Article
Thermodynamics
Haowen Feng, Chihe Sun, Chaofan Zhang, Haixing Chang, Nianbing Zhong, Wenbo Wu, Haihua Wu, Xuefei Tan, Mengying Zhang, Shih-Hsin Ho
Summary: This study proposes a method that combines microalgal photosynthesis with dark fermentation to reclaim nutrients and organics from landfill leachate and produce biohydrogen and volatile fatty acids. The results demonstrate that microalgae can grow well in the leachate and efficiently recover nitrogen and organics, converting them into energy through dark fermentation.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Menghan Wu, Xinning Liu, Weiming Tu, Juntao Xia, Yina Zou, Xiaoqiang Gong, Peng Yu, Wei E. Huang, Hui Wang
Summary: In this study, a new perspective on the rationality of oriented propionate production using mixed microbial cultures (MMCs) with lactate as feedstock was proposed. The feasibility of the food waste-lactate-propionate route to reverse the original butyrate-type fermentation situation and mechanisms for maintaining stability were verified.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Qi Lu, Mingting Du, Qing Xu, Xunkuo Zhang, Xuran Liu, Guojing Yang, Dongbo Wang
Summary: The study developed a sulfite-based pretreatment method to enhance the production of VFAs from anaerobic fermentation of microalgae. The pretreatment released more easily biodegradable organics, destroyed the cell wall of microalgae, and facilitated the acetate generation pathway.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rajesh J. Banu, G. Ginni, S. Kavitha, Yukesh R. Kannah, Adish S. Kumar, Shashi Kant Bhatia, Gopalakrishnan Kumar
Summary: Acidogenic fermentation is a key pathway for producing biohydrogen and short chain carboxylic acids, with the potential for producing additional value-added products. The application of a biorefinery can lead to efficient recovery of biofuels and value-added products, resulting in extra profits.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jose Antonio Magdalena, Maria Fernanda Perez-Bernal, Nicolas Bernet, Eric Trably
Summary: This study investigated the production of hydrogen from food waste using a combination of dark fermentation (DF) and microbial electrolysis cells (MEC). The metabolic patterns in DF and their impact on MEC efficiency, as well as the energy output of the coupling, were examined. Results showed that at mesophilic temperature and acidic pH 5.5, a higher hydrogen yield of 72 +/- 20 mL H2/g CODin was obtained with a butyrate-enriched profile. In contrast, at pH 7, the hydrogen yield was lower (36 +/- 10 mL H2/g CODin) with an acetate-enriched profile. Assessment of the DF effluents in MECs revealed that pH 7 effluents achieved a higher hydrogen yield (566-733 mL H2/g CODin) and VFAs removal (84-95%) compared to pH 5.5 effluents (173-186 mL H2/g CODin and 29-59%). The output energy was lower for DF at pH 7, but the effluents obtained the highest energy in the MEC, highlighting the importance of process pH and VFAs profile in achieving a balanced coupling.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qiqi Ping, Qian Fang, Yujia Chen, Wunxue Ding, Yanyu Xiao, Zhihui Wang, Wuyang Zhou
Summary: In this study, the effects of Fe3O4 on the production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in the anaerobic fermentation process of waste cooking oil (WCO) and aerobic sludge (AS) were investigated. The results showed that the addition of Fe3O4 promoted the hydrolysis and acidification of WCO, leading to an increase in VFAs and propionic acid concentration. Microbial community analysis revealed that Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were the main phylum involved in VFA production, with Veillonellaceae under Firmicutes being the main microorganism responsible for propionic acid production. This study provides new insights for the utilization of Fe3O4 in WCO treatment and propionic acid production.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hongbo Liu, Lu Dong, Xuedong Zhang, Cheng Zhao, Mingze Shi, Yajie Li, He Liu
Summary: Thermal hydrolysis is an effective method to improve the bioconversion of organic matter during sludge anaerobic treatment. Liquid fermentation for volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production using hydrolysate as the substrate has been successfully developed. The concentration of organics in the hydrolysate cannot be arbitrarily increased, and excessive hydrolysis intensity may produce non-biodegradable organics. The choice of appropriate hydrolysis intensity is crucial for the performance of sludge liquid fermentation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yanan Yin, Tao Zhang, Shijun He, Jianlong Wang
Summary: This study demonstrated that combining thermal pretreatment and anaerobic fermentation can effectively enhance erythromycin removal from fermentation residues, indicating a promising approach for the treatment of erythromycin waste.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Peng Yu, Weiming Tu, Menghan Wu, Zuotao Zhang, Hui Wang
Summary: A pilot-scale system producing volatile fatty acids from food waste under acidic conditions was established, with pH level of 6.5 resulting in the highest VFAs yield and increased proportion of butyric acid. Microbial analysis identified dominant bacteria that positively influence the acidification process. This study provides valuable insights for large-scale treatment of food waste.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
R. Huang, P. Romero, A. Belanche, E. M. Ungerfeld, D. Yanez-Ruiz, D. P. Morgavi, M. Popova
Summary: Some antimethanogenic feed additives for ruminants can lead to the accumulation of rumen dihydrogen (H2), which may affect optimal fermentation. However, combining an H2 acceptor with a methanogenesis inhibitor can decrease rumen H2 build-up and improve beneficial metabolite production for the host ruminant.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohamed Eraky, Keda Jin, Quanguo Zhang, Zhiping Zhang, Ping Ai, Mahdy Elsayed
