Unraveling the two-sided effect of nitrate on aerobic granulation

Water quality indicators influencing the formation and morphology of hydrostatically-formed photogranules

“…In aerobic granular sludge, denitrification was found to accelerate granule formation through two pathways: (1) the production of nitric oxide (NO) as an intermediate, known to induce cell aggregation and biofilm formation in bacterial cultures, and (2) generating alkalinity and creating conditions favorable for carbonate precipitation, which could provide nuclei for granulation and contribute to making the granules denser. 50,51…”