Article
Environmental Sciences
Swee Su Lim, Jean-Marie Fontmorin, Hai The Pham, Edward Milner, Peer Mohamed Abdul, Keith Scott, Ian Head, Eileen Hao Yu
Summary: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) show potential for removing zinc from industrial effluents, with over 96% removal efficiency achieved in this study. The dominant removal mechanism was found to be electroprecipitation, with the recovered compound containing Zn(OH)2. The study suggests that MFCs can serve as an environmentally friendly technology for heavy metal removal.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manal Aldwaish, Noura Kouki, Azizah Algreiby, Haja Tar, Rafik Tayeb, Amor Hafiane
Summary: In this study, a flat supported liquid membrane was used for the extraction of bisphenol A from aqueous solutions, with the use of an ionic liquid as a carrier. Various experimental parameters were investigated to optimize the transport efficiency, and the results showed that the recovery percentage of bisphenol A was about 89%. The supported liquid membrane-based system displayed acceptable stability with re-impregnation after 5 days of operation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mary Farah, Jaume Giralt, Frank Stuber, Josep Font, Azael Fabregat, Agusti Fortuny
Summary: This study evaluated the extraction and transport of three pharmaceutical compounds using liquid-liquid extraction and supported liquid membrane methods. Results showed that Cy923 was an efficient extractant for diclofenac and ibuprofen, while Versatic Acid 10 was suitable for carbamazepine. The concentration of the extractants also affected the transport of diclofenac.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vaidhegi Kugarajah, John Solomon, Kavinila Rajendran, Sangeetha Dharmalingam
Summary: This research explores the use of biocathodes with eggshell as a low-cost and efficient alternative to platinum-based catalysts in microbial fuel cells, resulting in improved electricity generation and nitrate removal. Microbial consortia analysis revealed the presence of denitrifying bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Azoarcus, Thauera, and Wolinella, contributing to better performance and indicating potential for scaling up MFCs.
PROCESS BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
N. Evelin Paucar, Chikashi Sato
Summary: With the world population growing, the demand for fresh water, energy, and food is increasing, as well as the need for wastewater treatment and recycling. Microbial fuel cells have attracted considerable attention due to their versatility in applications such as wastewater treatment, power generation, and toxic pollutant removal. This review focuses on the recent advancements in nutrient removal and/or recovery with simultaneous power generation using MFC technologies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaojun Jin, Nuan Yang, Hong Liu, Sha Wang
Summary: A novel method of nitrogen removal through membrane penetration was proposed in a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell with a proton exchange membrane (PEM). The study showed that NH4+-N migrated rapidly across the PEM, with 50% being oxidized to NO3 -N in the cathode chamber and the remaining being eliminated through short-cut nitrification/denitrification. Additionally, NO3 -N crossed the PEM again and was reduced via anodic denitrification. The functional microorganisms in the anode and cathode were found to have different compositions.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jing Gao, Yong Li, Huimin Li, Tianxiang Chen, Huasheng Xiao, Xinzhi Chen
Summary: An effective symmetric structured dual phase mixed conducting oxygen separation membrane made of 60 wt% Ce0.9Gd0.1O2-delta - 40 wt% Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (60CGO-40BSCF) was prepared using aqueous tape casting. The membrane consisted of a dense thin layer in the middle and porous substrates on the two sides. This structure optimized both oxygen ion diffusion and surface gas exchange, resulting in increased oxygen permeation flux. Compared to a monotonous dense membrane, the porous supported symmetric membrane exhibited higher permeation fluxes. The study indicates that the porous supported symmetric membrane structure is an efficient strategy to enhance oxygen permeation flux.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Linjie Gao, Dong Wei, Sherif Ismail, Zhibin Wang, Amro El-Baz, Shou-Qing Ni
Summary: In this study, a single chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used as an influent device for a partial nitrification-sequencing batch reactor (PN-SBR), achieving integrated COD removal and partial nitrification. After 80 days of operation, the nitrite accumulation rate reached 93%, while the COD removal efficiency was 56%. The study also revealed the microbial interaction between MFC and partial nitrification, providing a new strategy for stable ammonia and nitrite supply for mainstream anammox plants.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Siti Masyitah Mokhtar, Vikneswary Rajendaren, Syed Mohd Saufi, Norasikin Othman, Raja Norimie Raja Sulaiman
Summary: Excessive platinum discharged from industrial wastewater contaminates the environment and poses severe health risks. Flat sheet supported liquid membrane (FSSLM) was used to effectively remove platinum from an aqueous solution, achieving a removal percentage of 98.7% through the optimization of operational parameters using fractional factorial design (FFD).
DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Santhi Raju Pilli, Wahid Ali, Sowjanya Motana, Mohammad Ehtisham Khan, Yennam Rajesh, Anwar Ulla Khan, Abdullateef H. Bashiri, Waleed Zakri
Summary: Ionic liquids (ILs) have been widely used in wastewater treatment and separation processes in environmental engineering. In this study, novel ILs were immobilized on a PVDF membrane for the removal of organic pollutant from water phase by supported ionic liquid membranes (SILM). The membrane performance and transport mechanism were investigated, and the results showed promising stability and separation efficiency. This SILM technique has the potential for further development and application in wastewater treatment and organic pollutant extraction.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Kanwal Shahid, Deepika Lakshmi Ramasamy, Parminder Kaur, Mika Sillanpaa, Arto Pihlajamaki
Summary: The study found that microbial nutrient recovery cells with carbon-modified electrodes showed superior efficiency in removing ammonium ions and chemical oxygen demand, with stable voltage and high power density.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Ming Li, Minghua Zhou, Xiaoyu Tian, Chaolin Tan, Tingyue Gu
Summary: Utilizing swine wastewater in an airlift-type photosynthetic microbial fuel cell (APMFC) for power generation and Chlorella vulgaris cultivation shows improved performance in biomass yield, lipid accumulation, and power generation. The highest removal rates for various pollutants were achieved using 2-fold diluted swine wastewater in APMFC. Energy balance analysis suggests that the highest net energy output can reach 1.92 kWh m(-3) in APMFC fed with 2-fold diluted swine wastewater, indicating a promising approach for clean energy production.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Merin Grace Baby, M. Mansoor Ahammed
Summary: This paper summarises the recent advances and applications of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for nutrient removal/recovery from wastewater. It discusses different configurations of MFCs and the various mechanisms involved in nutrient removal/recovery. The review highlights the potential of MFCs for higher nutrient removal/recovery, but emphasizes the need for further field-scale studies and optimization of operational parameters for efficient nutrient removal/recovery and electricity generation.
WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohd Hazarel Zairy Mohd Harun, Abdul Latif Ahmad
Summary: The study developed a new formulation of supported ionic liquid membrane (SILM) for the removal of low concentration ibuprofen (IBP) using green diluent and ionic liquid. The results showed that the liquid carrier consisting of sunflower oil (SFO) and Aliquat 336 successfully impregnated on the PVDF support. The newly formulated SILM demonstrated high extraction and stripping efficiency, making it advantageous for extracting low concentrations of IBP from the feed phase.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Long Chen, Weiqi Dang, Xiaohui Lin, Gen Chen
Summary: This article presents an efficient method for the recovery of low-concentration zinc ions in ammoniacal chloride media using a flat supported liquid membrane system. It discusses the synergistic effect between different extractants and the influence of operating conditions on zinc ion transport.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Tim Patterson, Jaime Massanet-Nicolau, Rhys Jones, Alessio Boldrin, Francesco Valentino, Richard Dinsdale, Alan Guwy
Summary: The meat and dairy industry in Europe relies on grass production, but there is potential to use grass for producing alternative products like polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) due to pressures to reduce agriculture's environmental impact, potential decrease in meat and dairy consumption, and the need to lower food production costs. Research shows that utilizing grass as a carbon source for PHA production could lead to a viable future option with reduced energy demand and improved efficiency through process optimization.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Electrochemistry
Bongkyu Kim, In Seop Chang, Richard M. Dinsdale, Alan J. Guwy
Summary: The scanning electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique can be used to confirm the variation of internal resistance in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) under different working conditions, including charge transfer resistance and ohmic resistance. By measuring the overall internal resistance of the system and the charge transfer resistance of the anode and cathode using the scanning EIS method, it was found that the resistances of each electrode changed variably. This method revealed that the rapid increase in the anode's charge transfer resistance was the main cause of power overshoot, providing valuable insights for understanding undesirable phenomena in MFCs.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kleitos Panagi, Christian J. Laycock, James P. Reed, Alan J. Guwy
