Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ines Martins, Elena Surra, Marcia Ventura, Nuno Lapa
Summary: This study investigates the effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and organic loading rate (OLR) on the production of bioH(2) through dark fermentation (DF) of the organic fraction of municipal solid wastes (OFMSW). The results show that a 5-day HRT condition is the most favorable for bioH(2) production.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Anmol Parajuli, Aakash Khadka, Lokesh Sapkota, Anish Ghimire
Summary: The start-up of two-stage, semi-continuous mesophilic anaerobic digestion of food waste can be stabilized by adjusting the hydraulic retention time and organic-loading rate. The study found that by modifying these parameters, it was possible to achieve stable production of biogas and multiple biofuels. The results also showed the importance of monitoring the volatile fatty acids/alkalinity ratio to prevent operational issues.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Javkhlan Ariunbaatar, Robert Bair, Onur Ozcan, Harish Ravishankar, Giovanni Esposito, Piet N. L. Lens, Daniel H. Yeh
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of a side-stream AnMBR in treating diluted fresh food waste, finding that maintaining high COD removal efficiency and biogas production at lower HRT is possible but may lead to membrane fouling, which can be alleviated through backwashing.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Karla M. Munoz-Paez, German Buitron
Summary: The main goal of this study was to assess the methane production in a biotrickling filter using a synthetic gas mixture, and evaluate the effects of empty bed gas residence time, pH, and temperature. The study found that decreasing the empty bed gas residence time and increasing the pH can increase methane production, while changes in temperature did not significantly affect methane concentration.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Lois Regueira-Marcos, Raill Munoz, Octavio Garcia-Depraect
Summary: The effect of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the continuous lactate-driven dark fermentation (LD-DF) of food waste (FW) was studied. The study also investigated the impact of feast/famine perturbations on the bioprocess. Decreasing the HRT from 24 to 16 and 12 hours led to changes in hydrogen production rate (HPR). The optimal HRT of 16 hours supported a HPR of 4.2 L H2/L-d. Feast/famine perturbations caused by 12-hour feeding interruptions resulted in a significant increase in HPR, reaching up to 19.2 L H2/L-d. However, the process stabilized at 4.3 L H2/L-d following the perturbation. Metabolite analysis confirmed the occurrence of LD-DF throughout the operation, with hydrogen production being positively correlated with lactate consumption and butyrate production. Overall, the LD-DF process for FW showed high sensitivity but resilience against temporary feast/famine perturbations, supporting high-rate HPRs under optimal HRTs.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marie Renaudie, Valentin Clion, Christine Dumas, Stephane Vuilleumier, Barbara Ernst
Summary: The L/G MBR utilizes a hollow fiber membrane module to combine biohydrogen production, in situ liquid-gas separation, and retention of hydrogen producing bacteria. It demonstrates high hydrogen yield and production rate without the need for additional microbial input. Different biogas extraction strategies allow efficient in situ hydrogen extraction, simplifying the implementation of dark fermentation processes in industrial settings.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rafika Saidi, Moktar Hamdi, Hassib Bouallagui
Summary: This study investigated H2 and CH4 production from date pulp wastes through a two-stage process. The first stage evaluated the effect of increasing organic leading rate on dark fermentation performances. The second stage used the effluent of dark fermentation as substrate for anaerobic digestion. The two-stage process can achieve high rate renewable energy recovery and organic waste processing.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Akshay D. Shende, Girish R. Pophali
Summary: This article reviews anaerobic treatment technologies for slaughterhouse wastewater, addressing its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, as well as factors affecting treatment efficiency. The research suggests that anaerobic treatment technologies can effectively treat slaughterhouse wastewater with high efficiency and low energy consumption.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Sontaya Khamtib, Sureewan Sittijunda, Tsuyoshi Imai, Alissara Reungsang
Summary: This study evaluated the use of expanded clay as a support material for hydrogen production by Thermoanaerobacterium thermosaccharolyticum KKU19. Results showed that expanded clay efficiently immobilizes the bacteria and maintains high hydrogen production efficiency during long-term operation.
