Research progresses of activated sludge microbial communities in fluorine-containing organic wastewater treatment processes

Abstract:

With wide applications of organic fluorides in various fields, fluoride-containing organic wastewater treatment is facing great challenges. Activated sludge technologies are one of core methods for such a wastewater treatment, in which microorganisms play an essential role. This review is focused on the diversity, composition, structure and function of activated sludge microbial communities in the process of fluorinated organic wastewater treatment and their relationships with wastewater types, activated sludge characteristics, treatment efficiency, degradation pathways and mechanisms of organic fluoride compounds by functional microorganisms in fluoride-containing organic wastewater. We also discuss perspectives for addressing key questions related to the assembly and metabolic interaction of activated sludge microbial communities by isolating key functional microorganisms and/or by microbiome technologies, aiming to improve our knowledge about mechanisms for microbial degradation of organic fluoride compounds and optimize fluorinated organic wastewater processes.