A review on recent advancement in algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge: From inoculation approaches to operation strategies

Xinyu Lyu; Ziyin Ai; Wenli Huang; Weiwei Huang; Zhongfang Lei; Tian Yuan; Motoo Utsumi; Duu-Jong Lee

doi:10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108610

A review on recent advancement in algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge: From inoculation approaches to operation strategies

Xinyu Lyu
, Ziyin Ai
, Wenli Huang
, Weiwei Huang
, Zhongfang Lei^*
, Tian Yuan
, Motoo Utsumi
, Duu-Jong Lee

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Mechanical Engineering

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In recent years, the environmental unsustainability of traditional wastewater treatment processes, alongside the growing emphasis on carbon neutrality and self-sufficiency in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), has drawn attention to algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems. This review synthesizes recent advances in algal-bacterial AGS, focusing on the latest research on its granulation mechanisms under both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic conditions and providing a comprehensive overview of cultivation strategies based on various sludges. We discuss the latest reports on the impacts of process operation strategies for algal-bacterial AGS and emphasize the operation performance and design of different bioreactor configurations. Challenges for commercialization and sustainable applications are highlighted; future application directions are also posted. In summary, algal-bacterial AGS exhibits significant potential in simultaneous efficient wastewater treatment and bioresource recovery, targeting circular bioeconomy and sustainable wastewater industry. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

Original language	English
Article number	108610
Journal	Biotechnology Advances
Volume	83
Online published	20 May 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108610
Publication status	Published - Oct 2025

Funding

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers JP22K19863 , JP24H00767 , JP22H00387 , and JST Next Generation Researchers Challenging Research Program ( JPMJSP2124 ). Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies have only been used in the writing process to improve the readability and language of the manuscript.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Research Keywords

Algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge
Granular stability
Granulation mechanism
Operation strategy
Self-sufficiency

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10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108610

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title = "A review on recent advancement in algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge: From inoculation approaches to operation strategies",

abstract = "In recent years, the environmental unsustainability of traditional wastewater treatment processes, alongside the growing emphasis on carbon neutrality and self-sufficiency in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), has drawn attention to algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems. This review synthesizes recent advances in algal-bacterial AGS, focusing on the latest research on its granulation mechanisms under both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic conditions and providing a comprehensive overview of cultivation strategies based on various sludges. We discuss the latest reports on the impacts of process operation strategies for algal-bacterial AGS and emphasize the operation performance and design of different bioreactor configurations. Challenges for commercialization and sustainable applications are highlighted; future application directions are also posted. In summary, algal-bacterial AGS exhibits significant potential in simultaneous efficient wastewater treatment and bioresource recovery, targeting circular bioeconomy and sustainable wastewater industry. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Inc.",

keywords = "Algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge, Granular stability, Granulation mechanism, Operation strategy, Self-sufficiency",

author = "Xinyu Lyu and Ziyin Ai and Wenli Huang and Weiwei Huang and Zhongfang Lei and Tian Yuan and Motoo Utsumi and Duu-Jong Lee",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108610",

language = "English",

volume = "83",

journal = "Biotechnology Advances",

issn = "0734-9750",

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T1 - A review on recent advancement in algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge

T2 - From inoculation approaches to operation strategies

AU - Lyu, Xinyu

AU - Ai, Ziyin

AU - Huang, Wenli

AU - Huang, Weiwei

AU - Lei, Zhongfang

AU - Yuan, Tian

AU - Utsumi, Motoo

AU - Lee, Duu-Jong

PY - 2025/10

Y1 - 2025/10

N2 - In recent years, the environmental unsustainability of traditional wastewater treatment processes, alongside the growing emphasis on carbon neutrality and self-sufficiency in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), has drawn attention to algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems. This review synthesizes recent advances in algal-bacterial AGS, focusing on the latest research on its granulation mechanisms under both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic conditions and providing a comprehensive overview of cultivation strategies based on various sludges. We discuss the latest reports on the impacts of process operation strategies for algal-bacterial AGS and emphasize the operation performance and design of different bioreactor configurations. Challenges for commercialization and sustainable applications are highlighted; future application directions are also posted. In summary, algal-bacterial AGS exhibits significant potential in simultaneous efficient wastewater treatment and bioresource recovery, targeting circular bioeconomy and sustainable wastewater industry. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

AB - In recent years, the environmental unsustainability of traditional wastewater treatment processes, alongside the growing emphasis on carbon neutrality and self-sufficiency in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), has drawn attention to algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge (AGS) systems. This review synthesizes recent advances in algal-bacterial AGS, focusing on the latest research on its granulation mechanisms under both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic conditions and providing a comprehensive overview of cultivation strategies based on various sludges. We discuss the latest reports on the impacts of process operation strategies for algal-bacterial AGS and emphasize the operation performance and design of different bioreactor configurations. Challenges for commercialization and sustainable applications are highlighted; future application directions are also posted. In summary, algal-bacterial AGS exhibits significant potential in simultaneous efficient wastewater treatment and bioresource recovery, targeting circular bioeconomy and sustainable wastewater industry. © 2025 Elsevier Inc.

KW - Algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge

KW - Granular stability

KW - Granulation mechanism

KW - Operation strategy

KW - Self-sufficiency

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UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-105005859278&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108610

DO - 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2025.108610

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

SN - 0734-9750

VL - 83

JO - Biotechnology Advances

JF - Biotechnology Advances

M1 - 108610

ER -

A review on recent advancement in algal-bacterial aerobic granular sludge: From inoculation approaches to operation strategies

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

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