Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xia He, Zhenyu Guo, Jian Lu, Ping Zhang
Summary: The addition of carbon-based conductive materials positively influences the co-digestion of fat, oil, and grease (FOG) and waste activated sludge (WAS), leading to increased methane production, organic matter removal, and COD conversion efficiency. Carbon cloth showed the highest total amount of bacteria/archaea, potentially due to the faster acetate conversion facilitated by DIET-mediated SAO reaction.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yongliang Wang, Xiaohui Zhou, Bin Dai, Xiaoqiang Zhu
Summary: This study proposed a new strategy of enhancing hydrolysis and acidification by rhamnolipid (RL) under thermophilic conditions to improve methane production in anaerobic co-digestion of excess sludge (ES) and plant waste (PW). Results showed that RL significantly increased the concentration of soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) and volatile fatty acids (VFAs), with acetate and propionate being the main components of VFAs. This research provides valuable data support for the resource utilization of ES and PW, expanding the application field of RL.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Afsane Sedighi, Mohsen Karrabi, Bahar Shahnavaz, Morteza Mostafavinezhad
Summary: This study investigated the potential for biogas production from anaerobic codigestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste and sewage sludge under mesophilic conditions. The results showed that the best outputs were achieved at TS = 5% and ISR = 2, with the highest biogas yield and methane production.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Vikas Kumar, Brandon Kieft, Parmila Devi, Steven J. Hallam, Cigdem Eskicioglu
Summary: This study investigated the effects of two-step activated carbon cloth on syntrophic microbial associations during anaerobic digestion of municipal sludge. The results showed that activated carbon cloth enhanced methane yield and reduced the lag phase, attributed to its increased electron transfer and methane production kinetics. Additionally, activated carbon cloth promoted the adherence of methane-producing microorganisms, providing a stable environment for syntrophic energy metabolism.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Riku Sakurai, Shuhei Takizawa, Yasuhiro Fukuda, Chika Tada
Summary: This study investigated the cardinal microorganisms in anaerobic scum digestion by enriching scum-degrading microbes through pre-incubation. The results showed that a variety of microorganisms capable of degrading LCFAs, proteins, and sugars are involved in effective scum degradation, with certain species becoming more dominant as the scum-loading rate increased.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiao Zhang, Bowei Zhao, Rui Li, Ying Cui, Fei Xie, Aijuan Zhou, Jinping Li, Xiuping Yue
Summary: The influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT) on the granulation process, methane-producing capacity, microbial community structure, and pollutant removal efficiency of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) with simulated municipal wastewater was investigated. The results showed that even at low COD concentrations, the proportion of granular sludge in the UASB was high, and the COD removal efficiency was good. Shortening the HRT resulted in dense granular sludge and reduced the load of subsequent treatment processes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Euclides Deago, Marian Ramirez, Kleveer Espino, Daniel Nieto, Maudi Barragan, Max Garcia, Jessica Guevara-Cedeno
Summary: This study investigated the feasibility of anaerobic digestion at ambient temperatures and found that anaerobic digestion within the temperature range of 25-35℃ can optimize energy efficiency and reduce costs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rupa Chand, Lasse Abraham Rasmussen, Susanne Tumlin, Jes Vollertsen
Summary: The mesophilic digester of a wastewater treatment plant showed high levels of microplastics, with diverse polymer compositions in the digested sludge. It was difficult to confirm if microplastics were lost in the digester. The load on the digester can be used to set upper boundaries for specific sources.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xuran Liu, Qian Deng, Mingting Du, Qi Lu, Wenneng Zhou, Dongbo Wang
Summary: The presence of PVC microplastics at environmentally relevant levels does not affect methane production but reduces the toxicity of cadmium. When the concentration of PVC microplastics reaches 30 particles/g TS, methane production recovers to 89.7% in the presence of 5 mg Cd/g TS compared to the control. The adsorption of Cd by PVC microplastics is higher than that of sludge-substrate, reducing the bioavailability of Cd during anaerobic digestion.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xinru Jiang, Yandong Xie, Minggang Liu, Shiyu Bin, Yang Liu, Chenchen Huan, Gaosheng Ji, Xinhui Wang, Zhiying Yan, Qingyang Lyu