Summary: This study investigates the effects of biohythane mixtures on the electrical performance and fuel processing of a SOFC, showing that blending H2/CO2 with CH4 to make biohythane can significantly increase SOFC efficiency and durability while reducing CH4 consumption.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
S. C. J. Van Acht, C. J. Laycock, S. J. W. Carr, J. Maddy, A. J. Guwy, G. Lloyd, L. F. J. M. Raymakers, A. D. Wright
Summary: The optimization study utilizing vacuum PSA and electrochemical hydrogen purification and compression technology for purification and compression of hydrogen from Coke Oven Gas showed high recovery rates and product quality. By varying parameters such as adsorbent layering ratio, adsorption pressure, and purge to feed ratio, purification efficiency can be improved. The VPSA-EHP/C method is applicable for a wide range of hydrogen gas mixtures.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rhys Jon Jones, Rodrigo Fernandez-Feito, Jaime Massanet-Nicolau, Richard Dinsdale, Alan Guwy
Summary: A novel method for recovering volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from a continuously-fed food waste bioreactor was developed, increasing production rates to 35 mg VFA/gVSS/day by alleviating end-product inhibition and arresting methanogenesis. The recovered VFAs were concentrated to 4000 mg/L through electrodialysis, making them suitable for use as platform chemicals with minimal refining. This represents a promising means of producing sustainable platform chemicals and also helps reduce methane emissions from bioreactors.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Paola Paiano, Giuliano Premier, Alan Guwy, Amandeep Kaur, Iain Michie, Mauro Majone, Marianna Villano
Summary: In MMC-EF process, utilizing low-cost graphite electrodes can enhance the production rate of butyric acid, although it may increase specific energy consumption. Controlling the voltage can regulate MMC-based bioprocesses effectively.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
R. J. Jones, J. Massanet-Nicolau, R. Fernandez-Feito, R. M. Dinsdale, A. J. Guwy
Summary: An industrially applicable methodology utilizing a novel combination of filtration and electrochemical separation technologies was successfully used to recover and enhance the production of volatile fatty acids. The yields of volatile fatty acids were increased and concentrated in a solution suitable for downstream conversion to platform chemicals. The study suggests that there is potential to further increase volatile fatty acid recovery rates and yields by increasing the capacity of the recovery methodology.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Amandeep Kaur, Bongkyu Kim, Richard Dinsdale, Alan Guwy, Eileen Yu, Giuliano Premier
Summary: The study proposed a scalable reactor system for electrochemical CO2 reduction to formate, which is a precursor for the production of fuels, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers. The results showed that formic acid can be efficiently produced in a short period of time with specific parameters, although further optimization of systems and operating strategies is needed.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Gamal K. Hassan, Rhys Jon Jones, Jaime Massanet-Nicolau, Richard Dinsdale, M. M. Abo-Aly, Fatma A. El-Gohary, Alan Guwy
Summary: A novel approach of using two stage anaerobic digestion coupled with electrodialysis technology successfully improved bio hydrogen and methane yields, reduced COD, and further enhanced waste treatment efficiency.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
R. J. Jones, J. Massanet-Nicolau, R. Fernandez-Feito, R. M. Dinsdale, A. J. Guwy
Summary: A novel combination of technologies was used to recover VFAs from a bioreactor, significantly increasing VFA yields and addressing end-product inhibition. These achievements represent important breakthroughs in adding value to waste and increasing substrate utilization rates.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sanjay Nagarajan, Rhys Jon Jones, Lucy Oram, Jaime Massanet-Nicolau, Alan Guwy
Summary: This review focuses on the production of biohydrogen and VFAs from organic wastes. Through a critical analysis of recent literature, intensification strategies including substrate pre-treatment, digestion parameters, and product recovery are discussed. The techno-economic aspects and future research directions are highlighted.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
