Microfluidic aqueous two-phase system-based nitrifying bacteria encapsulated colloidosomes for green and sustainable ammonium-nitrogen wastewater treatment

A novel strategy was proposed for preparing micro-scale monodisperses nitrifying bacteria (NB) encapsulated CaAlg@CaCO3 colloidosomes by exploiting capillary microfluidic device, as an attempt to treat ammonium nitrogen wastewater in an environment-friendly, efficient and repeatable manner based on the aqueous twophase (ATPS) system. By complying with the spatial confined urease mediate biomineralization reactions, ATPS droplets (Dextran in Polyethylene glycol) containing urease, NB regent and alginate were used as templates to prepare 500 pm Ca-Alg@CaCO3 colloidosomes with 16.48 Mpa mechanical strength. The activity of NB encapsulated in the colloidosomes was high. The simulated wastewater treated with the colloidosomes achieved a high removal rate even at harsh temperature and pH value. In both simulated and real wastewater treatment, prolonged reuse times (216 h) with high removal rate (>90%, after being applied 72 h) were obtained by using Ca-Alg@CaCO3 colloidosomes, as compared with that (96 h) by using general alginate microbeads.

Automated summary

A novel strategy was proposed for preparing micro-scale monodisperses nitrifying bacteria encapsulated CaAlg@CaCO3 colloidosomes by utilizing capillary microfluidic device, in order to treat ammonium nitrogen wastewater efficiently and environmentally friendly. The colloidosomes showed high mechanical strength and activity of NB encapsulated, achieving high removal rates and prolonged reuse times in both simulated and real wastewater treatment as compared to general alginate microbeads.