Summary: This study demonstrates that anaerobic co-digestion system can improve biodegradability to produce more VFAs and biogas, relieve ammonia nitrogen inhibition, enhance hydrolytic acidification and methanogenesis compared to mono sludge digester.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniele Cecconet, Matia Mainardis, Arianna Callegari, Andrea G. Capodaglio
Summary: According to new paradigms of urban wastewater management, energy savings and resources recovery from sewage will be increasingly important. Anaerobic processes are more energy efficient than conventional aerobic ones and are suitable for recovering embedded organic energy. The study operated a pilot UASB reactor at low temperatures to treat municipal wastewater and evaluated its performance and economic benefits.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Zhang-Wei He, Chun-Xue Yang, Cong-Cong Tang, Wen-Zong Liu, Ai-Juan Zhou, Yong-Xiang Ren, Ai-Jie Wang
Summary: The study found that residual ferric ions had significant effects on the anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge, with different concentrations of FI leading to varying impacts on methane production and short chain fatty acids accumulation. Low FI levels enhanced methane production, while high FI levels inhibited acidogenesis and methanogenesis.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
M. S. Romero-Guiza, J. Palatsi, X. Tomas, P. Icaran, F. Rogalla, V. M. Monsalvo
Summary: The study shows that alkaline pre-treatment of grease trap waste can improve the bioavailability of organic matter and facilitate its use as a co-substrate. Full-scale anaerobic co-digestion assays of pre-treated grease trap waste and sewage sludge did not show inhibitory or operational problems under experimental conditions. An economic assessment for a 160,000 population equivalent WWTP in a European scenario showed a relatively short payback period.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Haiquan Dong, Liangchen Yue, Jun Cheng, Rongxin Xia, Junhu Zhou
Summary: Microbial electro-chemical degradation was proposed to enhance methane production from lipids in anaerobic digestion. Applying a voltage strengthened the beta-oxidation of lipids, promoting electron transfer and methane yield. The overall energy conversion efficiency in methane production increased due to microbial electrochemical degradation of lipids.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Huan Liu, Xuan Li, Ting Zhou, Zehao Zhang, Long D. Nghiem, Li Gao, Qilin Wang
Summary: This study comprehensively evaluated the impact of free ammonia (FA) pretreatment on the performance of anaerobic primary sludge (PS) digestion using semi-continuous systems. FA pretreatment improved the removal of volatile solids, chemical oxygen demand, and methane production. It also increased the biomass-specific hydrolysis rate of digesters. Model-based analysis revealed that the enhanced performance is due to the increased apparent hydrolysis rate and degradability extent of PS caused by FA pretreatment. Additionally, dewaterability of digested sludge and removals of fecal coliform and E. coli were enhanced by FA pretreatment.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sha Long, Yongkui Yang, Spyros G. Pavlostathis, Lin Zhao
Summary: The study investigated the individual and combined effects of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and oxytetracycline (OTC) on an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) system. OTC at 5 mg/L led to filamentous bulking and collapse of the EBPR system, while the inhibition effects of SMX and SMX + OTC on P removal, COD removal, glycogen transformation, and extracellular polymeric substances content were reversible with prolonged operation. Factors like the presence of nitrification inhibitor, high pH, and low tetX abundance limited the removal of SMX and OTC in the system.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Mehdi Emadian, F. Oyku Sefiloglu, Isil Akmehmet Balcioglu, Ulas Tezel
Summary: The Ergene River in Turkey is heavily utilized for irrigation and growing crops like rice, wheat, and sunflower, crucial for public health and Europe's agriculture industry. A total of 165 organic micropollutants were detected, with 63 being recurrent in different seasons and locations. The study identified core micropollutants in the river, their sources, and environmental behavior.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Liming Yang, Yanni Geng, Dan Cui, Zhuochao Liu, Zhensheng Xiong, Spyros G. Pavlostathis, Penghui Shao, Xubiao Luo