Summary: The study investigated the physical and chemical effects of hydrothermal, acid and alkali pretreatment methods on rice straw for VFAs production. Different pretreatment methods had varying effects on the surface area and pore structure of the rice straw. Furthermore, under specific temperature conditions, VFAs production was significantly enhanced with the use of 1% Ca(OH)(2) pretreatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
G. Trancone, D. Spasiano, M. Race, V Luongo, A. Petrella, F. Pirozzi, U. Fratino, A. F. Piccinni
Summary: This study evaluates the efficiency of mesophilic and thermophilic dark fermentation (DF) using glucose as the substrate for the biological treatment of asbestos cement waste (ACW). The results show that both types of fermentation partially convert glucose into organic acids, successfully degrading asbestos fibers and producing hydrogen-rich biogas.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kamran Jawed, Victor Uhunoma Irorere, Rajesh Reddy Bommareddy, Nigel P. Minton, Katalin Kovacs
Summary: The facultative chemolithoautotroph Cupriavidus necator H16 can grow aerobically with organic substrates or H-2 and CO2, and accumulate a large amount of poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHA). This study investigated the ability of this organism to co-utilize volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and CO2 for carbon sources under mixotrophic growth conditions, and monitored PHA production. The results showed that PHA accumulation was significantly higher when cultures were grown mixotrophically with H-2 as an additional energy source. A two-step VFA feeding regime using a VFA mixture derived from an anaerobic digestor (AD) was found to be the most effective method for PHA accumulation.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mei Zou, Mengyu Yin, Yayi Yuan, Dongbo Wang, Weiping Xiong, Xiao Yang, Yaoyu Zhou, Hongbo Chen
Summary: Triclosan promotes volatile fatty acid accumulation in waste activated sludge anaerobic fermentation, accelerating acid production and enhancing key enzyme activity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Juan Cubero-Cardoso, Egidio Russo, Antonio Serrano, Angeles Trujillo-Reyes, Denys Villa-Gomez, Giovanni Esposito, Fernando G. Fermoso
Summary: This study assessed the potential use of strawberry extrudate (SE) as a carbon source for volatile fatty acid (VFA) production under different pH conditions. Anaerobic digestion at pH 7 resulted in methane production, while at pH 9 and 5, VFA accumulated with acetic acid being the predominant VFA at pH 9 and propionic and butyric acids being the major VFAs at pH 5.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tayane Miranda Silva de Castro, Magali Christe Cammarota, Elen Beatriz Acordi Vasques Pacheco
Summary: Anaerobic co-digestion of excess biological sludge from oil refineries with food waste rich in fruits and vegetables can effectively increase biogas yield and volatile solids reduction. The best condition involves mixing waste activated sludge without dewatering with food waste in an 80:20 ratio, resulting in significantly higher VS removal and biogas production compared to mono-digestion of sludge alone.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ronaldo Rodrigues de Sousa, Martina Costa Cerqueira Pinto, Erika Cristina Goncalves Aguieiras, Eliane Pereira Cipolatti, Evelin Andrade Manoel, Ayla Sant'Ana da Silva, Jose Carlos Pinto, Denise Maria Guimaraes Freire, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao
Summary: When selecting immobilized lipase for ester synthesis, factors such as cost, conversion rate, and reusability should be considered. Increasing the biocatalyst's loading can improve reusability of the lipase, but not in strict proportion, leading to a balance between the lowest biocatalyst loading and the lowest cost per batch.
BIOPROCESS AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Franknairy Gomes Silva, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao, Magali Christe Cammarota
Summary: The study evaluated the continuous production of biohydrogen in a bench reactor with thermally pretreated anaerobic sludge and synthetic xylose solution supplemented with nutrients. It found that further studies are necessary to optimize biohydrogen production in semi-continuous reactors, with key parameters for stability including microbial adaptation to xylose and constant mixing of reactor contents.
WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Daniel Oluwagbotemi Fasheun, Raul Alves de Oliveira, Elba P. S. Bon, Ayla Sant'Ana da Silva, Ricardo Sposina Sobral Teixeira, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao
Summary: The enzymatic hydrolysis of native starch can be enhanced by dry extrusion pretreatment, which reduces crystallinity and improves glucose yield. The study found that extruded CS:SB (1:0.25) had the highest glucose yield and hydrolysis efficiency.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bruno Cesar S. Coelho, Davi M. M. C. da Silva, Edward D. Hermosilla, Ricardo S. S. Teixeira, Elba P. S. Bon, Maria Cristina Diez, Viridiana S. Ferreira-Leitao, Ayla Sant'Ana da Silva
Summary: This study investigated the effects of a biological pretreatment (BPT) on the efficiency of hydrothermal pretreatment (HPT) for enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane straw. The results showed that Pleurotus ostreatus was the most effective microorganism for BPT, and combining BPT with HPT improved the glucose yield. The findings suggest that BPT is a useful aid for the HPT pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass.
WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vitor Silva Liduino, Gabriel Batalha Leoni, Eliana Flavia Camporese Servulo, Magali Christe Cammarota
Summary: Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) of AISI 1020 carbon steel caused by nitrate-reducing prokaryotes (NRP) and sulfate-reducing prokaryotes (SRP) in hypersaline seawater conditions was studied. Microbiological analysis, surface imaging, corrosion product characterization, weight loss, and electrochemical measurements were conducted to monitor the corrosion process. The extent of corrosion was more severe in the presence of microbial consortia compared to abiotic corrosion. Both NRP and SRP showed similar corrosion rates, but NRP-MIC resulted in deeper pits on the steel surface while SRP-MIC caused more weight loss.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Mariana de Oliveira Faber, Perola Lana Souza de Meireles, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao
Summary: Glycerin from biodiesel production can be valorized through dark fermentation and anaerobic digestion processes to produce hydrogen and methane. Adjusting reactor headspace and glycerol concentration can enhance production rate, and two-stage anaerobic digestion can improve energy yield and COD removal.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Marina Tomasini, Mariana De Oliveira Faber, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao
Summary: Sugarcane straw is not effectively utilized in the industry currently, but sugarcane straw hemicellulose hydrolyzate (HH) shows promise as a raw material for H2 and CH4 production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ronaldo Rodrigues de Sousa, Rui de Paula Vieira de Castro, Nadinne Medeiros Assis, Ayla Sant'Ana da Silva, Denise Maria Guimaraes Freire, Roberto Fernandez-Lafuente, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao
Summary: Although significant advances have been made in the biocatalytic synthesis of esters, few industrial plants worldwide currently produce esters using biocatalysts. Biocatalytic routes can provide green and sustainable esters with operational advantages over conventional syntheses. However, most literature neglects or generically describes the economic issues, and scaling-up studies are scarce. The cost of immobilized lipases, the main disadvantage of biocatalysis, has not been studied as extensively as other technical aspects. Preliminary techno-economic assessments are crucial to overcome the economic drawbacks and promote wider application of biocatalytic ester syntheses in large-scale contexts.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Vinicius Leite Soares, Mariana de Oliveira Faber, Alvaro Ferreira Monteiro, Magali Christe Cammarota, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao
Summary: By treating sisal juice (SJ) and adding value to it, biohydrogen and methane can be produced, which efficiently reduces the organic matter of SJ and generates gases of industrial and energetic interest.
BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Michelle Ramos Cavalcante Fortunato, Rosane Aguiar da Silva San Gil, Leandro Bandeira Borre, Rodrigo da Rocha Olivieri de Barros, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao, Ricardo Sposina Sobral Teixeira
Summary: Ball milling mechanochemical pretreatment is a chemical-free method for biomass processing, which can alter the organization of biomass components and reduce cellulose crystallinity. This study evaluated the effects of ball milling on sugarcane bagasse, Tectona grandis, and Eucalyptus saligna biomass. The results showed that ball milling decreased cellulose crystallinity and increased glucose yield.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maria C. de Oliveira, Isabelli D. Bassin, Magali C. Cammarota
Summary: The anaerobic digestion of algal biomass has been proposed as a solution for the disposal and utilization of algae, which can be used to produce biofuels and other biomolecules. However, challenges remain in terms of biomass concentration and the resistant cell walls, which can affect methane yield. Various pretreatment methods have been suggested to break down complex polymers in cell walls, but the relationship between biomass solubilization and methane yield is still unclear.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Ronaldo Rodrigues Sousa, Ayla Sant'Ana Silva, Roberto Fernandez-Lafuente, Viridiana Santana Ferreira-Leitao
Summary: Esters are important compounds in industry, and using biocatalysis for their synthesis in solvent-free systems offers economic and environmental advantages. However, optimizing reactions in these systems is challenging due to the complexity and variety of phenomena involved.
CATALYSIS SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stella Buback dos Santos, Mariana de Oliveira Faber, Ana Cristina de Araujo Collaco, Erika Cristina G. Aguieiras, Denise Maria G. Freire, Marta A. P. Langone, Viridiana S. Ferreira-Leitao
Summary: In this study, residual fermented solid (RFS) was utilized for biological hydrogen production and methane obtainment, with hydrogen yield reaching 239 +/- 44 mL H-2/L and methane production efficiency at 61% using waste resources for energy conversion.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY
(2021)
