Alginate and Glycine Betaine Enhance Biofilm Formation in Psychrophilic Activated Sludge Systems.

Alginate and glycine betaine together double biofilm biomass in psychrophilic activated sludge systems at 8°C-16°C, outperforming single amendments.

• Why it matters: Cold temperatures hinder biofilm development and nutrient removal in activated sludge, creating a need for strategies that enhance microbial resilience and process efficiency.
• What they did: Researchers applied alginic acid and betaine in sequencing-batch reactors at 8°C-16°C, analyzing microbial community shifts, EPS production, and diversity indices to assess their combined effects.
• The result: The combined treatment significantly increased biofilm biomass and diversity, reshaped microbial communities for cold tolerance, and suppressed filamentous bacteria, suggesting a practical approach to improve cold-weather wastewater treatment.