FRONTIERS IN ENERGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohamed Hasnain Isa, Mohammed J. K. Bashir, Lai-Peng Wong
Summary: In this study, palm oil mill effluent (POME) was treated by ultrasonication and anaerobically digested. The impact of anaerobic community dynamics on biogas production was investigated through metagenomic study. The results showed that the dynamics of methanogenic archaea had a significant effect on methane production.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Mercedes Llamas, Silvia Greses, Elia Tomas-Pejo, Cristina Gonzalez-Fernandez
Summary: The study found that gradually reducing hydraulic retention time (HRT) favored microbial adaptation and maximized waste bioconversion efficiency; while directly implementing low HRT led to microbial fluctuations and process failure. Microbial similarity analysis revealed certain microbial orders as key players in VFAs production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nan Qi, Xin Zhao, Xiaomin Hu, Jian Wang, Chunlu Yang
Summary: In this study, peanut shell was used as carriers to investigate the enhancement of hydrogen production at different HRTs. The results showed that peanut shell as carriers improved the hydrogen production capacity and immobilized effect.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Han Wang, Ioannis A. Fotidis, Qun Yan, Irini Angelidaki
Summary: The addition of lipids leads to a severe inhibition of methane production due to the accumulation of long-chain fatty acids, while the addition of glucose does not result in significant inhibition. Furthermore, the LCFA inhibition in reactors fed with lipids can be alleviated by the use of a slow stepwise feeding strategy.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Wancen Liu, Xiaoye Song, Xiangrui Ding, Ruohan Xia, Xiaoying Lin, Guoxue Li, Long D. Nghiem, Wenhai Luo
Summary: This study investigated the impact of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the removal of veterinary antibiotics by anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) for swine wastewater treatment. Results showed that the removal efficiency of antibiotics varied from 21 to 99% regardless of HRT. Increasing HRT enhanced antibiotic removal and methane yield. Prolonging HRT also reduced membrane fouling in AnMBR operation.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Farid Alizad Oghyanous, Habib Etemadi, Reza Yegani
Summary: This study successfully controlled membrane fouling in MBR systems by optimizing operational conditions and improving membrane characteristics, with protein concentration identified as a crucial factor affecting irreversible membrane fouling.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jack Rincon-Perez, Lourdes B. Celis, Marcia Morales, Felipe Alatriste-Mondragon, Aida Tapia-Rodriguez, Elias Razo-Flores
Summary: The study found that under anaerobic conditions, microalgal hydrolysate can be co-digested with cheese whey to increase methane production. Methane content was higher at alkaline pH, but the methane yield from co-digestion was similar to that at neutral pH.
BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rodolfo Palomo-Briones, Jose de Jesus Montoya-Rosales, Elias Razo-Flores
Summary: Microbial communities involved in hydrogen production from enzymatic hydrolysates of agave bagasse were analyzed through 16S rRNA sequencing. The study found that different enzymatic hydrolysates and reactor configurations can influence microbial community diversity and H-2 production rates. Contrary to prevailing theory, a stable environment in continuous stirred-tank reactors favored high-performance H-2 production, with microbial diversity showing an inverse relationship with H-2 production rates.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Carolina Mejia-Saucedo, German Buitron, Ma Fabiola Leon-Galvan, Julian Carrillo-Reyes
Summary: This research investigates the use of packed bed reactors for processing winery wastewater, exploring different biomass purge strategies to maintain long-term stability, resulting in the most stable hydrogen productivity through frequent cleaning of biofilm and suspended biomass. Long-term stability is achieved by properly balancing microbial genera in the reactor.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marcela Zavala-Mendez, Alejandro Vargas, Julian Carrillo-Reyes
Summary: This study evaluated an innovative online feedback control strategy that improved hydrogen production rate using winery vinasse in a trickling bed reactor, which could promote the development of continuous biohydrogen production. By alternating between high and low hydraulic retention times and using the controller, the average hydrogen production rate was increased, and the optimal retention time was automatically found. Additionally, bacterial community and metabolite analysis revealed the interaction between lactic acid and hydrogen-producing bacteria and its impact on hydrogen yield.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Bryan E. Alvarez-Serna, Roberto G. Ramirez-Chavarria, Elizabeth Castillo-Villanueva, Julian Carrillo-Reyes, Rosa Maria Ramirez-Zamora, German Buitron, Luis Alvarez-Icaza
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of developing reliable and affordable technologies for pathogen detection in wastewater. In this study, a label-free and portable field-effect transistor (FET)-based sensor was introduced for detecting the N and ORF1ab genes of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. The sensor integrates reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) reaction, achieving high specificity and cost-effectiveness. Real wastewater samples were used to evaluate the sensor, which demonstrated a limit of detection of 0.31 x 10-3 ng/mu L for end-point measurement. The sensor also showed real-time-like analysis capability, providing a good response after 15 min for concentrations as low as 0.37 ng/mu L. Therefore, the proposed EGFET sensor offers a powerful and straightforward method for detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genome in wastewater.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Ivan Moreno-Andrade, Enrique Regidor-Alfageme, Julian Carrillo-Reyes, Jim A. Field, Reyes Sierra-Alvarez
