Article
Environmental Sciences
Sangmin Won, Myung-Gyu Ha, Dinh Duc Nguyen, Ho Young Kang
Summary: This study isolated four selenite-reducing bacteria from a river water sample, with strain NDSe-7 showing efficient selenite reduction capability under alkaline and high salinity conditions. These extremophilic microorganisms demonstrate potential for selenium removal and recovery from industrial wastewater.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qingdong Wang, Chunyue Wang, Shanshan Kuang, Dezhen Wang, Yuhua Shi
Summary: A highly efficient probiotic bacterial strain, Pediococcus acidilactici DSM20284, was isolated and shown to have a reduction rate of up to 98% for selenite to elemental selenium. The synthesised selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) exhibited remarkable antibacterial and antioxidant activities. These SeNPs have potential safe applications in biomedical and nutritional fields.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
ShengWei Huang, Yuting Wang, Caiguo Tang, HuiLing Jia, Lifang Wu
Summary: A highly selenite-resistant strain Providencia rettgeri HF16 was isolated from coalmine soil, which can transform selenite into selenium nanoparticles rapidly, with sulfite reductase-mediated selenite reduction pathway identified. This discovery suggests that P. rettgeri HF16 could be a suitable biocatalyst for selenite bioremediation and efficient synthesis of selenium nanoparticles.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. Sudharsan, M. Sarvajith, Y. V. Nancharaiah
Summary: Microbial transformations are important for the Se cycle, as they convert Se oxyanions into elemental selenium (Se-0) nanostructures, reducing their solubility and toxicity. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) has been studied for its ability to efficiently reduce selenite to biogenic Se-0 (Bio-Se-0) and retain it in bioreactors. In this study, selenite removal and Bio-Se-0 biogenesis in different size groups of aerobic granules were investigated. Large granules (>= 0.5 mm) showed rapid and efficient selenite reduction and Bio-Se-0 formation due to better entrapment capabilities. SEM-EDX analysis confirmed the formation of Se-0 spheres and their association with the granules. A bacterial strain, identified as Microbacterium azadirachtae, was found to efficiently reduce selenite under aerobic conditions and immobilize the resulting Bio-Se-0. The findings suggest the potential use of large AGS and AGS-borne bacteria in bioremediation of metal(loid) oxyanions and bio-recovery.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
JinLan Huang, DaiHua Jiang, MingShi Wang, XueJiao Huang
Summary: In this study, a bacterial strain named Proteus mirabilis QZB-2 with high selenite resistance was isolated from lateritic red soil. The strain has the capability to reduce selenite to selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) at a rapid rate.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Arindam Sinharoy, Manoj Kumar, Rayanee Chaudhuri, Sudeshna Saikia, Kannan Pakshirajan
Summary: This study investigated the simultaneous removal and recovery of selenite and heavy metals from wastewater using an inverse fluidized bed bioreactor (IFBR). The presence of heavy metals, especially copper, negatively affected the selenite removal efficiency. The overall removal efficiency of heavy metals was over 70%, and the recovery efficiency ranged from 45.1% to 73.9% for selenium and from 59.2% to 69.8% for heavy metals.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Eulalia Sans-Serramitjana, Carla Gallardo-Benavente, Francisco Melo, Jose M. Perez-Donoso, Cornelia Rumpel, Patricio Javier Barra, Paola Duran, Maria de La Luz Mora
Summary: This study examined the biosynthesis and characterization of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using two endophytic selenobacteria. The results showed that both strains were suitable for producing SeNPs with different properties. The SeNPs were surrounded by the proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides of bacterial cells, and the functional groups present in SeNPs from one strain were higher in number than in the other strain. The findings support the potential of these endophytic strains as biocatalysts for producing high-quality Se-based nanoparticles, and future efforts should focus on evaluating their bioactivity and determining how the different features of each SeNP modulate their biological action and stability.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Arindam Sinharoy, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: The study investigated the performance of Aspergillus niger pellets in removing selenite and tellurite from wastewater, demonstrating that brewer's spent grain hydrolysate is a low-cost carbon source suitable for this purpose.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arindam Sinharoy, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: In this study, the reduction of selenite and selenate using waste activated sludge and hydrogen as electron donor was investigated. The results showed that both selenite and selenate could be efficiently removed using H-2 within 8 days. The production of byproducts was minimal and the reduction process was characterized.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
G. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Snigdha Pathak, Y. V. Nancharaiah
Summary: This study reports the bacterial reduction of Se(IV)/Te(IV) oxyanions at different salinities by a bacterial strain isolated from selenite-reducing halophilic aerobic granular sludge. The strain showed high tolerance and rapid growth in the presence of high concentrations of selenite and tellurite. Biogenesis of Se(0) and Te(0) nanostructures was confirmed, and the bacterial strain was identified as Alteromonas sp. based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
ZhiJian Li, QingQing Wang, FuJuan Dai, HaiFeng Li
Summary: The study found that the Se(IV)-resistant Lactobacillus paralimentarius strain JZ07 has high selenium biotransformation ability, which can produce red elemental selenium nanospheres and play an important role in selenium bioaccumulation. The sulfur content in the cells increases significantly in the presence of Se(IV), resulting in changes in cell morphology.
