Review
Engineering, Chemical
C. Sreelakshmi, S. Kiruthika, R. Jeyalakshmi
Summary: Recovering nitrogen and phosphorous from wastewater and converting them into value-added products is important for meeting environmental regulations and fertilizer demand. Different methods, such as precipitation and electrochemical techniques, have been developed for nitrogen and phosphorous recovery. The use of electrogenic microorganisms has shown promising results in both nutrient recovery and bioelectricity production. The efficiency and quality of struvite production are influenced by factors such as technique, time, and pH. A robust process technology is essential for widespread use of struvite as fertilizer.
DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lianpeng Sun, Yuhao Yang, Weifang Yuan, Xueya Wu, Zikun Cui, Hao Wang, Huanzhong Deng, Xinzhe Zhu, Ruohong Li
Summary: The practical phosphorus recovery process lacks a useful tool to predict the purity of struvite production, identify the precipitation species, and evaluate the influence of impurities on struvite formation. This study developed an integrated struvite purity prediction process combining response surface methodology (RSM) and Visual Minteq. RSM was used to establish polynomial models for prediction, while Visual Minteq simulated the precipitation process of impurity groups. The integrated process reduces prediction deviation and provides a tool for predicting and optimizing the quality of recovered products in practical phosphorus recovery.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2023)
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
Lingjun Wang, Yanfeng Tai, Xin Zhao, Qinqin He, Zhenzhen Hu, Min Li
Summary: In this study, a dual chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was constructed to directly recover phosphorus from sewage sludge and produce a valuable product of vivianite. The results showed a 99.08% recovery efficiency for dissolved phosphorus and the production of approximately 2.33 mg/g of vivianite. The best recovery efficiency was achieved at an initial catholyte pH of 7 and Fe/P molar ratio of 1.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanfeng Tai, Lingjun Wang, Zhenzhen Hu, Yan Dang, Yali Guo, Xiaonan Ji, Wei Hu, Min Li
Summary: This study investigated the method and effectiveness of phosphorus recovery from wastewater using microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). The results showed that by adjusting factors such as applied voltage, NaAc concentration, Mg/P molar ratio, N/P molar ratio, and initial P concentration, efficient phosphorus recovery and high-purity products could be achieved. The study also found that increasing the applied voltage, N/P molar ratio, and initial P concentration could improve phosphorus recovery efficiency, while the purity of the product was correlated with applied voltage, Mg/P molar ratio, N/P molar ratio, and initial P concentration.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yirong Leng, Ana Soares
Summary: Microbial biomineralisation is an innovative process for nutrient recovery from wastewater. This study found that microorganisms can form bio-struvite crystals in wastewater, which have high purity and low heavy metal content, making them suitable for use as inorganic fertiliser.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ayushman Bhattacharya, Shashank Garg, Pritha Chatterjee
Summary: In recent years, there has been significant interest in nutrient recovery, low-carbon energy, and sustainable bioremediation of wastewater. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies have high energy demands and nutrient removal is costly. Bio-electrochemical system (BES) is considered a sustainable and environmentally friendly wastewater treatment technology that can recover nutrients and purify wastewater by utilizing the energy in the wastewater. This review comprehensively discusses the potential sources of nutrients, the working mechanism of BES, and different nutrient recovery strategies to explore upscaling opportunities. Economic analysis was also conducted to assess the technical feasibility and potential market value of recovered nutrients. Therefore, this review article is valuable for establishing waste management policies and frameworks, as well as developing advanced configurations with a focus on nutrient recovery rather than removal from the waste stream.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yazhou Wang, Jiawan Mou, Xiaoning Liu, Jianbo Chang
Summary: The study found that higher nutrient concentrations and N/P molar ratio in wastewater led to higher phosphorus recovery, while the initial nutrient concentration had a greater effect on the formation of struvite.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Degui Gao, Bing Li, Xuewei Huang, Xiaoning Liu, Ruili Li, Zhilong Ye, Xiaofeng Wu, Yuefei Huang, Guangqian Wang
Summary: Struvite precipitation and reuse from phosphorus-rich wastewater is a cost-effective measure to improve phosphorus utilization efficiency and decrease environmental impact. However, the presence of antibiotics in recovered struvite can spread antibiotic resistance genes, making it ecologically unsafe. This review investigates the effects of antibiotics on struvite precipitation, discussing pH, dissolved organic matter, and suspended solids, and analyzing possible solutions for minimizing antibiotics. It concludes that pH change and dissolved organic matter have a significant influence on antibiotic residue in struvite, and calls for the development of more efficient technology to ensure the ecological safety of recovered struvite.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bart Saerens, Sam Geerts, Marjoleine Weemaes
Summary: Wastewater is now seen as a valuable resource containing nutrients, energy, and water, leading to a paradigm shift. The recovery of phosphorus from municipal wastewater at the WWTP of Leuven is discussed, including performance, pollutants, use, and economics of the struvite plant.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Hao Zhang, Wei Zhang, Shuang-Shuang Zhang, Wu-Cheng Ma, Liang Zhu, Yi-Ping Li, Yang Pan, Lin Chen
Summary: A novel process for simultaneous denitrification and phosphorus (P) recovery was proposed. The increased nitrate concentration facilitated the activity of denitrifying P removal (DPR) and stimulated P uptake and storage. The total P content in the biofilm and the P concentration in the enriched stream significantly increased. Additionally, the abundance of denitrifying polyphosphate accumulating organisms (DPAOs) increased, and the genes involved in critical functions of metabolism also increased.
