Efficient and sustained inhibition of ammonia nitrogen release from sediment in water by microbial self-aggregation zeolite layer

Despite global efforts to manage water eutrophication, the continual release of ammonia nitrogen from sediments maintains the eutrophic state of water bodies, presenting serious challenges to the management. In order to find an efficient method for sediment remediation, the experiment of using signal molecules to enhance the adhesion of microorganisms on zeolite was carried out. Five different zeolitic ammonium adsorptions were examined using two different signal molecules, N-(3-oxohexanoyl)- l -homoserine lactone (OHHL) and N-(β-ketocaproyl)- dl -homoserine lactone (C6), to enhance microbial attachment on two types of zeolites. The results showed that the modified microbial attached Z 1 zeolite reinforced with signal molecule C6 had the best effect. The effect was better in the case of high ammonium adsorption, and the TN removal could reach 7.99 mg·L −1 with an inhibition rate of 90.08%. The ammonia nitrogen removal reached 4.75 mg·L −1 with an inhibition rate of 87.64%, and the ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen of the overlying water reached the surface III water quality standard. In addition, the addition of the signal molecule increased the zeta potential on the surface of the bacterial colloid. In addition, the amount of protein I in the dissolved organic matter (DOM) fraction increased, improving microbial adhesion ability and facilitating their attachment to the zeolite surface. The signal molecule C6 could increase the zeta potential of microbial surface and promote the production of protein I, thus strengthening the attachment of zeolite biofilm and improving the water quality. Graphical abstract Efficient biological removal of ammonia by microbial self aggregation zeolite.