Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Riccardo Campo, Claudio Lubello, Tommaso Lotti, Gaetano Di Bella
Summary: This review discusses the impact of aerobic granular sludge on performance and membrane fouling in combined aerobic granular sludge-membrane bioreactor systems. The research highlights that while aerobic granular sludge technology can mitigate fouling, granule breakage remains a critical issue to be addressed in the AGS-MBR process.
Article
Environmental Sciences
You Ma, Tian -Yu Li, Han Meng, Guo-Xiang Wang, Li-Min Zhang, Guo-Zheng Jia, Jie Ma, Yan Xiao, Wei-Hua Li, Wen-Ming Xie
Summary: This study investigated the adsorption of the antibiotic trimethoprim (TMP) by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in anaerobic activated sludge. The results showed that loosely-bound EPS had a positive effect on TMP adsorption, while tightly-bound EPS had a negative effect.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mehrdad Shamskilani, Kasra Pourrostami Niavol, Erfan Nabavi, Mohammad Reza Mehrnia, Amir Hossein Sharafi
Summary: The combination of membrane bioreactor (MBR) and ozonation system is an efficient approach for the complete removal of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals. In this study, the mixture of anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, and hormones was successfully removed after 50 days of experiment in the MBR+O-3 system. Response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to analyze the effects of process parameters and optimize the experimental conditions, achieving final concentrations of COD, BOD, and TDS.
WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingda Zhou, Qin Shi, Yayi Wang
Summary: This study successfully improved the operation efficiency of anammox-MBR by surface-coating hydrophilic modification with polyvinyl alcohol, reducing membrane fouling and stabilizing anammox performance. However, increasing membrane coating thickness leads to higher filtration resistance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Recep Kaya, Mustafa Evren Ersahin, Hale Ozgun, Borte Kose-Mutlu, Mehmet Emin Pasaoglu, Ismail Koyuncu
Summary: Membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology is considered a promising method for advanced wastewater treatment due to its high-quality effluent. However, fouling caused by intensive activated sludge used in submerged MBR systems is a major issue. To overcome this problem, researchers have explored the use of vibratory processes in MBRs. This review aims to gather current efforts in fouling control by vibratory motion, specifically in submerged activated sludge membrane bioreactors, and presents a comparative analysis of different vibration types and their experimental results.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lulu Xing, Jixian Yang, Bing-Jie Ni, Chao Yang, Chunyan Yuan, Ang Li
Summary: The generation and consumption mechanisms of TB-EPS and LB-EPS are revealed through mathematical modeling, providing a quantitative prediction for their changes. This study systematically investigates the impact of TB-EPS and LB-EPS on the flocculation and settling performance of activated sludge.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Rosalinda Mazzei, Abaynesh Yihdego Gebreyohannes, Emmaouil Papaioannou, Suzana P. Nunes, Ivo F. J. Vankelecom, Lidietta Giorno
Summary: This review analyzes the conjugation of major enzymes and membrane processes in biorefineries to develop various configurations of MBRs for the production of biofuels, phytotherapics, and food ingredients. The advantages and main drawbacks of MBR application in biorefineries are critically reviewed, with alternative strategies proposed to overcome main limitations in different application fields.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xinjiao Dong, Jing Qin, Ying Zhang, Xiaohui Chen, Shimei Ge
Summary: Quorum-quenching (QQ) system using bacteria and gamma-caprolactone was effective in mitigating biofouling in a continuous membrane bioreactor (MBR). The system delayed transmembrane pressure increase and reduced soluble microbial products. Microbial community analysis showed that some main genera were not greatly affected by the QQ system.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
L. M. L. K. B. Lindamulla, V Jegatheesan, K. B. S. N. Jinadasa, K. G. N. Nanayakkara, M. Z. Othman
Summary: Membrane bioreactor technology integrates biological wastewater treatment and physical separation by membrane filtration. Mathematical models for membrane bioreactors have not adequately considered the impact of soluble microbial products on membrane fouling, but this study has integrated biological and physical models to address this issue. The developed integrated model considers the influence of soluble microbial products, extracellular polymeric substances, sludge removal, and membrane cleaning, enabling prediction of system performance and membrane fouling under various operating conditions.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Lei Cao, Yufeng Zhang, Lei Ni, Xianshe Feng
Summary: A novel nanofiltration membrane bioreactor (NF-MBR) was constructed by integrating a loosely structured nanofiltration hollow fiber membrane into an aerobic activated sludge system. The loose NF membrane showed high permeability and achieved higher removal efficiency of CODCr and DOC compared to the conventional ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (UF-MBR). The fouling mechanism analysis revealed that reversible cake fouling was dominant and the small pore size of NF membrane mitigated irreversible pore blockage. The energy consumption of NF-MBR was comparable to UF-MBR. This study demonstrates the potential of loose NF membrane bioreactor as an advanced process for wastewater treatment.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Yan Zhao, Yangbo Qiu, Natalie Mamrol, Longfei Ren, Xin Li, Jiahui Shao, Xing Yang, Bart van der Bruggen
Summary: Hospital wastewater contains harmful substances that require effective treatment. Membrane technology is utilized for molecular separation, with MBR technology demonstrating high removal efficiency. The development of hybrid MBR and integrated MBR-membrane systems can improve wastewater treatment efficiency and material recovery.
