Article
Environmental Sciences
Marie Czinnerova, Vojtech Stejskal, Kristyna Markova, Jaroslav Nosek, Jakub Riha, Alena Sevcu
Summary: This study summarizes the outcomes of the long-term in-situ application of glycerol for the enhanced reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes (CEs). Glycerol injection resulted in an increase in the abundance of fermentative Firmicutes, leading to the change of groundwater conditions suitable for the growth of organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB). The concentrations of pollutants decreased and the final degradation products were ethene and ethane.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guofang Xu, Siyan Zhao, Chen Chen, Ning Zhang, Jianzhong He
Summary: Contamination of groundwater by multiple chlorinated solvents is a common issue that poses a significant challenge for effective remediation. This study reveals that different cocontaminants have varying inhibitory effects on the dechlorination process, with chloroform showing the strongest inhibition. The inhibitory effects of cocontaminants can be mitigated by introducing specific bacterial strains, resulting in the concurrent detoxification of multiple chlorinated solvents. Furthermore, the presence of cocontaminants leads to significant changes in the composition, structure, and assembly of the dechlorinating microbiome.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rifeng Wu, Rui Shen, Zhiwei Liang, Shengzhi Zheng, Yong Yang, Qihong Lu, Lorenz Adrian, Shanquan Wang
Summary: Strategies based on ecological principles can enhance the colonization of OHRB in niches, thereby improving the bioremediation efficiency of chloroethene-contaminated sites.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zheng-Tao Li, Si-Ying Yang, He -Ping Zhao
Summary: Inorganic arsenic and organochlorines often coexist in anoxic groundwater environments, posing challenges for bioremediation. This study investigated the dechlorination performance of a microbial consortium under different concentrations of arsenate or arsenite and found that the impact of arsenic on dechlorination differed between the two scenarios. The study also revealed that the vinyl chloride-to-ethene step was more susceptible to arsenic exposure and fermentative bacteria showed high potential for arsenic resistance. The findings provide insights for modifying bioremediation strategies at co-contaminated sites.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniele Ghezzi, Maria Filippini, Martina Cappelletti, Andrea Firrincieli, Davide Zannoni, Alessandro Gargini, Stefano Fedi
Summary: The study conducted on highly contaminated chlorinated aliphatic organics in the subsoil of Ferrara, Italy revealed the importance of microbial degradation as a key mechanism for the dechlorination process. Through analysis of microbial communities using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolic gene analysis, a complex network of metabolic interactions was hypothesized to support effective reductive dechlorination. This study provides insights into the diversity of microbial communities and potential dechlorinators in contaminated aquifer systems, shedding light on the microbial processes involved in bioremediation efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Aide Robles, Theodora L. Yellowman, Sayalee Joshi, Srivatsan Mohana Rangan, Anca G. Delgado
Summary: This study explores a new strategy of microbial chain elongation as a process for producing hydrogen gas, achieving efficient conversion of trichloroethene to ethene in soil microcosms, and providing critical fundamental knowledge for chlorinated solvent bioremediation based on microbial chain elongation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Neda Amanat, Bruna Matturro, Marianna Villano, Laura Lorini, Marta Maria Rossi, Marco Zeppilli, Simona Rossetti, Marco Petrangeli Papini
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different types of PHA on the BRD process of TCE. Promising results were obtained with non-extracted MMC-PHA, which showed potential economic and environmental advantages in groundwater remediation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Srivatsan Mohana Rangan, Shefali Rao, Aide Robles, Aatikah Mouti, Laurie LaPat-Polasko, Gregory Lowry, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Anca G. Delgado
Summary: This study investigates the efficacy of coupling Fe0 with H2-utilizing organohalide-respiring bacteria (D. mccartyi) for the remediation of chlorinated solvents. By decoupling the application of Fe0 from organic substrates and D. mccartyi-containing cultures, the study demonstrates that reduced groundwater from Fe0 can support microbial reductive dechlorination and achieve high conversion rates of trichloroethene to ethene. The findings suggest that separating the application of Fe0 and biostimulation/bioaugmentation in space and time can enhance microbial trichloroethene reductive dechlorination, particularly in oxic conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marta M. Rossi, Sara Alfano, Neda Amanat, Fabiano Andreini, Laura Lorini, Andrea Martinelli, Marco Petrangeli Papini
Summary: In this study, polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB) and biochar from pine wood (PWB) were used in a mini-pilot scale biological reactor for trichloroethylene (TCE) removal. PHB acted as an electron donor source, while PWB served as a support and adsorption material for Dehalococcoides. The results showed that the coupled adsorption and biodegradation process effectively removed chlorinated compounds.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kai-Hung Lo, Che-Wei Lu, Chih-Ching Chien, Yi-Tern Sheu, Wei-Han Lin, Ssu-Ching Chen, Chih-Ming Kao
