As part of applied research on wastewater treatment, a study on immobilized microorganisms highlights the potential of carrier-based systems to deliver breakthrough performance in industrial effluent management.
Objective: Evaluate immobilized microbial carriers as a cost-effective, high-efficiency alternative to conventional activated sludge for removing refractory and toxic contaminants.
Key results:
- Immobilized microbes achieved 97–99.9% removal of COD, NH₃-N, and volatile phenols across multiple wastewater streams, including refinery, coal-gasification, and chemical industry effluents.
- The immobilized biofilter process required 30% less capital investment and 50% less footprint compared to traditional systems, while generating less sludge and controlling odors.
- High-efficiency microbial consortia (≥5 billion CFU/g) maintained activity across wide pH (6.0–9.0) and temperature (5–55 °C) ranges, ensuring year-round reliability.
- Long-term reuse tests confirmed >95% efficiency over extended operation, demonstrating carrier stability and resilience.
This study confirms immobilized microbial technology as a scalable, safe, and eco-friendly solution that overcomes long-standing bottlenecks in sewage treatment.
A special thank you to the Institute of Environmental Engineering, PKU, for their scientific leadership and collaboration in advancing this promising technology.