Role of Fe(III) in Microbial Activity and Extracellular Polymeric Substances

Over the past few decades, most of research has been conducted on the extraction method, composition and cell surface characteristics connected with EPS. It was recently proposed that activated sludge floes are comprised of different types of EPS with distinct metal ion binding characteristics. Fe (III) was a common wastewater composition, in practice, which may promote the biofilm activity and amount distinctly. But few detailed research was conducted on the correlation Fe (III) with the composition and microbiology activity with EPS. Experimental results indicated that the variation of Fe (III) concentration in influent produced biofilm with different abundances of EPS and different composing and microbial activity characteristics. The biofilm that was fed on large amount of Fe (III) had more EPS than the biofilm that was fed on little amount of Fe (III). The contents of polysaccharide and protein improved considerably as Fe (III) participated in. The results demonstrate that the Fe (III) had a positive effect on EPS and activity of biofilm. The performance of biological degradation was much more closely correlated with the amount of protein than with the amount of polysaccharide.