Researchers have found that manipulating bacterial communication, known as quorum sensing, can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of wastewater treatment. By tuning these microbial signals, plants can cut aeration energy by 60% and reduce nitrous oxide emissions by nearly 50%. The study suggests that managing these microbial networks can turn treatment plants from energy consumers into energy producers. Enhancing interspecies electron transfer increases methane production, which can be captured and used for electricity to offset plant operations.