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of an immobilized Clostridium butyricum (ICB) column scheme in cleaning up chlorinated-ethene polluted groundwater containing cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cis-DCE). The results showed that the introduction of ICB and SPRS significantly reduced the concentration of cis-DCE and enhanced the dechlorination process. Furthermore, the introduction of ICB and SPRS had a significant impact on the microbial communities.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Marta M. Rossi, Bruna Matturro, Neda Amanat, Simona Rossetti, Marco Petrangeli Papini
Summary: By combining biological and chemical/physical treatments, the remediation strategy for chlorinated solvents can be improved. A coupled adsorption and biodegradation process using a biofilm-biochar reactor demonstrated that biochar effectively adsorbs trichloroethylene (TCE) and slows down the release of its intermediates. This study suggests the feasibility of using biochar to support the reductive dechlorination process, opening up new possibilities for field-scale applications.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marco Zeppilli, Bruna Matturro, Edoardo Dell 'Armi, Lorenzo Cristiani, Marco Petrangeli Papini, Simona Rossetti, Mauro Majone
Summary: A bioelectrochemical process combining two membrane-less reactors equipped with graphite granules counter electrode was developed for perchloroethylene removal. The reductive reactor completely reduced PCE into VC and Eth, which were efficiently removed by the oxidative reactor. Different redox niches in each compartment allowed the co-existence of both reducing and oxidative reactions, enhancing the overall efficiency of PCE removal.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sen Yang, Junhong Wu, Heli Wang, Qian Yang, Huanheng Zhang, Lihua Yang, Dan Li, Yirong Deng, Yin Zhong, Ping'an Peng
Summary: This study investigated the microbial-mediated dechlorination of chlorinated organophosphate esters (Cl-OPEs) at end-of-life vehicles dismantling sites. The dechlorination products, pathways, and mechanisms of tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) were analyzed, and the important roles of Dehalococcoides and sulfate-reducing bacteria in the dechlorination process were identified.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinkai Li, Qiang Xu, Youjun Cheng, Chunlei Chen, Chaofeng Shen, Chunfang Zhang, Daoqiong Zheng, Dongdong Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the effect of different types of microplastics on the degradation of commercial polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by microbes and found that microplastic exposure inhibited microbial PCB degradation. The microbial community compositions were not significantly different between microplastic biofilms and suspension culture, but the presence of microplastics attenuated microbial synergistic interactions. These findings are important for understanding microbial degradation behavior and guiding in situ PCB bioremediation.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
B. Matturro, M. Majone, F. Aulenta, S. Rossetti
Summary: The study conducted a combined analysis of kinetic and specific biomass parameters on dechlorinating consortia enriched on PCE, TCE, and cis-1,2-DCE, with Dehalococcoides mccartyi (Dhc) representing a significant portion of the bacterial population. The correlation between active Dhc cells or tceA gene copies and maximum RD rates was found to be useful for predicting increases under controlled conditions, while the use of gene transcripts as biomass parameters did not show reliable correlations with kinetic performances. This provides valuable insights for further modeling of the RD process.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Xue Ning, Jinsong Liang, Yujie Men, Yuhan Wang, Yangyang Chang, Yaohui Bai, Huijuan Liu, Aijie Wang, Tong Zhang, Jiuhui Qu
Summary: The study revealed that iron-starving Arthrobacter bacteria secrete a type of siderophore that induces extracellular superoxide production during fluctuation in carbon sources. This suggests that siderophores could be a common pathway for aerobes to produce extracellular superoxide in the environment, influencing microbial communities and element cycling.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jun Wu, David Danko, Ebrahim Afshinnekoo, Daniela Bezdan, Malay Bhattacharyya, Eduardo Castro-Nallar, Agnieszka Chmielarczyk, Nur Hazlin Hazrin-Chong, Youping Deng, Emmanuel Dias-Neto, Alina Frolova, Gabriella Mason-Buck, Gregorio Iraola, Soojin Jang, Pawel Labaj, Patrick K. H. Lee, Marina Nieto-Caballero, Olayinka O. Osuolale, Christos A. Ouzounis, Michael H. Perlin, Bharath Prithiviraj, Nicolas Rascovan, Anna Rozanska, Lynn M. Schriml, Torsten Semmler, Haruo Suzuki, Juan A. Ugalde, Ben Young, Johannes Werner, Maria Mercedes Zambrano, Yongxiang Zhao, Christopher Mason, Tieliu Shi
Summary: Microbes play a crucial role in maintaining ecological functions that support human health and city life in urban ecosystems. However, knowledge about the species and functions in urban environments is limited. In this study, we identified 732 novel bacterial species from 4728 samples collected from the mass transit system in 60 cities. The number of novel species was positively correlated with city population, and more species were found in skin-associated samples. We also discovered an increased presence of biosynthetic gene clusters in novel species.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Juan C. Villada, Maria F. Duran, Chee Kent Lim, Lisa Y. Stein, Patrick K. H. Lee
Summary: The study constructed a genome-scale metabolic model for Methylomicrobium album BG8, highlighting the importance of the ratio between oxygen and methane uptake for optimal growth. The results revealed a coupling between biomass production and carbon dioxide excretion, as well as a trade-off between biomass and acetate production. The integrative model developed in this study will aid in metabolic engineering and the development of a methane bioconversion platform.