Review
Biology
Janine Kessi, Raymond J. Turner, Davide Zannoni
Summary: This opinion review discusses the microbiology and biological differences between tellurite and selenite oxyanions. It explores the challenges in understanding the uptake transport mechanisms of these anions and the controversies surrounding their reduction to nanomaterials. The review also highlights the importance of glutathione and thioredoxin chemistry in relation to the electron transport chain system. Despite the progress made, there are still many unanswered questions and exciting research directions to explore.
BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yuting Wang, Qing Ye, Yujun Sun, Yulu Jiang, Bo Meng, Jun Du, Jingjing Chen, Anna Tugarova, Alexander A. Kamnev, Shengwei Huang
Summary: In this study, a selenite-resistant bacterium was isolated and its molecular mechanism for selenite reduction was investigated. The isolated selenium nanoparticles showed excellent antimicrobial activity.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Miguel A. Ruiz-Fresneda, Sebastian Schaefer, Rene Huebner, Karim Fahmy, Mohamed L. Merroun
Summary: This study compares the antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The results show that SeNPs can inhibit bacterial growth and viability, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), and have potential applications in bioremediation and NP synthesis.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Lei Qiao, Xina Dou, Xiaofan Song, Jiajing Chang, Xiaonan Zeng, Lixu Zhu, Chunlan Xu
Summary: In this study, it was found that food-grade probiotic L. casei ATCC 393 effectively reduced selenite to SeNPs by GSH and nitrate reductase-mediated reduction pathway, providing an environmentally friendly biocatalyst for the bioremediation of Se contamination.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Uddandarao Priyanka, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: The demand for value-added compounds has driven the development of advanced technologies such as nanobiohybrids (NBs) that combine the microbial properties of microorganisms with semiconductor light-harvesting efficiency. In this study, photosynthetic NBs linking the biosynthetic pathways of Aspergillus niger with CuS nanoparticles were constructed, resulting in enhanced production of amylase, pyruvate, and phenolic compounds.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marica Areniello, Silvio Matassa, Giovanni Esposito, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: Securing a sustainable protein supply is a major challenge for humanity, and alternative protein sources like microbial protein (MP) offer innovative circular bioeconomy practices. In this review, the authors analyze waste recovery platforms for second-generation MP production and evaluate the potential of mixed culture-based MP fermentation processes.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Simone Pau, Lea Chua Tan, Sonia Lorena Arriaga Garcia, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: Food waste generation is a major environmental concern, and lactic acid has gained attention for its role in biopolymer production. This study investigated the effects of thermal and ultrasonic pretreatment on solubilization rates and lactic acid yields. Ultrasonic pretreatment increased solubility, but reduced lactic acid concentrations and yields after fermentation. Thermal pretreatment, on the other hand, increased lactic acid concentrations and yields.
WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kotamraju Amulya, Sinead Morris, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: The development of biorefineries is crucial in the circular economy framework. Aquatic plants, such as submerged and free-floating plants, have gained attention as potential feedstocks due to their abundance, composition similar to lignocellulosic biomass, and minimal pre-treatments required. This review highlights the use of aquatic plants for producing various biocommodities, explores different biorefinery schemes, and discusses the challenges and prospects of aquatic plant-based biorefineries.
BIOFUELS BIOPRODUCTS & BIOREFINING-BIOFPR
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bing Zhang, Shuchang Huang, Lian Wu, Yuan Guo, Wenxin Shi, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: Microplastics and nanoplastics released into wastewater may threaten the biological treatment process. Aerobic granular sludge (AGS), a potential biotechnology for wastewater treatment, can effectively intercept microplastics and nanoplastics, but their effects on the AGS system have been insufficiently investigated. This study found that low concentrations of microplastics and nanoplastics (1 mg/L) had negligible inhibitory effects on the AGS system. However, higher concentrations of microplastics (20 and 100 mg/L) impaired granular integrity and reduced total nitrogen removal efficiency by 3.8%-17.8%, particularly in denitrification. Prolonged exposure to nanoplastics at the same concentrations had greater adverse effects on AGS, indicated by filamentous bacteria overgrowth and lower TN removal efficiency (decreased by 11.4%-22.8%). This is possibly due to biofilm formation on the surface of microplastics and excessive secretion of extracellular polymeric substances that mitigate the toxic effects of microplastics. In contrast, microorganisms were directly exposed to the toxicity of nanoplastics, resulting in increased oxidative stress, impaired cytomembrane structure, decreased cell viability, and protein production. Metagenomic analysis revealed decreased populations of key functional bacteria (e.g. denitrifiers Acidovorax and Flavobacterium) and declined key enzymes and genes (e.g. nirK, napAB, nirS, norBC, and nosZ) related to nitrogen transformation processes and energy production. This study suggests that nanoplastics have more detrimental impacts on AGS systems, which should be taken into account when treating plastic-containing wastewaters.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lucas T. Fuess, Adriana F. M. Braga, Felipe Eng, Gustavo B. Gregoracci, Flavia T. Saia, Marcelo Zaiat, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: Removing sulfate prior to methanogenesis and maintaining year-round operation are the main challenges for highly efficient bioenergy recovery from sugarcane vinasse. The study assessed the establishment and optimization of sulfidogenesis during vinasse fermentation at different temperature levels and the impact of replacing vinasse by molasses. The results showed that sulfidogenesis was not efficiently established at 30 degrees C, but successful sulfate removal was achieved at 55 degrees C. Replacing vinasse by molasses negatively impacted sulfate-reducing bacteria but they were resilient to severe acidic and thermophilic conditions.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yaxue He, Chiara Cassarini, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: An anaerobic granular sludge capable of utilizing H2/CO2 to produce organic acids and alcohols was enriched in a continuous gas-fed up-flow anaerobic sludge reactor. Three fermentation stages were identified, and exogenous acetate was found to enhance the consumption of H2 and CO2. However, the enriched acetogens were unable to convert acetate to ethanol.
