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Biofilm-suspension syntrophy drives synergistic electro-fermentation through engineered spatial division of labor for concurrent carbon recovery and pollutant degradation.

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Title: Biofilm-suspension syntrophy drives synergistic electro-fermentation through engineered spatial division of labor for concurrent carbon recovery and pollutant degradation.
Authors: Gu, Jiayu1 (AUTHOR), Guo, Jiying1 (AUTHOR), Peng, Rui1 (AUTHOR), Wu, Yang1 (AUTHOR) wuyang1026@tongji.edu.cn, Long, Min1 (AUTHOR), Zheng, Xiong1,2,3 (AUTHOR) xiongzheng@tongji.edu.cn, Huang, Haining1 (AUTHOR), Chen, Yinguang1,2 (AUTHOR)
Source: Water Research. Jun2026, Vol. 297, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subjects: Bromophenols, Short-chain fatty acids, Waste recycling, Organic compounds removal (Sewage purification), Fermentation, Microbial communities, Microbial respiration
Abstract: • EFS achieved 97.4% 4-BP degradation while 40.2% enhanced VFAs production. • Biofilms governed debromination while suspensions drove acidogenesis in EFS. • EET served as the central driver reinforcing biofilm-suspension syntrophy. • "Sensing-Defense-Energy" network activated adaption systems to resist 4-BP stress. Electro-fermentation systems (EFS) offer a promising approach for waste activated sludge valorization, yet the spatial metabolic interaction between electrode biofilms and planktonic suspensions remains unclear. This lack of understanding limits the optimization of systems aimed at simultaneous resource recovery and pollutant removal. This work investigated the cooperation between biofilms and suspensions in EFS designed to synchronize carbon recovery (volatile fatty acid, VFAs) production and halogenated contaminant degradation (4-bromophenol, 4-BP, as model pollutant). The system demonstrated dual advantages, achieving 97.4% removal of 4-BP while increasing VFAs production by 40.2% compared to the control. Multi-omics analysis revealed a distinct spatial division of labor. Electrode biofilms primarily governed reductive debromination by enriching electroactive bacteria (e.g., Syntrophomonas and Geobacter) and dehalogenators (e.g., Hydrogenophaga). This process was driven by the enrichment of genes related to electron transfer and dehalogenation. In contrast, planktonic suspensions mainly drove acidogenesis by enriching fermentative bacteria (e.g., Sedimentibacter and Petrimonas) and accelerating hydrolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways. Partial least squares path modeling identified extracellular electron transfer as the key factor reinforcing this biofilm-suspension syntrophy, significantly contributing to both dehalogenation and acidogenesis. Furthermore, the microbial community activated an integrated adaptive network involving sensing, defense, and energy metabolism to protect the system from toxicity. This work provides in-depth insight into how biofilms and suspensions partition metabolic functions in EFS, clarifying rules that coordinate carbon and redox flows for robust sludge valorization and detoxification. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: Engineering Source
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Abstract:• EFS achieved 97.4% 4-BP degradation while 40.2% enhanced VFAs production. • Biofilms governed debromination while suspensions drove acidogenesis in EFS. • EET served as the central driver reinforcing biofilm-suspension syntrophy. • "Sensing-Defense-Energy" network activated adaption systems to resist 4-BP stress. Electro-fermentation systems (EFS) offer a promising approach for waste activated sludge valorization, yet the spatial metabolic interaction between electrode biofilms and planktonic suspensions remains unclear. This lack of understanding limits the optimization of systems aimed at simultaneous resource recovery and pollutant removal. This work investigated the cooperation between biofilms and suspensions in EFS designed to synchronize carbon recovery (volatile fatty acid, VFAs) production and halogenated contaminant degradation (4-bromophenol, 4-BP, as model pollutant). The system demonstrated dual advantages, achieving 97.4% removal of 4-BP while increasing VFAs production by 40.2% compared to the control. Multi-omics analysis revealed a distinct spatial division of labor. Electrode biofilms primarily governed reductive debromination by enriching electroactive bacteria (e.g., Syntrophomonas and Geobacter) and dehalogenators (e.g., Hydrogenophaga). This process was driven by the enrichment of genes related to electron transfer and dehalogenation. In contrast, planktonic suspensions mainly drove acidogenesis by enriching fermentative bacteria (e.g., Sedimentibacter and Petrimonas) and accelerating hydrolysis and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways. Partial least squares path modeling identified extracellular electron transfer as the key factor reinforcing this biofilm-suspension syntrophy, significantly contributing to both dehalogenation and acidogenesis. Furthermore, the microbial community activated an integrated adaptive network involving sensing, defense, and energy metabolism to protect the system from toxicity. This work provides in-depth insight into how biofilms and suspensions partition metabolic functions in EFS, clarifying rules that coordinate carbon and redox flows for robust sludge valorization and detoxification. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:00431354
DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2026.125665