Article
Environmental Sciences
Hong-Xu Bao, Han-Lin Wang, Shu-Tong Wang, Yi-Lu Sun, Xue-Ning Zhang, Hao-Yi Cheng, Zhi-Min Qian, Ai-Jie Wang
Summary: Dosing sulfide in the sulfur-packed-bed (S0PB) can enhance denitrification efficiency, but the response of sulfur-metabolizing biofilm to different sulfide dosages has not been studied. This study conducted S0PB reactor experiments with increasing sulfide dosages, and found that the effluent nitrate decreased from 14.2 to 2.7 mg N/L with accelerated denitrification efficiency (k: 0.04 to 0.27) when sulfide dosage exceeded 0.9 kg/m3/d (optimum value), nitrite accumulated to 6.5 mg N/L. The study also observed that overdosing sulfide caused biofilm expulsion and significant decreases in biomass, live cell population, and ATP. The study confirms the ability of dosing sulfide to improve denitrification efficiency in S0PB but highlights the negative effects of exceeded dosing.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maria F. Carboni, Simon Mills, Sonia Arriaga, Gavin Collins, Umer Z. Ijaz, Piet N. L. Lens
Summary: This study compared the performance and microbial communities of fluidized bed reactors (FBRs) using elemental sulfur (S0) and pyrite (FeS2) as electron donors for autotrophic denitrification. The results showed that both pyrite and sulfur FBRs achieved efficient denitrification, with pyrite producing fewer by-products and sulfur FBR requiring CaCO3 addition to maintain neutral pH. The analysis of microbial communities revealed different dominant genera for different electron donors, and the microbial community in the sulfur FBR was more sensitive to nitrogen loading rate.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Thomas Claes, Tom Van Gerven, M. E. Leblebici
Summary: Translucent photocatalytic reactor structures have an impact on absorption efficiency and mass transfer limitations, with smaller base elements leading to increased surface area for potential catalyst load but also higher energy loss due to more light scattering boundaries. Different base structure sizes influence energy absorption and catalytic activity, with varying results for 1 mm, 2 mm, and 3 mm diameter spheres in the study. The study proposes a design strategy for cross-current illuminated photocatalytic packed bed reactors based on the model and principles discussed.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Meet Shah, David West, Vemuri Balakotaiah
Summary: This study examines the thermoflow instability mechanism caused by variations in fluid physical properties and the coupling between momentum, species, and energy balances in packed-bed catalytic reactors. The research shows that even in the case of one-dimensional uniform flow, variations in density and viscosity can result in multiple flow rates with the same pressure drop. Furthermore, achieving a uniform velocity distribution at the reactor inlet improves reactor stability.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emma Jane Horn, Oluwaseun O. Oyekola, Pamela Jean Welz, Robert Paul van Hille
Summary: The tanning process generates saline effluent with high levels of organics, sulfates, and sulfides. To transition to a circular economy, it is important to consider waste streams as potential resources. Pretreating organics in tannery effluent using hybrid linear flow channel reactors can remove inhibitors to anaerobic digestion and convert them into renewable energy in the form of biogas. These reactors, inoculated with halophilic sulfate reducing bacteria, were capable of effectively removing sulfur species while producing elemental sulfur and biogas.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
A. B. Mpofu, W. M. Kaira, G. A. Holtman, O. O. Oyekola, R. P. van Hille, P. J. Welz
Summary: A novel integrated biological system consisting of hybrid linear flow channel reactor (HLFCR) and anaerobic sequential batch reactor (AnSBR) was investigated for efficient treatment of tannery wastewater and recovery of sulfur and methane resources. The system demonstrated high feasibility for anaerobic digestion by utilizing single-stage and two-stage HLFCR topologies with different hydraulic retention times (HRT). The full-scale implementation of the system in a medium sized tannery had significant potential revenue from the sale of recovered resources and savings from reduced electricity demand and sludge disposal.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Lucas Dal Magro, Joao Pedro S. Pessoa, Manuela P. Klein, Roberto Fernandez-Lafuente, Rafael C. Rodrigues
Summary: This study immobilized a commercial enzyme cocktail for fruit juice clarification on chitosan beads and found that despite low activity recovery after immobilization, the stability of the immobilized enzyme was greater than that of the free enzyme. The enzyme retained higher activity levels under extreme conditions, and the fluidized-bed reactor showed better juice clarification capacity compared to the packed-bed reactor.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liang Xia, Yi Han, Jianbo Guo, Jianbing Zhang, Yanan Hou, Yuanyuan Song, Haibo Li, Caicai Lu
Summary: A coupled system of anammox and sulfur autotrophic reactors was established to simultaneously remove ammonia and perchlorate in wastewater. The system achieved high removal rates of ammonia and perchlorate, with the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances playing a crucial role. High throughput sequencing revealed the dominant bacteria supporting the feasibility of the system.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
A. Fathiganjehlou, A. Eghbalmanesh, M. W. Baltussen, E. A. J. F. Peters, K. A. Buist, J. A. M. Kuipers
