Encapsulating microorganisms is promising to enhance biological nitrogen removal (BNR) in wastewater, with benefits of increased efficiency, reduced inhibition, and improved stability. Encapsulation technology has advanced, with recent findings in new encapsulation materials, pure and enrichment culture studies with novel nitrogen-converting microorganisms, and improved mathematical models and molecular tools to enable more predictive applications of encapsulation. Nevertheless, interactions between encapsulated microorganisms and between microorganisms and their surrounding matrices remain unclear. This review aims to summarize recent insights regarding our understanding and application of encapsulation for BNR. The review addresses the need to reevaluate the stability, permeability, and sustainability of encapsulation materials under realistic wastewater treatment conditions. In addition, comparing the kinetic and stoichiometric parameters of key microorganisms in BNR processes suggests that recently discovered groups of microorganisms, such as ammonia oxidizing Archaea, comammox, heterotrophic nitrifiers, and anammox bacteria could be a favorable choice for encapsulation. With respect to future opportunities, microorganism–encapsulant interactions in BNR should be further studied and understood using a combination of microscopic and molecular biology tools with predictions from mathematical models, further enabling the predictive application of encapsulation for BNR. The mechanistic understanding gained from studying encapsulated systems can also be extended to other treatment processes involving microbial immobilization.

中文翻译：

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封装微生物以增强废水中的生物脱氮：最新进展和未来机遇

封装微生物有望提高废水中的生物脱氮 (BNR)，具有提高效率、减少抑制和提高稳定性的好处。封装技术取得了进步，最近在新封装材料、新型氮转化微生物的纯培养和富集培养研究以及改进的数学模型和分子工具方面取得了进展，使封装的预测性应用成为可能。然而，封装微生物之间以及微生物与其周围基质之间的相互作用仍不清楚。本综述旨在总结关于我们对 BNR 封装的理解和应用的最新见解。该审查解决了重新评估稳定性、渗透性、和封装材料在现实废水处理条件下的可持续性。此外，比较 BNR 过程中关键微生物的动力学和化学计量参数表明，最近发现的微生物群，如氨氧化古细菌、comammox、异养硝化菌和厌氧氨氧化细菌可能是封装的有利选择。关于未来的机会，应结合使用微观和分子生物学工具以及数学模型的预测，进一步研究和理解 BNR 中微生物-封装剂的相互作用，进一步实现 BNR 封装的预测应用。从研究封装系统中获得的机械理解也可以扩展到涉及微生物固定的其他处理过程。