Summary: This study used a corrected response surface methodology to optimize the operation strategy for treating rare earth elements wastewater using microalgae. By investigating the effects of temperature, illumination intensity, and microalgae concentration, nine models were obtained and then modified based on initial ammonia nitrogen concentrations. The results demonstrate that optimizing microalgae dosage can effectively treat wastewater.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yanni Geng, Dan Cui, Liming Yang, Zhensheng Xiong, Spyros G. Pavlostathis, Penghui Shao, Yakun Zhang, Xubiao Luo, Shenglian Luo
Summary: A study found that the nitrogen removal efficiency in rare earth mine effluent is low, with limited microalgae biomass. However, when carbonate is added, Chlorococcum sp. shows higher nitrogen removal rate and biomass yield, along with high lipid content. The extracellular polymeric substance released by microalgae contributes to easier resource harvest.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John L. Wilkinson, Alistair B. A. Boxall, Dana W. Kolpin, Kenneth M. Y. Leung, Racliffe W. S. Lai, Cristobal Galban-Malagon, Aiko D. Adell, Julie Mondon, Marc Metian, Robert A. Marchant, Alejandra Bouzas-Monroy, Aida Cuni-Sanchez, Anja Coors, Pedro Carriquiriborde, Macarena Rojo, Chris Gordon, Magdalena Cara, Monique Moermond, Thais Luarte, Vahagn Petrosyan, Yekaterina Perikhanyan, Clare S. Mahon, Christopher J. McGurk, Thilo Hofmann, Tapos Kormoker, Volga Iniguez, Jessica Guzman-Otazo, Jean L. Tavares, Francisco Gildasio De Figueiredo, Maria T. P. Razzolini, Victorien Dougnon, Gildas Gbaguidi, Oumar Traore, Jules M. Blais, Linda E. Kimpe, Michelle Wong, Donald Wong, Romaric Ntchantcho, Jaime Pizarro, Guang-Guo Ying, Chang-Er Chen, Martha Paez, Jina Martinez-Lara, Jean-Paul Otamonga, John Pote, Suspense A. Ifo, Penelope Wilson, Nikolina Udikovic-Kolic, Milena Milakovic, Despo Fatta-Kassinos, Lida Ioannou-Ttofa, Jan Vymazal, Bayable A. Kassa, Jeanne Garric, Arnaud Chaumot, Peter Gibba, Ilia Kunchulia, Sven Seidensticker, Gerasimos Lyberatos, Halldor P. Halldorsson, Molly Melling, Thatikonda Shashidhar, Manisha Lamba, Anindrya Nastiti, Adee Supriatin, Nima Pourang, Ali Abedini, Omar Abdullah, Salem S. Gharbia, Francesco Pilla, Benny Chefetz, Tom Topaz, Koffi Marcellin Yao, Bakhyt Aubakirova, Raikhan Beisenova, Lydia Olaka, Jemimah K. Mulu, Peter Chatanga, Victor Ntuli, Nathaniel T. Blama, Sheck Sherif, Ahmad Zaharin Aris, Ley Juen Looi, Mahamoudane Niang, Seydou T. Traore, Rik Oldenkamp, Olatayo Ogunbanwo, Muhammad Ashfaq, Muhammad Iqbal, Ziad Abdeen, Aaron O'Dea, Jorge Manuel Morales-Saldana, Heidi de la Cruz, Ian Navarrete, Fabio Carvalho, Alhaji Brima Gogra, Bashiru M. Koroma, Vesna Cerkvenik-Flajs, Mitja Gombac, Melusi Thwala, Kyungho Choi, Habyeong Kang, John L. Celestino Ladu, Andreu Rico, Priyanie Amerasinghe, Anna Sobek, Gisela Horlitz, Armin K. Zenker, Alex C. King, Jheng-Jie Jiang, Rebecca Kariuki, Madaka Tumbo, Ulas Tezel, Turgut T. Onay, Julius B. Lejju, Yuliya Vystavna, Yuriy Vergeles, Horacio Heinzen, Andres Perez-Parada, Douglas B. Sims, Maritza Figy, David Good, Charles Teta
Summary: Environmental exposure to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can have negative effects on ecosystems and human health. A global-scale study of API pollution in rivers highlights the highest concentrations in sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia, and South America, primarily in low- to middle-income countries with poor wastewater and waste management infrastructure. The most frequently detected APIs include carbamazepine, metformin, and caffeine, with some concentrations exceeding safe levels for aquatic organisms. Pharmaceutical pollution poses a global threat to environmental and human health and has implications for achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoguang Liu, Jinchen Chen, Ding-Hsiang Lin, Spyros G. Pavlostathis
Summary: This study assessed the long-term effect of peracetic acid (PAA) solution on the anaerobic treatment of poultry processing wastewater. Results showed that direct addition of PAA solution completely inhibited biogas production and required a relatively long incubation time for recovery.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinchen Chen, Spyros G. Pavlostathis
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of PAA solution on the performance of a biological nitrogen removal system. The results showed that the system was negatively affected by residual PAA, but recovery was achieved quickly after ceasing PAA addition.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Madan Tandukar, Spyros G. Pavlostathis