FRONTIERS OF CHEMICAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
M. A. Tsadkin, S. R. Sakhibgareev, E. F. Gumerova, A. D. Badikova
Summary: The article discusses the modernization of reactor equipment for the sulfuric acid alkylation of isobutane with olefins industrial process. By utilizing small-sized diffuser-confuser reaction apparatuses, the hydrodynamic regime in the reaction space can be optimized, leading to improved efficiency of the production of high-octane gasoline using the classical technology.
NEW JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Muhammad Bilal Asif, Baoyu Ren, Chengyue Li, Keyou He, Xihui Zhang, Zhenghua Zhang
Summary: Intermittent in-situ ozonation was provided in the Fe (II)-dosed membrane bioreactor for the first time, showing a 33% reduction in membrane fouling without detrimental effects on effluent quality. The study suggests that this method is a simple and attractive approach to extend the operation of iron-dosed MBRs.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Seunghan Ryu, Sanghun Lee, Hannah Oh, Sanghwa Oh, Minsoo Park, Jinho Kim, Jaeeun Heo
Summary: In this study, paper-mill wastewater was treated using the SMBR process followed by ozone oxidation to successfully remove fluorescent whitening agent and COD. The removal efficiency of COD was approximately 77.68%. UV scanning and COD concentration measurements were used to monitor the treatment process.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Agata Egea-Corbacho, Ana Pilar Martin-Garcia, Ana Amelia Franco, Jose Maria Quiroga, Rune Rojgaard Andreasen, Mads Koustrup Jorgensen, Morten Lykkegaard Christensen
Summary: Microplastics are a major threat to the environment and aquatic life, and one of the main sources of microplastics in water and land environments is wastewater treatment plants. This study aimed to investigate the presence and removal of microplastics in wastewater and sludge from different types of treatment plants. The results showed high removal efficiency in the treatment process, with a decrease in microplastic concentration from influent to effluent. The most common forms of microplastics detected were fragments and fibers, and several types of polymers were identified.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rong-Gui Zhu, Chang-Gui Pan, Feng-Jiao Peng, Chao-Yang Zhou, Jun-Jie Hu, Kefu Yu
Summary: This comprehensive survey investigated the occurrence, bioaccumulation, and trophic magnification of parabens and their metabolite 4-HB in a marine food web. Results showed that parabens were the predominant pollutants in marine organisms, with significant bioaccumulation from sediments. The estimated trophic magnification factor indicated biomagnification for MeP and trophic dilution for 4-HB. Overall, the risks for humans consuming marine organisms were found to be low.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andres F. Torres-Franco, Deborah Leroy-Freitas, Cristina Martinez-Fraile, Elisa Rodriguez, Pedro A. Garcia-Encina, Raul Munoz
Summary: Anaerobic and microalgae-based technologies have emerged as sustainable alternatives for municipal wastewater treatment. However, the presence of viruses in the treated wastewater is a major concern for reuse applications. This study assessed the ability of these technologies to reduce viruses during secondary wastewater treatment. The results showed that all technologies were effective in reducing the concentration of viruses, with microalgae-based treatment exhibiting the highest potential for reducing the disinfection requirements of treated wastewater.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Young Gwang Kim, Sae Yun Kwon, Spencer J. Washburn, Scott C. Brooks, Ji Won Yoon, Lucien Besnard
Summary: The study uses Hg isotope ratios to identify the sources and exposure pathways of mercury in bivalves, finding that dissolved Hg phases in the water column are the primary source and exposure pathway to bivalves. This provides new insights into using bivalves as bioindicators for sediment quality monitoring.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hui Geng, Ying Xu, Rui Liu, Dianhai Yang, Xiaohu Dai
Summary: This study investigates the effect of cation exchange resin (CER) on the sequential recovery of hydrogen and methane from anaerobic digestion (AD) and the corresponding mechanisms. The results show that CER can simultaneously enhance the production of hydrogen and methane by promoting the solubilisation, hydrolysis, and acidification of organic matter. Additionally, CER facilitates effective contact between bacteria and organic particulates and reduces the energy barrier for mass transfer during methane production. The study also reveals changes in the microbial community structure and metagenomics during the AD process.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Lin, Zhan Jin, Shunfeng Jiang, Zhiquan Wang, Suqing Wu, Ke Bei, Min Zhao, Xiangyong Zheng
Summary: Dehumidification combined with addition of absorbent resin supplement (ARS) was used to achieve rapid evaporation of non-pretreated urine, resulting in high water evaporation efficiency and nutrient recovery.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yangli Che, Chaoran Lin, Shen Li, Jiao Liu, Longhai Zhu, Shilei Yu, Nan Wang, Haoshuai Li, Mutai Bao, Yang Zhou, Tonghao Si, Rui Bao
Summary: Hydrodynamic processes play a crucial role in the transmission of sediments, microbial assembly, and organic carbon redistribution in the ocean. Through experiments and analysis, we found that hydrodynamics shape the assembly of microbial communities and control the redistribution of different sourced organic carbon, thereby influencing microbial-mediated biogeochemical transformation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chao Chen, Yu Yang, Nigel J. D. Graham, Zhenyu Li, Xingtao Yang, Zhining Wang, Nadia Farhat, Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder, Li -an Hou