Summary: This research investigates the hydrodynamics of packed beds containing random packings of spherical particles using particle-resolved computational fluid dynamics (PR-CFD) and pore network model (PNM) approaches. The results show that the PNM captures local variations in the bed well. The low computational cost and ability to provide locally resolved data make the PNM a promising approach for the pore-scale modelling of packed bed reactors.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yao Wang, Baorui Liang, Fei Kang, Youzhao Wang, Zhihong Yuan, Zhenning Lyu, Tong Zhu, Zhijun Zhang
Summary: In this study, four novel solid-phase carbon-sulfur-based composite filters were compared for their denitrification abilities. One of the filters showed the highest denitrification ability at a hydraulic retention time of 1 hour. Effluent quality was significantly influenced by the hydraulic retention time after coupling anaerobic ammonium oxidation and solid-phase-based mixotrophic denitrification process.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Chunshuang Liu, Wei Li, Haitong Yu, Lihong Liu, Dongfeng Zhao, Duu-Jong Lee
Summary: This study successfully bio-reduced Te(IV) using elemental sulfur as electron donor for the first time, achieving a high conversion rate over a 60-day cultivation. The synergy between sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and Te(IV)-reducing bacteria in a microbial consortium provides a novel approach for efficient treatment of Te(IV) wastewaters.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Emma J. Horn, Rob P. van Hille, Oluwaseun O. Oyekola, Pamela J. Welz
Summary: Recent research has shown that hybrid linear flow channel reactors (HLFCRs) can effectively desulfurize tannery effluent by reducing sulfate and oxidizing sulfide to elemental sulfur. This study investigated the microbial communities in series-operated HLFCRs and identified some undesirable bacteria that need to be addressed for efficient pre-treatment of tannery effluent.
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Carolina Feickert Fenske, Dietmar Struebing, Konrad Koch
Summary: Biological methanation of H2 and CO2 in trickle bed reactors is a promising approach for energy conversion and storage. This review provides a comprehensive overview of trickle bed reactor design and operation, identifying key parameters and discussing recent advances. Suitable operational strategies and further research needs are identified to improve overall reactor performance.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Junqi Weng, Qunfeng Zhang, Jiahao Yu, Qihuan Yu, Guanghua Ye, Xinggui Zhou
Summary: A particle-resolved computational fluid dynamics model is used to study the transfer processes and reactions in radially layered packed beds (RLPBs). The results show that RLPBs have advantages in terms of pressure drop and cold spot temperature compared to randomly packed beds (RPBs). Although the methane conversion rate in RLPBs is slightly lower, using smaller catalyst pellets can balance the conversion rate and pressure drop.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Baorui Liang, Fei Kang, Yao Wang, Kuo Zhang, Youzhao Wang, Sai Yao, Zhenning Lyu, Tong Zhu
Summary: This study compared the denitrification capacity of biomass-sulfur-based mixotrophic denitrification (BSMD) and elemental sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification (ESAD) processes in packed bed reactors. The results showed that using biomass-sulfur-based composite filter (BSCF) for BSMD process resulted in better denitrification performance. Additionally, a two-stage flushing strategy improved the denitrification capacity, while high dissolved oxygen concentration inhibited denitrification. The reactors contained abundant heterotrophs and autotrophs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Priyanka Ali, Nadezhda Zalivina, Tri Le, Rumana Riffat, Sarina Ergas, Bernhard Wett, Sudhir Murthy, Ahmed Al-Omari, Christine DeBarbadillo, Charles Bott, Haydee De Clippeleir
Summary: Primary sludge fermentate was evaluated as an alternative carbon source for mainstream partial denitrification-anammox (PdNA). While high partial denitrification efficiency was achieved in batch experiments with fermentate, lower efficiency was observed in pilot studies. The application of PdNA with fermentate can result in significant methanol cost savings.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Qiaochong He, Erica A. Dasi, Zhang Cheng, Emmanuel Talla, Kevan Main, Chuanping Feng, Sarina J. Ergas
Summary: This study investigated the performance and microbiome of cyclic denitrification filters (CDFs) for wood and sulfur heterotrophic-autotrophic denitrification (WSHAD) of saline wastewater. The wood-sulfur CDFs achieved high denitrification rates and lower SO42- accumulation. Despite water quality parameters being suitable for marine fish production, lower survival rates of Poecilia sphenops were observed compared with prior studies.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jawaher Alsultan, Michelle Henderson, Allan Feldman, Madison Rice, Xia Yang, Jordin Kahler, Sarina J. Ergas, Kebreab Ghebremichael
Summary: This project engaged high school students in science and engineering activities to address the lack of potable water in many regions through point of use treatments. Utilizing an ethnographic approach, the project enhanced students' understanding of providing potable water in developing countries and positively impacted their interest in STEM practices. The results of the high school students' activities were beneficial to university-based research, while also providing teaching experience for university students in a low-stakes environment.