Article
Microbiology
Peihua Wang, Xinzhao Tong, Nan Zhang, Te Miao, Jack P. T. Chan, Hong Huang, Patrick K. H. Lee, Yuguo Li
Summary: The study applies invasion ecology principles to fomite transmission, demonstrating that invaders in fomite transmission are trackable, neutrally distributed between hands and environmental surfaces, and exhibit a proximity effect. By adopting an invasion ecology framework, the study uncovers the relationships between invaders, native microbiotas, and human behaviors in fomite transmission. The findings highlight the importance of considering microbial communities and anthropogenic factors in managing fomite transmission for public health purposes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhancong Liang, Wing Lam Chan, Xiaomeng Tian, Alvin C. K. Lai, Patrick K. H. Lee, Chak K. Chan
Summary: This study investigates the inactivation of Escherichia coli in droplets under different relative humidities (RH) and initial cell concentrations. The results show that RH plays an important role in the inactivation process, and there are differences between bacteria and viruses. The droplet medium and cell concentration also impact the inactivation, with high cell concentrations reducing the osmotic stresses and thus the inactivation.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Huiju Lin, Jia-Yong Lao, Qi Wang, Yuefei Ruan, Yuhe He, Patrick K. H. Lee, Kenneth M. Y. Leung, Paul K. S. Lam
Summary: This study investigates the atmospheric releases of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from waste management infrastructures (WMIs) in urban and rural areas of Hong Kong, China. The study reveals that fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) and perfluoroalkane sulfonamides are the predominant PFAS types found. It also demonstrates the release of less frequently observed intermediate products during waste treatment. Additionally, the study estimates the lung deposition fluxes of PFAS and finds that inhaled particulate PFAS are mainly deposited in the head airway. The cumulative daily inhalation dose of gaseous and particulate PFAS ranges from 81.9 to 265 pg/kg/d.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiyu Li, Dinglong Hu, Chee Kent Lim, Jifeng Ren, Xin Yao, Chao Ma, Marcos, Weiqiang Chen, Patrick K. H. Lee, Raymond H. W. Lam
Summary: The human host-associated microbial communities can provide insights into health status, and single-cell bacteria identification can serve as reliable biomarkers for clinical diagnosis. However, existing single-cell isolation methods often face challenges in obtaining sufficient sample volume and target cells. This research presents a novel microfluidic system for single-bacteria extraction, which shows high success rates and compatibility with downstream analysis. It demonstrates the potential application of this system in microbiome and pathology research, as well as clinical diagnosis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhancong Liang, Liyuan Zhou, Rosemarie Ann Infante Cuevas, Xinyue Li, Chunlei Cheng, Mei Li, Rongzhi Tang, Ruifeng Zhang, Patrick K. H. Lee, Alvin C. K. Lai, Chak K. Chan
Summary: Incense burning is a common ritual in Asian communities, which emits a large amount of particles. In this study, the formation of sulfate in incense particles upon exposure to sulfur dioxide (SO2) was observed. The formation of sulfate was influenced by sunlight and humidity, and occurred preferentially in particles containing organic photosensitizers. These findings may provide insights into the potential of biomass burning particles to trigger sulfate formation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mengqiao Li, David P. Durkin, Gordon Waller, Yaochun Yu, Yujie Men, Tao Ye, Hanning Chen, Danmeng Shuai
Summary: In this study, we evaluated the stability, aging, and environmental impact of g-C3N4 nanosheets under the attack of free chlorine and reactive chlorine species (RCS). We found that g-C3N4 nanosheets were slowly oxidized by free chlorine, but decomposed rapidly when ClO· and/or Cl2·- were the key oxidants. Our study highlighted the high electrophilic attack efficacy of Cl2·- and ClO· on g-C3N4 nanosheets, compared to previous studies. Additionally, a trace level of covalently bonded Cl was introduced to g-C3N4 nanosheets after free chlorine and RCS oxidation. This study provides insights into the environmental fate and transformation of g-C3N4 nanosheets and guides the design of reactive, robust, and safe nanomaterials for engineering applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinjin Yu, Siang Nee Tang, Patrick K. H. Lee
