Wastewater Treatment / Bioremediation

However, if too much organic matter flows into a river at once, the microorganisms will not keep up with the decomposition, resulting in water pollution. Therefore, wastewater treatment is necessary to decompose and remove the organic matter. The basic methodology is to promote the self-cleaning action of the river. Biological treatment technology is used to facilitate the decomposition of organic matter by microorganisms and efficiently treat organic wastewater by utilizing the mechanisms of an ecosystem composed of diverse and countless microorganisms. In recent years, microorganisms have advanced dramatically, and more efficient biological treatment technologies have emerged through the use of new materials and integration with other technologies.

At Hori Lab, we continue our research on wastewater treatment and bioremediation using microorganisms to implement them in society.

Oil decomposition

We have developed a system that can decompose and remove highly concentrated oil from actual wastewater at an astonishing rate by creating microorganisms with excellent oil and fat decomposition functions. The design cleverly utilizes the symbiotic relationship between microorganisms that secrete lipase to hydrolyze fats and oils and microorganisms that consume glycerol, a degradation product. JST adopted this research as an A-STEP project and is now close to being implemented in society.

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Membrane Bioreactor

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs), which use membranes to separate activated sludge into solid and liquid, are increasingly being introduced at water treatment sites worldwide. The disadvantage of MBRs is membrane clogging (fouling), mainly caused by biofilm and microbial activity. Through joint research with a membrane manufacturing company, Hori Lab has succeeded in identifying the actual fouling substance of microfiltration membranes in sewage treatment and developing an entirely new technology to prevent it.

Biofilm Method

The term "slime" or "water stain" is a familiar example of a biofilm. Biofilms are formed by the secretion of sticky extracellular polymers (EPS) and have attracted much attention in various fields, including water treatment. Biofilms have long been used as a biofilm method in water treatment. However, they have become a significant problem in the medical field, causing microbial contamination of medical devices, bacterial infections through implants, and antibiotic resistance. In water treatment, biofilms have been used for a long time as a biological membrane method. The natural purification mechanism of rivers also decomposes organic matter through biofilms formed on stones and gravels in the riverbed and reeds along the water's edge. On the other hand, the purification of rivers and lakes using CarbonFiber also attracts attention. The mechanism of purification is catabolism by biofilms. However, the mechanism by which microorganisms and sludge adhere to CarbonFiber has not been well understood until now. Through joint research with a carbon fiber manufacturing company, we have described this phenomenon in terms of physicochemical interactions between microbial cells and the fiber surface and theoretically proved that carbon fiber is an excellent biofilm carrier for water purification.

Press Release