ENGINEERING IN LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ya Deng, Guangfeng Yang, Piet N. L. Lens, Yaxue He, Lingxiang Qie, Xingyu Shen, Jianmeng Chen, Zhuowei Cheng, Dongzhi Chen
Summary: In this study, the addition of non-ionic surfactant Tween 20 significantly improved the performance of biotrickling filters (BTFs) for the removal of hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The presence of Tween 20 resulted in low pressure drop, rapid biomass accumulation, and enhanced removal efficiency for n-hexane and dichloromethane.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mohanakrishnan Logan, Lea Chua Tan, Corine Orline Nzeteu, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: The effect of selenate on glycerol removal in UASB reactors was investigated. By gradually increasing selenate concentrations, an average daily methane yield of about 150 mL/g COD and 90% Se removal were achieved until a concentration of 400 mu M SeO42-. However, methane production deteriorated when the influent selenate concentration was increased to 500 mu M.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Adriana F. M. Braga, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: This study assessed the microbial community attached to Ulva spp. as an alternative inoculation method for bioH2 production from Ulva spp. hydrolysate. The natural fermentation strategy was found to be a suitable method for inoculating the dark fermentation reactor.
BIOMASS & BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Marica Areniello, Silvio Matassa, Giovanni Esposito, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: This study evaluated the possibility of combining methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB) with sulfur oxidizing bacteria (SOB) for microbial protein production using sulfide-rich biogas. A MOB-SOB mixed-culture was benchmarked against a solely MOB culture. The MOB-SOB culture showed promising results in terms of biomass yield and protein content at 1500 ppm of H2S.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qian Li, Jiahui Zhang, Jiayu Zhou, Wang Xu, Zhuowei Cheng, Piet N. L. Lens, Jianmeng Chen, Dongzhi Chen
Summary: A visible-light photocatalysis coupled with biodegradation system was developed for the removal of chlorobenzenes. The system achieved high removal efficiency of chlorobenzenes, outperforming other photocatalytic and biodegradation methods. The system showed wide applicability and promising potential for the treatment of refractory pollutants.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
N. Arul Manikandan, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: A sustainable biorefining and bioprocessing strategy was developed to produce edible-ulvan films and non-edible polyhydroxybutyrate films. Edible-ulvan films were prepared by crosslinking and plasticisation of ulvan with citric acid and xylitol, improving gut-friendly microbe growth and inhibiting pathogens. Biomass from green macroalgae was processed to produce volatile fatty acids, which were further converted into polyhydroxybutyrate through aerobic processing.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Juan Castilla-Archilla, Danfei Zeng, Yifeng Zhang, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: A continuous production and in-line recovery of VFAs was achieved by coupling an electrochemical cell (EC) to the recycling line of an up-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor. The EC allowed simultaneous recovery of VFAs while producing alkali equivalent and hydrogen, reducing caustic addition and promoting VFA production.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Snigdha Mandal, Suresh Sundaramurthy, Suresh Arisutha, Eldon Raj Rene, Piet N. L. Lens, Sasan Zahmatkesh, Kassian T. T. Amesho, Awais Bokhari
Summary: A comparative study was conducted to investigate the effects of various parameters on power generation in an aerobic microbial fuel cell using cow manure-pretreated slurry and sewage sludge. The optimal conditions for maximum power production were determined to be an electrode depth of 7 cm, a pH of 6, and a feed ratio of 2:1 in the CM + SS system. Response surface methodology was applied to establish the relationship between the parameters and the response. The results showed that an ON/OFF controller was effective in maintaining stable power output.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