Summary: The study investigated the benefits of co-digestion of a sludge-mix with concentrated fat-oil-grease (FOG), finding that it can enhance the degradation of sludge and increase methane production. Co-digestion is feasible and recommended for municipal wastewater treatment facilities to match target biogas/methane levels by balancing energy production and solids destruction based on their specific needs.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Genping Yi, Bo Wang, Yufa Feng, Difan Fang, Liming Yang, Wenzong Liu, Yifeng Zhang, Penghui Shao, Spyros G. Pavlostathis, Shenglian Luo, Xubiao Luo, Aijie Wang
Summary: Wastewater carries significant energy that is often ignored, but can be converted to bioelectricity and chemicals by microbes in microbial electrochemical systems. Photo-assisted MESs have emerged as a sustainable platform for enhancing wastewater treatment and bioenergy recovery using solar light. However, the development of photo-assisted MESs is still in its early stages.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cheng Cheng, Qiang He, Jian Zhang, Hongxiang Chai, Yujing Yang, Spyros G. Pavlostathis, Haiming Wu
Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms and effects of manganese oxide-mediated ammonium oxidation in wetlands. The results showed that wetlands with manganese sand had a higher removal efficiency of ammonium nitrogen and reduced nitrous oxide emission. The manganese sand delayed the oxidation of ammonium nitrogen, and the presence of specific bacterial communities promoted the removal of ammonium nitrogen.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Cheng Cheng, Qiang He, Jian Zhang, Bowen Chen, Spyros G. Pavlostathis
Summary: This article summarizes the role of aerobic methanotrophic bacteria in anaerobic methane oxidation (AOM) under nitrite or mineral oxide dependence, as well as their new metabolic trait of simultaneously reducing nitrous oxide and oxidizing methane under hypoxic conditions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinchen Chen, Tianze Song, Sha Long, Kevin J. Zhu, Spyros G. Pavlostathis
Summary: This study assessed the effects of peracetic acid (PAA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) solutions on nitrification kinetics, cellular responses, and gene expression in a nitrifying culture. The results showed that PAA mainly inhibited nitrification through enzyme inhibition, while H2O2 had minimal impact. The study provides important insights for the design and operation of biological nitrogen removal systems for PAA-bearing wastewater.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sha Long, Xiaoguang Liu, Jinchen Chen, Lin Zhao, Spyros G. Pavlostathis
Summary: This study investigated the effects of tetracycline (TC) on bio-electrochemically assisted anaerobic methanogenic systems (An-BES) for wastewater treatment. The results showed that TC had minimal effect on methane production at low concentrations, but significantly reduced methane production and current output at high concentrations. TC was predominantly removed through adsorption, and the application of voltage enhanced its removal. The electrode biofilms had higher abundance of propionate oxidizing bacteria and methanogens, while antibiotic resistance genes were less abundant compared to suspended cultures. TC inhibited certain functional microorganisms and pathways, leading to decreased performance of An-BES systems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuanqi Liu, Zhuochao Liu, Dan Cui, Liming Yang, Haiyu Wang, Spyros G. Pavlostathis, Yanni Geng, Zhensheng Xiong, Penghui Shao, Xubiao Luo, Shenglian Luo
Summary: By adding a biodegradable carrier, loofah, the microalgae-bacteria symbiotic system achieved a 100% removal rate of high concentration ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and showed good stability. The loofah also released a considerable amount of carbon that could support denitrification. The study expands our understanding of the enhanced role of carbon-based carriers in the denitrification of rare earth element tailings wastewater.
Proceedings Paper
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Lavdie Rada, Yusuf Baran Tanriverdi, Omer Ekmel Kara, Elizabeth M. Hemond, Ulas Tezel
Summary: This paper introduces a method for citizen-based water-quality monitoring through simple pattern classification of water crystallization using a smartphone and portable microscope. The method allows for remote analysis of water resource contamination, laying the foundation for the development of a Water Expert System smartphone application.
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING SYSTEMS (ISICS 2022)
(2022)