Editorial Material
Water Resources
Sarina J. Ergas, Jose Amador, Treavor Boyer, Eran Friedler
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE WATER IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Md Yeasir A. Rahman, Rachael Cooper, Nicholas Truong, Sarina J. Ergas, Mahmood H. Nachabe
Summary: This research found that biochar amendment has a significant effect on treating dairy farm runoff, with biochar having a high specific surface area and cation exchange capacity enhancing the removal of nitrogen species and organic carbon. Model studies showed that biochar can increase hydraulic retention time and may be used to design biofilter systems for managing agricultural runoff.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bisheng Gao, Xia Yang, Erica A. Dasi, Thanh Lam, Mauricio E. Arias, Sarina J. Ergas
Summary: The study investigated the addition of natural adsorbent materials, zeolite and biochar, to enhance biological treatment of landfill leachate in SBBRs. Results showed excellent TAN removal and significantly higher COD and color removal with biochar addition. The nitrogen removal pathway shifted from simultaneous nitrification/denitrification to partial nitritation/anammox over time in the zeolite/biochar amended SBBRs, indicating a promising approach for enhanced landfill leachate treatment.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michelle Henderson, Sarina J. Ergas, Kebreab Ghebremichael, Amit Gross, Zeev Ronen
Summary: Greywater treatment systems can effectively reduce antibiotic-resistant genes in greywater. The composition of bacterial community remains stable after treatment, with Proteobacteria, Epsilonbacteraeota, and Bacteroidetes being the dominant phyla. Several clinically relevant bacteria were identified in the treated greywater.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sahand Iman Shayan, Nadezhda Zalivina, Meng Wang, Sarina J. Ergas, Qiong Zhang
Summary: This study investigated algal-bacterial shortcut nitrogen removal in photo-sequencing batch reactors for treatment of high ammonium strength wastewater. The study used experimental and modeling approaches and found that favorable operating conditions can significantly enhance total nitrogen removal efficiency. A dynamic model was developed to simulate nitrogen removal, substrate utilization, and biomass generation under varying operating conditions.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Thanh Lam, Xia Yang, Sarina J. Ergas, Mauricio E. Arias
Summary: This study investigated the potential for highly treated landfill leachate to be reclaimed for irrigation or industrial applications through comparing four pre-treatment alternatives. The landfill leachate treatment train consisting of adsorbent-enhanced constructed wetlands (CWs) followed by ultra-filtration reverse osmosis (UF-RO) achieved the highest water recovery rate and greatest cost savings.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Erica A. Dasi, Jeffrey A. Cunningham, Emmanuel Talla, Sarina J. Ergas
Summary: This research found that the metal-sulfide mineral sphalerite can serve as an electron donor for autotrophic denitrification. The addition of oyster shells can minimize nitrite accumulation and expedite phosphate removal. The study also revealed the role of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria in nitrogen removal during sphalerite autotrophic denitrification. This work provides valuable insights for addressing nutrient pollution.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Adam N. Bell, Lior Guttman, Kevan L. Main, Michael Nystrom, Nathan P. Brennan, Sarina J. Ergas
Summary: Marine aquaculture mitigates environmental problems and periphyton-based biofilters are a promising technology for water treatment. The hydrodynamics of the system affect the growth of periphyton biomass and its ability to remove nutrients and produce dissolved oxygen. Integration of periphyton biofilters in recirculating aquaculture systems preserves water and improves water quality for fish.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xia Yang, Qiong Zhang, Sarina J. J. Ergas
Summary: This study investigated the addition of biochar to enhance the performance of High Solids Anaerobic Digestion (HS-AD) of mixed banana waste. The results showed that adding 10% biochar increased methane yields by 7%, reduced volatile fatty acid accumulation, improved system stability, and increased methane production by 20-47% in long-term performance evaluation. The nutrient content of digestate from HS-AD of banana waste indicated its potential use as a bio-fertilizer. Life cycle assessment results showed that biochar addition to HS-AD resulted in greater environmental benefits in most categories compared with the unamended control.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Bilasse Zongo, Sahand Iman Shayan, Meng Wang, Sarina J. Ergas
Summary: Anaerobic digestion of algal-bacterial biomass grown on wastewater can be improved by co-digestion with sugarcane bagasse. The co-digestion process resulted in higher methane yield compared to digestion of algae or bagasse alone. Further research is needed on the potential of utilizing waste resources for biogas production in tropical regions.
BIOENERGY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dhanashree Rawalgaonkar, Yan Zhang, Selina Walker, Paul Kirchman, Qiong Zhang, Sarina J. Ergas
Summary: Interest in craft beers is growing worldwide, but craft breweries have high demands for water, energy, and CO2, as well as generating large amounts of waste and greenhouse gases. This study investigates the economic feasibility of using anaerobic digestion and CO2 recovery to manage high-strength waste from small craft breweries. The results suggest that these technologies are economically viable for craft breweries with an annual beer production of over 50,000 barrels.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Sarina J. Ergas, Elizabeth Fassman-Beck
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE WATER IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT
(2023)