Successful installations and operation of many granulation-base treatment plants all over the world in the recent years are reported. A better knowledge towards reactor operation and system performance has led to a growing interest in the technology. While the technology is well accepted and abundant research work has been carried out, insight unfolding the granulation fundamentals and its engineering applications remains unclear. This paper presents a review of some major hypotheses describing the evolvement of anaerobic granules. A number of physico-chemical hypotheses based on thermodynamics and structural hypotheses incorporating microbial considerations for anaerobic granulation have been developed. Features of anaerobic granulation and bioreactor designs are also reviewed. Advances in granulation research with respect to hydrogen production, degradation of recalcitrant or toxic compounds and emissions mitigation are delineated. Prospects and challenges of anaerobic granulation in wastewater treatment are also outlined.

中文翻译：

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厌氧制粒：制粒假说，生物反应器设计和新兴绿色应用的综述。

据报道，近年来，全世界许多制粒基处理厂的成功安装和运行。对反应堆运行和系统性能的深入了解已引起对该技术的日益增长的兴趣。尽管该技术已广为接受，并已进行了大量研究工作，但了解造粒基础的见解及其工程应用仍不清楚。本文介绍了描述厌氧颗粒演变的一些主要假设。已经开发了许多基于热力学的物理化学假说和结合了厌氧制粒微生物考虑因素的结构假说。还审查了厌氧制粒和生物反应器设计的特点。制氢研究在制氢方面的进展，描绘了顽固或有毒化合物的降解以及减排的方法。还概述了厌氧制粒在废水处理中的前景和挑战。