G. K. Veluswamy, K. Shah, A. S. Ball, A. J. Guwy, R. M. Dinsdale
Summary: There are concerns over the long-term sustainability of anaerobic digestion for producing methane, while the production of VFAs as a high value product offers promising opportunities for future wastewater treatment plants.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rong-Gui Zhu, Chang-Gui Pan, Feng-Jiao Peng, Chao-Yang Zhou, Jun-Jie Hu, Kefu Yu
Summary: This comprehensive survey investigated the occurrence, bioaccumulation, and trophic magnification of parabens and their metabolite 4-HB in a marine food web. Results showed that parabens were the predominant pollutants in marine organisms, with significant bioaccumulation from sediments. The estimated trophic magnification factor indicated biomagnification for MeP and trophic dilution for 4-HB. Overall, the risks for humans consuming marine organisms were found to be low.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andres F. Torres-Franco, Deborah Leroy-Freitas, Cristina Martinez-Fraile, Elisa Rodriguez, Pedro A. Garcia-Encina, Raul Munoz
Summary: Anaerobic and microalgae-based technologies have emerged as sustainable alternatives for municipal wastewater treatment. However, the presence of viruses in the treated wastewater is a major concern for reuse applications. This study assessed the ability of these technologies to reduce viruses during secondary wastewater treatment. The results showed that all technologies were effective in reducing the concentration of viruses, with microalgae-based treatment exhibiting the highest potential for reducing the disinfection requirements of treated wastewater.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Young Gwang Kim, Sae Yun Kwon, Spencer J. Washburn, Scott C. Brooks, Ji Won Yoon, Lucien Besnard
Summary: The study uses Hg isotope ratios to identify the sources and exposure pathways of mercury in bivalves, finding that dissolved Hg phases in the water column are the primary source and exposure pathway to bivalves. This provides new insights into using bivalves as bioindicators for sediment quality monitoring.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hui Geng, Ying Xu, Rui Liu, Dianhai Yang, Xiaohu Dai
Summary: This study investigates the effect of cation exchange resin (CER) on the sequential recovery of hydrogen and methane from anaerobic digestion (AD) and the corresponding mechanisms. The results show that CER can simultaneously enhance the production of hydrogen and methane by promoting the solubilisation, hydrolysis, and acidification of organic matter. Additionally, CER facilitates effective contact between bacteria and organic particulates and reduces the energy barrier for mass transfer during methane production. The study also reveals changes in the microbial community structure and metagenomics during the AD process.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Lin, Zhan Jin, Shunfeng Jiang, Zhiquan Wang, Suqing Wu, Ke Bei, Min Zhao, Xiangyong Zheng
Summary: Dehumidification combined with addition of absorbent resin supplement (ARS) was used to achieve rapid evaporation of non-pretreated urine, resulting in high water evaporation efficiency and nutrient recovery.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yangli Che, Chaoran Lin, Shen Li, Jiao Liu, Longhai Zhu, Shilei Yu, Nan Wang, Haoshuai Li, Mutai Bao, Yang Zhou, Tonghao Si, Rui Bao
Summary: Hydrodynamic processes play a crucial role in the transmission of sediments, microbial assembly, and organic carbon redistribution in the ocean. Through experiments and analysis, we found that hydrodynamics shape the assembly of microbial communities and control the redistribution of different sourced organic carbon, thereby influencing microbial-mediated biogeochemical transformation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chao Chen, Yu Yang, Nigel J. D. Graham, Zhenyu Li, Xingtao Yang, Zhining Wang, Nadia Farhat, Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder, Li -an Hou
Summary: The fouling of seawater reverse osmosis membranes is a persistent challenge in desalination. This study monitored the operational performance of a desalination plant for 7 years and the fouling development in different areas of membrane modules. The findings showed that operational performance declined over time and fouling mainly occurred at the feed side of the modules, with the highest microbial diversity. Keystone species like Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes played an important role in maintaining community structure and biofilm maturation. Polysaccharides, soluble microbial products, marine humic acid-like substances, and inorganic substances contributed to fouling. Overall, biofouling had a significant impact on membrane fouling after 7 years of operation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dan Li, Jieyi Sun, Yibo Fu, Wentao Hong, Heli Wang, Qian Yang, Junhong Wu, Sen Yang, Jianhui Xu, Yunfei Zhang, Yirong Deng, Yin Zhong, Ping'an Peng