Summary: The microbial community structures in four full-scale WWTPs processing textile wastewater were monitored for over a year. The results showed that environmental conditions and system treatment performance were the main drivers of community variations. The dissimilarity-overlap curve method revealed similar composition dynamics of communities containing the same taxa from different plants over time. Machine learning identified phylogenetically diverse biomarkers for system conditions and treatment performance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shicong Du, Xinzhao Tong, Alvin C. K. Lai, Chak K. Chan, Christopher E. Mason, Patrick K. H. Lee
Summary: This study evaluates the viromes from 11 habitats across four types of built environments with low to high occupancy, and finds that their diversity, composition, metabolic functions, and lifestyles are habitat dependent. Antimicrobial resistance genes are identified in viruses inhabiting frequently touched surfaces and occupants' skin. Evidence of viruses potentially aiding host adaptation in a specific-habitat manner is identified through a unique gene insertion. This study demonstrates that virus-host interactions occur frequently in built environments and that viruses are integral members of built environment microbiomes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bosen Jin, Yiwen Zhu, Weiyang Zhao, Zekun Liu, Shun Che, Kunpeng Chen, Ying-Hsuan Lin, Jinyong Liu, Yujie Men
Summary: This study investigated the structure-biodegradability relationship for different ether PFAS in activated sludge communities. Only polyfluorinated ethers with specific molecular structures underwent biotransformation, leading to the formation of unstable fluoroalcohol intermediates subject to spontaneous defluorination. The findings suggest that aerobic biotransformation/defluorination can complement advanced reduction processes for cost-effective treatment of PFAS.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yushuo Liu, Chee Kent Lim, Zhiyong Shen, Patrick K. H. Lee, Theodora Nah
Summary: Recent studies have shown that interactions between live bacteria and organic matter in clouds can affect the carbon budget and have implications for atmospheric and climate processes. However, bacteria in clouds face various stressors that can impact their survival, metabolism, and ability to degrade organic compounds. The effects of cloud water pH and solar radiation on bacteria are not well understood. This study investigated how pH and exposure to solar radiation influence the survival, metabolism, and biodegradation abilities of Enterobacter strains from Hong Kong. The results showed that pH and sunlight exposure affected bacterial survival and metabolism, with low survival rates and negative impacts observed at lower pH levels and when exposed to sunlight.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Li Li, Zhizhen Zhang, Yujie Men, Sivani Baskaran, Alessandro Sangion, Shenghong Wang, Jon A. Arnot, Frank Wania
Summary: This comprehensive review offers practical guidance for using chemical property data in chemical assessments, including obtaining experimentally derived and in silico predicted property data sources, as well as strategies for evaluating and curating the data. It emphasizes the uncertainty and variability present in both experimentally derived and in silico predicted property data, advocating for the harmonization of multiple experimental data or consolidating predictions from multiple in silico tools.
ACS ENVIRONMENTAL AU
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Tina Santl-Temkiv, Pierre Amato, Emilio O. Casamayor, Patrick K. H. Lee, Stephen B. Pointing
Summary: This review identified ecological drivers of microbial distribution in the atmosphere, evidence for their involvement in biochemical and biophysical transformations, and risks from anthropogenic forcing. It discussed the connections between habitats through airborne dispersal of microbial cells, propagules, and biomolecules, and emphasized the role of microorganisms in biochemical and biophysical transformations in the atmosphere. The review also highlighted the importance of studying the potential impacts of anthropogenic activities on the natural atmospheric microbiota.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2022)