CEBEDEAU • Environmental microbiology

In brief

Understanding microbiological equilibrium and metabolic functions is the key to mastering biological treatments. Biological processes have very low energy consumption and high resource efficiency and have enormous potential in water treatment to meet the challenges of sustainability.

This expertise includes the development of cutting-edge microbiological analysis methods: sequencing and amplification, metabarcoding, cytometry, etc.

Our approach

Microbial ecology and biodiversity

Our researchers use microbial ecology to find new solutions to various water-related problems.

Over the past few years, our team has developed specific knowledge in biofilms. This has led to the invention of two aerobic granular sludge wastewater treatment processes (GRASS® and BEFLOW®) and the control of biofilm growth by quorum quenching. We also use this know-how for the diagnosis of biofilter and activated sludge malfunctions.

The potential of biofilms as indicators of biodiversity is currently being investigated.

Development of microbiological analysis methods

Every year, we carry out projects to develop rapid and robust analytical methods that characterise the microbiological quality of water. It is now possible to quantify the bacteriological contamination of water in a matter of minutes.

New sequencing tools are available to identify bacterial consortia and their functions. From the extraction of the DNA to the processing of the bioinformatics data, we carry out all the steps in-house. A "pie chart" can be generated within one day.