Summary: This study investigated the potential of six different inoculum sources to reduce Sb(V) under anaerobic conditions and correlated the Sb(V) reduction rate with the microbial community composition. Microbial reduction of Sb(V) to Sb(III) by all the inoculum sources tested was observed in anaerobic incubations using hydrogen as an electron donor after a month. Metagenomic analysis revealed high variability in the community diversity associated with the origin of the inoculum.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Laura Margarita Hernandez-Terrones, Julian Carrillo-Reyes, Jairo A. Ayala-Godoy, Eugenio Guerrero-Ruiz, Leslie Meredith Garcia Vargas, Bruno Abraham Prado-Guevara, Melissa Fernanda Rodriguez-Abraham, German Buitron
Summary: The study aimed to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage from wastewater treatment plants in Cancun, Mexico, and estimate the number of infected individuals. The RNA traces of SARS-CoV-2 were detected in the inlet of all five plants during most sampling months. However, no traces were found in the effluent. The estimation using Monte Carlo simulation showed a higher number of infected individuals compared to the reported cases by the health authority. Wastewater monitoring and estimation of infected individuals are valuable tools in identifying the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and guiding authorities in taking appropriate measures.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Roberto G. Ramirez-Chavarria, Elizabeth Castillo-Villanueva, Bryan E. Alvarez-Serna, Julian Carrillo-Reyes, Lizeth Torres, Rosa Maria Ramirez-Zamora, German Buitron, Luis Alvarez-Icaza
Summary: The development of sensitive and affordable testing devices is crucial for public health protection, particularly in pandemics. This study presents an innovative method using electrochemical impedance measurements and the distribution of relaxation times model for monitoring genetic amplification products, specifically the RT-LAMP reaction. The method is successfully calibrated and demonstrated for SARS-CoV-2 detection in real wastewater samples, with a classification algorithm based on TCDS data to differentiate positive and negative samples. The TCDS-based approach offers a robust and specific mechanism for label-free and automated genetic detection assays.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Miguel Vital-Jacome, Julian Carrillo-Reyes, German Buitron
Summary: This study investigated the impact of process configuration and conditions on microbial communities and metabolic pathways in the anaerobic digestion of winery effluents. Four system configurations were analyzed for taxonomic and functional profiles using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and Tax4Fun2. The findings showed that different microbial communities and metabolic pathways were favored by different process configurations and conditions, highlighting the importance of assessing microbial functionality beyond their composition for the stability and performance of anaerobic digestion systems.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jose de Jesus Montoya-Rosales, Aura Ontiveros-Valencia, Diego A. Esquivel-Hernandez, Claudia Etchebehere, Lourdes B. Celis, Elias Razo-Flores
Summary: Microbial communities in dark fermentation continuous systems are influenced by substrate type, concentration, and product accumulation. This study used metatranscriptomics and quantitative PCR to investigate the effect of high organic loading rates on microbial community diversity and expression of key dark fermentative genes. The results showed that the microbial communities consisted of H-2-producing bacteria, homoacetogens, and lactic acid bacteria. Increasing the organic loading rate influenced the abundance of genes and gene transcripts related to H-2 production and homoacetogenesis. Adding silicone oil increased H-2 production and the abundance of related genes and gene transcripts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Julian O. Ovis-Sanchez, Victor D. Perera-Perez, German Buitron, Marcos Quintela-Baluja, David W. Graham, Rosario Morales-Espinosa, Julian Carrillo-Reyes
Summary: This study investigated the removal of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in high-rate algal ponds (HRAP) using microalgae-bacteria aggregates (MABA) for wastewater treatment. The HRAP system successfully removed chemical oxygen demand and ammonia, reducing total ARG abundances by up to 5-fold. In addition, parallel qPCR analysis showed significant reduction of exemplar ARGs, and sequencing analysis revealed differences in microbial communities between influent, effluent, and MABA samples. This research demonstrates the capacity of microalgae-bacteria treatment systems to effectively remove ARGs from wastewater in low-to-middle income countries.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dendera Munguia-Aguilar, Hector A. Ruiz, Elias Razo-Flores, Cesar Nieto-Delgado, Edith Cadena-Chamorro, Felipe Alatriste-Mondragon
Summary: The efficiency of enzymatic saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass can be improved by a sequential process of hydrothermal pretreatment followed by enzymatic hydrolysis, resulting in higher release of sugars and methane production.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Valeria Fuentes-Santiago, Idania Valdez-Vazquez, Miguel Vital-Jacome, Marcela Zavala-Mendez, Elias Razo-Flores, Julian Carrillo-Reyes
Summary: The natural fermentation of agroindustrial effluents inhibits dark fermentation processes and reduces the availability of carbohydrates, competing with lactic acid bacteria. This study analyzed the effect of carbohydrates and lactate/acetate on hydrogen production, microbial dynamics, and metabolic pathways using model substrates and fermented agro-industrial wastewater. The results showed that lactic acid and acetate were preferred substrates for hydrogen production, achieving higher potential, rate, and yield compared to using only carbohydrates. The study also highlighted the importance of microbial interactions and metabolic profiles for the energetic valorization of fermented agroindustrial effluents through hydrogen production.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Roberto G. Ramirez-Chavarria, Elizabeth Castillo-Villanueva, Bryan E. Alvarez-Serna, Julian Carrillo-Reyes, Rosa Maria Ramirez-Zamora, German Buitron, Luis Alvarez-Icaza
Summary: The study introduces a simple, low-cost, and affordable electrochemical sensor for specific detection of the genes of the novel coronavirus. Testing with wastewater samples demonstrates the sensor's performance and reliability.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