Summary: Sulfidation-oxidation treatment of magnetite (Fe3O4) enhances the production of dark center dot OH, which can efficiently degrade dissolved organic matter (DOM) and accelerate carbon cycling.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cheng Yu, Kaijun Wang, Kaiyuan Zhang, Ruiyang Liu, Pingping Zheng
Summary: This study implemented a microaerobic-aerobic configuration in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility and investigated the effects on sludge characteristics, pollutant removal, microbial community, and granulation mechanisms. The results showed successful transition from flocculent-activated sludge to well-defined AGS after two months of operation. The primary pathways for pollutant removal were simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. Moreover, the incorporation of internal separators induced shifts in the flow pattern, which promoted granulation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhe Zhang, Shaoyang Hu, Guangrong Sun, Wei Wang
Summary: Halogenated aromatic disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as halogenated phenols, have garnered widespread attention due to their high toxicity and prevalence. This study reports on the analysis, occurrence, and cytotoxicity of a group of emerging halogenated aromatic DBPs, known as halogenated polyhydroxyphenols (HPPs), in drinking water.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shengyue Chen, Jinliang Huang, Peng Wang, Xi Tang, Zhenyu Zhang
Summary: Accurate prediction of river water quality is crucial for sustainable water management. This study introduces wavelet analysis and transfer learning techniques to assist LSTM modeling, proposing a newly coupled modeling approach that improves short-term prediction of river water quality.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bang Du, Xinmin Zhan, Piet N. L. Lens, Yifeng Zhang, Guangxue Wu
Summary: Efficient anaerobic digestion relies on the cooperation of different microorganisms with different metabolic pathways. This study investigated the effects of different operational modes and the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) on ethanol metabolic pathways. The results showed that the SBR mode and the presence of CO2 facilitated ethanol metabolism towards propionate production, while the CFR mode with extended solids retention time enriched Geobacter. Adjusting operational modes and PAC addition can modulate anaerobic ethanol metabolism and enrich Geobacter.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wanfa Wang, Si-Liang Li, Jun Zhong, Yuanbi Yi, Fujun Yue, Zenglei Han, Qixin Wu, Ding He, Cong-Qiang Liu
Summary: This study compares the carbon biogeochemical processes in karst and non-karst regions within large thermal stratified river-reservoir systems. The results demonstrate that karst reservoirs have a reduced potential for carbon emissions and highlight the importance of considering geologic settings to improve accuracy in regional and global CO2 emission estimates.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chunxia Jiang, Zelong Zhao, Dong Zhu, Xiong Pan, Yuyi Yang
Summary: This study analyzed the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different environmental media of the Yangtze River using metagenomics. Core resistome dominated by multidrug resistance genes was found in all samples, while rare resistome dominated by various resistance genes was more prevalent in plasmids. Specific bacteria were identified as hosts for both core and rare resistomes, with high clinical concern ARGs found in the rare resistome. Particle-associated environment provided the most ideal conditions for resistome hosts. This study provided insights into the genetic locations of ARGs and the community assembly mechanisms of ARG hosts in freshwater environments.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yu Zhang, Yongtao He, Linchun Jia, Lei Xu, Zheng Wang, Yueling He, Ling Xiong, Xumeng Lin, Hong Chen, Gang Xue
Summary: By synergizing organic carbon source, thiosulfate, and zero-valent iron, efficient mixotrophic denitrification of oligotrophic secondary effluent can be achieved. Thiosulfate plays a vital role in promoting TN removal efficiency, while corrosion of Fe0 releases OH- to neutralize H+ from thiosulfate-driven denitrification, creating a suitable environment for denitrification. The coordination of thiosulfate and Fe0 maintains the dominance of Thiobacillus for denitrification.
