Soluble Microbial Products from Water Biological Treatment Process: A Review

Abstract

The relationship between soluble microbial products (SMPs) and extracellular polymeric substances is described, and the characteristics of SMPs in the biological wastewater treatment process, including molecular weight distribution, metal-chelating property, biodegradability, biotoxicity, and membrane fouling, are investigated. The SMPs produced by autotrophs are degradable and utilizable for heterotrophs, thereby confirming the biodegradation of SMPs. Soluble microbial product models are designed through three approaches: establishment of SMP kinetic models or combination with Monod equations, incorporation of SMP generation and degradation into the unified theory raised by Laspidou and Rittmann (2002a), and introduction of the concept of SMP into activated sludge models. The effects of process parameters on SMP concentration are elaborated, based on the optimum biological treatment process operating parameters that can effectively minimize SMP production. The progress of SMP research in water biotreatment systems is presented, and suggestions for future studies are made.

Effect of Solids Retention Time on Effluent Dissolved Organic Nitrogen in the Activated Sludge Process: Studies on Bioavailability, Fluorescent Components, and Molecular Characteristics

“…Soluble microbial products (SMPs) released by microorganisms during the normal metabolism in the biological process contribute to nitrogenous organics in the effluent. 12 Previous studies have identified the SRT as one of the most significant factors responsible for SMP content, 16,43,44 and nitrogenous compounds derived from SMPs readily stimulate algal growth. 7 High effluent DON bioavailability observed at long SRTs in this study may therefore be contributed by SMP-based nitrogenous organic compounds.…”

Spectral characterization of the effect of gas–water ratio on dissolved organic nitrogen variation along a drinking water biological aerated filter

“…In the biological treatment process, soluble microbial products (SMPs) were released by microbial degradation of organic matters through cell lysis, cell membrane diffusion, and anabolic loss accompanied (Kang et al 2014). Some relevant literature con rmed that humic substances, proteins, and carbohydrates were the dominant components of SMPs (Shen et al 2012;Cui et al 2019).…”

Characteristics of estrogenic/antiestrogenic activities during the anoxic/aerobic biotreatment process of simulated textile dyeing wastewater

“…[22][23][24] Notably, dissolved organic matters (DOM) in the textile effluent, containing soluble microbial products and unknown estrogenic/ antiestrogenic chemicals, is changeable along with biological degradation and synthesis. 25,26 Therefore, DOM plays an important role in better evaluation of the estrogenic/ antiestrogenic activities of the textile dyeing wastewater.…”