Summary: The fouling of seawater reverse osmosis membranes is a persistent challenge in desalination. This study monitored the operational performance of a desalination plant for 7 years and the fouling development in different areas of membrane modules. The findings showed that operational performance declined over time and fouling mainly occurred at the feed side of the modules, with the highest microbial diversity. Keystone species like Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes played an important role in maintaining community structure and biofilm maturation. Polysaccharides, soluble microbial products, marine humic acid-like substances, and inorganic substances contributed to fouling. Overall, biofouling had a significant impact on membrane fouling after 7 years of operation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dan Li, Jieyi Sun, Yibo Fu, Wentao Hong, Heli Wang, Qian Yang, Junhong Wu, Sen Yang, Jianhui Xu, Yunfei Zhang, Yirong Deng, Yin Zhong, Ping'an Peng
Summary: Sulfidation-oxidation treatment of magnetite (Fe3O4) enhances the production of dark center dot OH, which can efficiently degrade dissolved organic matter (DOM) and accelerate carbon cycling.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cheng Yu, Kaijun Wang, Kaiyuan Zhang, Ruiyang Liu, Pingping Zheng
Summary: This study implemented a microaerobic-aerobic configuration in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility and investigated the effects on sludge characteristics, pollutant removal, microbial community, and granulation mechanisms. The results showed successful transition from flocculent-activated sludge to well-defined AGS after two months of operation. The primary pathways for pollutant removal were simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. Moreover, the incorporation of internal separators induced shifts in the flow pattern, which promoted granulation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhe Zhang, Shaoyang Hu, Guangrong Sun, Wei Wang
Summary: Halogenated aromatic disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as halogenated phenols, have garnered widespread attention due to their high toxicity and prevalence. This study reports on the analysis, occurrence, and cytotoxicity of a group of emerging halogenated aromatic DBPs, known as halogenated polyhydroxyphenols (HPPs), in drinking water.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shengyue Chen, Jinliang Huang, Peng Wang, Xi Tang, Zhenyu Zhang
Summary: Accurate prediction of river water quality is crucial for sustainable water management. This study introduces wavelet analysis and transfer learning techniques to assist LSTM modeling, proposing a newly coupled modeling approach that improves short-term prediction of river water quality.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bang Du, Xinmin Zhan, Piet N. L. Lens, Yifeng Zhang, Guangxue Wu
Summary: Efficient anaerobic digestion relies on the cooperation of different microorganisms with different metabolic pathways. This study investigated the effects of different operational modes and the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) on ethanol metabolic pathways. The results showed that the SBR mode and the presence of CO2 facilitated ethanol metabolism towards propionate production, while the CFR mode with extended solids retention time enriched Geobacter. Adjusting operational modes and PAC addition can modulate anaerobic ethanol metabolism and enrich Geobacter.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wanfa Wang, Si-Liang Li, Jun Zhong, Yuanbi Yi, Fujun Yue, Zenglei Han, Qixin Wu, Ding He, Cong-Qiang Liu
Summary: This study compares the carbon biogeochemical processes in karst and non-karst regions within large thermal stratified river-reservoir systems. The results demonstrate that karst reservoirs have a reduced potential for carbon emissions and highlight the importance of considering geologic settings to improve accuracy in regional and global CO2 emission estimates.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chunxia Jiang, Zelong Zhao, Dong Zhu, Xiong Pan, Yuyi Yang
Summary: This study analyzed the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different environmental media of the Yangtze River using metagenomics. Core resistome dominated by multidrug resistance genes was found in all samples, while rare resistome dominated by various resistance genes was more prevalent in plasmids. Specific bacteria were identified as hosts for both core and rare resistomes, with high clinical concern ARGs found in the rare resistome. Particle-associated environment provided the most ideal conditions for resistome hosts. This study provided insights into the genetic locations of ARGs and the community assembly mechanisms of ARG hosts in freshwater environments.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yu Zhang, Yongtao He, Linchun Jia, Lei Xu, Zheng Wang, Yueling He, Ling Xiong, Xumeng Lin, Hong Chen, Gang Xue
Summary: By synergizing organic carbon source, thiosulfate, and zero-valent iron, efficient mixotrophic denitrification of oligotrophic secondary effluent can be achieved. Thiosulfate plays a vital role in promoting TN removal efficiency, while corrosion of Fe0 releases OH- to neutralize H+ from thiosulfate-driven denitrification, creating a suitable environment for denitrification. The coordination of thiosulfate and Fe0 maintains the dominance of Thiobacillus for denitrification.