BIORESOURCE 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
Environmental Sciences
Rozi Sharma, Rekha Kumari, Deepak Pant, Piyush Malaviya
Summary: This review summarizes the information on using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) fueled with urine to generate bioelectricity and recover value-added resources, and discusses the improvements, system operation, and factors enhancing the performance of MFCs.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zenah Bradford-Hartke, Amir Razmjou, Leslie Gregory
Summary: The depletion of phosphorus globally has led to it being a critical element for sustainable agriculture, prompting significant research into recovering and recycling this non-renewable resource. Cheaper alternatives to commercial magnesium sources, such as seawater and concentrates from RO desalination plants, are being sought for phosphorus recovery. The use of alternative magnesium sources can affect the efficiency of phosphorus removal, particle size, rate constant, morphology, and purity of struvite precipitated from synthetic solutions.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shu-Hui Liu, Ting-Jun Zhu, Chi-Wen Lin
Summary: In this study, a composite cathode was developed using response surface methodology (RSM) by compounding biochar produced from peanut shells with conductive carbon black (CCB), aiming to reduce the cost of cathode materials and improve the removal of copper ions from wastewater.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shitong Fang, Houfan Du, Tao Yan, Keyu Chen, Zhiyuan Li, Xiaoqing Ma, Zhihui Lai, Shengxi Zhou
Summary: This paper proposes a new type of nonlinear VIV energy harvester (ANVEH) that compensates for the decrease in peak energy output at low wind speeds by introducing an auxiliary structure. Theoretical and experimental results show that ANVEH performs better than traditional nonlinear VIV energy harvesters under various system parameter variations.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei Jiang, Shuo Zhang, Teng Wang, Yufei Zhang, Aimin Sha, Jingjing Xiao, Dongdong Yuan
Summary: A standardized method was developed to evaluate the availability of solar energy resources in road areas, which combined the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Geographic Information System (GIS). By analyzing critical factors and using a multi-indicator evaluation method, the method accurately evaluated the utilization of solar energy resources and guided the optimal location selection for road photovoltaic (PV) projects. The results provided guidance for the application of road PV projects and site selection for route corridors worldwide, promoting the integration of transportation and energy.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chang Liu, Jacob A. Wrubel, Elliot Padgett, Guido Bender
Summary: The study investigates the effects of coating defects on the performance of the anode porous transport layer (PTL) in water electrolyzers. The results show that an increasing fraction of uncoated regions on the PTL leads to decreased cell performance, with continuous uncoated regions having a more severe impact compared to multiple thin uncoated strips.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Marcos Tostado-Veliz, Xiaolong Jin, Rohit Bhakar, Francisco Jurado
Summary: In this paper, a coordinated charging price mechanism for clusters of parking lots is proposed. The research shows that enabling vehicle-to-grid characteristics can bring significant economic benefits for users and the cluster coordinator, and vehicle-to-grid impacts noticeably on the risk-averse character of the uncertainty-aware strategies. The developed pricing mechanism can reduce the cost for users, avoiding to directly translate the energy cost to charging points.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Duan Kang
Summary: Building an energy superpower is a key strategy for China and a long-term goal for other countries. This study proposes an evaluation system and index for measuring energy superpower, and finds that China has significantly improved its ranking over the past 21 years, surpassing other countries.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fucheng Deng, Yifei Wang, Xiaosen Li, Gang Li, Yi Wang, Bin Huang
Summary: This study investigated the synergistic blockage mechanism of sand and hydrate in gravel filling layer and the evolution of permeability in the layer. Experimental models and modified permeability models were established to analyze the effects of sand particles and hydrate formation on permeability. The study provided valuable insights for the safe and efficient exploitation of hydrate reservoirs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Hao Wang, Xiwen Chen, Natan Vital, Edward Duffy, Abolfazl Razi
Summary: This study proposes a HVAC energy optimization model based on deep reinforcement learning algorithm. It achieves 37% energy savings and ensures thermal comfort for open office buildings. The model has a low complexity, uses a few controllable factors, and has a short training time with good generalizability.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Moyue Cong, Yongzhuo Gao, Weidong Wang, Long He, Xiwang Mao, Yi Long, Wei Dong
