In this review paper, a physical systems analysis based on thermodynamics has been applied to the observed behaviour of activated sludge as a physical system. The origin of the microecology of activated sludge and its relationship to biofilms and the metabolic consequences of the extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) formation are explained for the first time. Feast‐famine conditions are shown to be the leading candidate for the evolution of the ability of biofilm forming bacteria and activated sludge ‘floc‐formers’ to form EPS. The basis for competition for RBCOD between low F:M filamentous heterotrophic bacteria and ‘floc‐forming’ heterotrophic is presented and its relationship to activated sludge bulking described.

中文翻译：

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废水生物处理中形式与功能之间物理关系的综述以及与活性污泥和生物膜系统行为有关的新理论

在这篇综述文章中，基于热力学的物理系统分析已应用于观察到的活性污泥作为物理系统的行为。首次解释了活性污泥的微生态学起源及其与生物膜的关系以及胞外多糖（EPS）形成的代谢后果。饥荒条件被证明是生物膜形成细菌和活性污泥“絮凝剂”形成EPS能力发展的主要候选条件。介绍了低F：M丝状异养细菌与“絮凝”异养细菌之间争夺RBCOD的基础，并描述了其与活性污泥膨胀的关系。