Impact of truncated modified basalt fibers on aerobic granular sludge stability and pollutant removal in piggery wastewater treatment

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Modified basalt fibers (MBF) and carbon fibers (CF) are effective bio-carrier materials that enhance wastewater treatment performance. This study explored the use of two lengths of truncated MBF and CF (0.1 and 0.4 mm) in a sequencing batch reactor to support activated sludge treatment, facilitating the formation of aerobic granular sludge (AGS). This approach aimed to enhance the stability and pollutant removal efficiency of AGS, particularly for treating piggery wastewater (PWW). The study further assessed the impact of adding truncated fibers on AGS formation, stability, and its chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN) removal capabilities. Results indicate that truncated MBF notably enhanced sludge activity, promoting the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) within AGS. This process further increased the protein/polysaccharide ratio and bolstered AGS stability. Specifically, the addition of 0.1 mm MBF boosted PWW treatment efficiency. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that the addition of fibers had a minimal impact on the distribution of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) within AGS, although truncated MBF enriched the population of AOB. Microbial community analysis showed that the addition of MBF favored the enrichment of bacteria associated with nitrogen removal, upregulating the tricarboxylic acid cycle, nitrogen and amino acid metabolism. Overall, truncated MBF significantly improved AGS stability and its effectiveness in PWW treatment.