Summary: This study introduces a multi-strategy ultra-wideband energy harvesting device that achieves high power output without the need for external power input. By utilizing asymmetry, stagger array, magnetic coupling, and nonlinearity strategies, the device maintains a stable output voltage and high power density output at non-resonant frequencies. Temperature and humidity monitoring are performed using Bluetooth sensors to adaptively assess the device.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tianshu Dong, Xiudong Duan, Yuanyuan Huang, Danji Huang, Yingdong Luo, Ziyu Liu, Xiaomeng Ai, Jiakun Fang, Chaolong Song
Summary: Electrochemical water splitting is crucial for hydrogen production, and improving the hydrogen separation rate from the electrode is essential for enhancing water electrolyzer performance. However, issues such as air bubble adhesion to the electrode plate hinder the process. Therefore, a methodology to investigate the two-phase flow within the electrolyzer is in high demand. This study proposes using a microfluidic system as a simulator for the electrolyzer and optimizing the two-phase flow by manipulating the micro-structure of the flow.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Shuo Han, Yifan Yuan, Mengjiao He, Ziwen Zhao, Beibei Xu, Diyi Chen, Jakub Jurasz
Summary: Giving full play to the flexibility of hydropower and integrating more variable renewable energy is of great significance for accelerating the transformation of China's power energy system. This study proposes a novel day-ahead scheduling model that considers the flexibility limited by irregular vibration zones (VZs) and the probability of flexibility shortage in a hydropower-variable renewable energy hybrid generation system. The model is applied to a real hydropower station and effectively improves the flexibility supply capacity of hydropower, especially during heavy load demand in flood season.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhen Wang, Kangqi Fan, Shizhong Zhao, Shuxin Wu, Xuan Zhang, Kangjia Zhai, Zhiqi Li, Hua He
Summary: This study developed a high-performance rotary energy harvester (AI-REH) inspired by archery, which efficiently accumulates and releases ultralow-frequency vibration energy. By utilizing a magnetic coupling strategy and an accumulator spring, the AI-REH achieves significantly accelerated rotor speeds and enhanced electric outputs.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yi Yang, Qianyi Xing, Kang Wang, Caihong Li, Jianzhou Wang, Xiaojia Huang
Summary: In this study, a novel hybrid Quantile Regression (QR) model is proposed for Probabilistic Load Forecasting (PLF). The model integrates causal dilated convolution, residual connection, and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) for multi-scale feature extraction. In addition, a Combined Probabilistic Load Forecasting System (CPLFS) is proposed to overcome the inherent flaws of relying on a single model. Simulation results show that the hybrid QR outperforms traditional models and CPLFS exceeds the best benchmarks in terms of prediction accuracy and stability.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wen-Jiang Zou, Young-Bae Kim, Seunghun Jung
Summary: This paper proposes a dynamic prediction model for capacity fade in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs). The model accurately predicts changes in electrolyte volume and capacity fade, enhancing the competitiveness of VRFBs in energy storage applications.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Yuechao Ma, Shengtie Wang, Guangchen Liu, Guizhen Tian, Jianwei Zhang, Ruiming Liu
Summary: This paper focuses on the balance of state of charge (SOC) among multiple battery energy storage units (MBESUs) and bus voltage balance in an islanded bipolar DC microgrid. A SOC automatic balancing strategy is proposed considering the energy flow relationship and utilizing the adaptive virtual resistance algorithm. The simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy in achieving SOC balancing and decreasing bus voltage unbalance.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Raad Z. Homod, Basil Sh. Munahi, Hayder Ibrahim Mohammed, Musatafa Abbas Abbood Albadr, Aissa Abderrahmane, Jasim M. Mahdi, Mohamed Bechir Ben Hamida, Bilal Naji Alhasnawi, A. S. Albahri, Hussein Togun, Umar F. Alqsair, Zaher Mundher Yaseen
Summary: In this study, the control problem of the multiple-boiler system (MBS) is formulated as a dynamic Markov decision process and a deep clustering reinforcement learning approach is applied to obtain the optimal control policy. The proposed strategy, based on bang-bang action, shows superior response and achieves more than 32% energy saving compared to conventional fixed parameter controllers under dynamic indoor/outdoor actual conditions.