deposition rates and viscoelastic properties of sieved sludge particles on model biocarriers. The results suggested that surface charge, hydrophobicity and surface coating of five representative carriers influenced deposition rates and viscoelastic properties of biofilm, whose variation with NaCl concentrations was controlled by not only the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) interaction but also non-DLVO forces. On hydrophobic surface, the addition of cationic substances enhanced the deposition rates and the compaction of deposited layer due to strong “hydrophobizing effect”. For examples, 10 mM Ca2+, 10 mM Mg2+ and 10 mg/L poly-l-lysine enhanced the deposition rates to nearly 3, 2 and 4 times, as well as reduced the softness of deposited layer to almost 35%, 60% and 35%. Conversely, 10 mg/L negatively charged alginate might cause water retainment and steric shielding, thereby reducing the deposition rates to 40% and increasing the softness of deposited film to 120%. The presence of EPS sub-fractions can modify surface properties of sludge particles, to distinct degrees, contributing to biofilm formation. Notably, compared to tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS), loosely bound EPS (LB-EPS) was more conducive to microbial attachment, but the presence of LB-EPS promoted the formation of a soft layer on a hydrophobic surface. Overall, these results provide insights into intrinsic mechanisms of the variation of deposition rates and viscoelastic properties responding to critical factors, which are meaningful to predict and regulate the initial adhesion process in biofilm-based reactors. [Display omitted] •Deposition rates and viscoelastic properties were used to evaluate biofilm formation.•Both surface charge and hydrophobicity of carriers controlled biofilm formation.•A more swelled and soft deposited layer formed with increase in NaCl concentrations.•Cationic substances addition promoted the attachment and compaction of microorganisms.•LB-EPS favored microorganism attachment but inhibited the formation of a rigid layer.