Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ncumisa Mpongwana, Sudesh Rathilal
Summary: This review explores the properties of biofilms that can be exploited to enhance biological wastewater systems. It reveals that various biofilm properties, such as extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), quorum sensing (Qs), and acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs), can be enhanced to improve biofilm technology for wastewater treatment processes. The review also emphasizes the importance of exploiting these properties in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification and biological phosphorus removal processes.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Junjiang Chen, Xingxing Zhang, Xiaonong Zhang, Zixuan Zhu, Yiling Wu, Chaochao Wang, Tianning Cai, Xiang Li, Peng Wu
Summary: This study developed a novel integrated process for the treatment of municipal wastewater, achieving high nitrogen removal efficiency and low effluent nitrogen concentration. The process combines nitrification, partial denitrification, and anammox, and demonstrates promising prospects for energy-efficient wastewater treatment.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruitao Gao, Yongzhen Peng, Jianwei Li, Xiyao Li, Qiong Zhang, Liyan Deng, Wenyu Li, Chengkun Kao
Summary: This study successfully established a novel combined strategy of partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) within a step-feed A/A/O process integrated with fixed-biocarriers to treat municipal sewage for 200 days, achieving excellent nutrients removal performance and reducing aeration and carbon costs under low C/N ratios.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yinong Zhang, Yongzhen Peng, Xinjie Gao, Xiyao Li
Summary: This study used the PNPR technology to treat municipal wastewater, successfully resolving the conflict between nitrification and phosphorus removal and achieving bio-enhanced phosphorus removal and recovery. The study also found that the phosphorus removal and recovery process can improve the activity of AOB.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jordi Palatsi, Ferran Ripoll, Albert Benzal, Maite Pijuan, Maycoll Stiven Romero-Guiza
Summary: This paper presents the results of upgrading a full-scale WWTP using five different Advanced Process Control strategies over a seven-year period, which led to significant improvements in nutrient removal rates, energy efficiency, and economic feasibility. The implementation of APC resulted in enhanced nitrogen and phosphorus removal rates, reduced specific energy ratio, and economic benefits in the form of a relatively short return on capital expenses.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Prangya Ranjan Rout, Muhammad Kashif Shahid, Rajesh Roshan Dash, Puspendu Bhunia, Dezhao Liu, Sunita Varjani, Tian C. Zhang, Rao Y. Surampalli
Summary: The article emphasizes the importance of nutrient removal and recovery, discussing the advantages and limitations of various conventional and advanced treatment technologies, proposing an integrated approach for simultaneous removal and recovery of nutrients, and highlighting bottlenecks and potential solutions in the implementation of nutrient removal technologies.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tiantian Hu, Yongzhen Peng, Chuansheng Yuan, Qiong Zhang
Summary: The novel SPNEDpr system operated for 213 days in a sequencing batch reactor to treat real domestic sewage, achieving efficient nutrient removal and the formation of aerobic granular sludge through optimizing intermittent aeration conditions. The system provided a highly efficient and economical method for treating urban sewage.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Ruitao Gao, Yongzhen Peng, Jianwei Li, Qiong Zhang, Xiyao Li, Liyan Deng, Wenyu Li, Chengkun Kao
Summary: The study confirmed that the PN/A-PD/A process with partial anammox, spatially coupled with partial nitrification and partial denitrification via oxic/anoxic distribution with step feed mode, is an alternative for application of mainstream anammox in municipal wastewater treatment. The process achieved stable nitrogen loss, improved anammox activity, and increased abundance on the biocarriers.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Saurabh Mishra, Virender Singh, Liu Cheng, Abid Hussain, Banu Ormeci
Summary: The present study provides a comprehensive review of biological nitrogen removal (BNR) technologies, including both conventional and emerging methods. The study covers mechanisms, operational parameters, efficacies, and process control strategies, as well as recent developments, challenges, and ongoing research trends. Additionally, the economic aspects of BNR processes are evaluated to assess their feasibility in wastewater treatment plants of different capacities.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Tharindu Ritigala, Yanlin Chen, Jiaxi Zheng, Hailu Demissie, Libing Zheng, Dawei Yu, Qianwen Sui, Meixue Chen, Jinxing Zhu, Hua Fan, Jiao Li, Qian Gao, Sujithra. K. Weragoda, Rohan Weerasooriya, K. B. S. N. Jinadasa, Yuansong Wei
Summary: The integration of magnetic coagulation (MC) and short-cut biological nitrogen removal (SBNR) processes with a sequencing batch membrane bioreactor (SMBR) controlled by real-time control strategy (RTC) effectively treated high strength wastewater and met discharge standards. The microbial community exhibited similar diversity and richness, with potential for denitrification and nitrification in treating both types of wastewater.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Wenyu Li, Jianwei Li, Ying Liu, Ruitao Gao, Liyan Deng, Chengkun Kao, Yongzhen Peng
Summary: A novel double-anammox process for advanced mainstream nitrogen removal was established using a step-feed sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system, which effectively reduced total inorganic nitrogen concentration and achieved a 71.4% contribution of anammox to nitrogen removal. Gradient C/N reduction facilitated denitratation/anammox in the anoxic stage, and simultaneous nitritation and anammox were achieved in the oxic stage.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. K. Tellez-Perez, S. Wyffels, H. KleinJan, C. Meunier, R. Gerards
Summary: Partial nitritation-anammox process was successfully conducted in a continuous fed Sequencing Batch Reactor (cf-SBR) to remove nitrogen from anaerobic effluent of the potato industry at different loading rates, with nitrogen removal and ammonia oxidation reaching 62% and 74% respectively at the highest loading rate. The study also observed improvements in sludge characteristics and confirmed the presence of anammox bacteria through molecular analysis. The cf-SBR demonstrated its capability as a suitable and feasible technology for advanced nitrogen removal under partial nitritation and anammox conditions.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qiongpeng Dan, Rui Du, Tong Wang, Tiantian Sun, Honggui Han, Xiaorong Zhu, Xiyao Li, Qiong Zhang, Yongzhen Peng
Summary: A hybrid system of anammox combined with heterotrophic endogenous metabolisms was developed in a single-stage bioreactor to treat real domestic wastewater. Nitrogen removal was achieved at a low carbon to nitrogen ratio and maintained under an extremely low ratio. The coexistence and enrichment of different bacteria contributed to the co-metabolism of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Hang Tang, Zhuang Ma, Yong Qin, Hanghang Wu, Xingkun Xu, Liqing Xin, Weixiang Wu
Summary: This study developed an innovative step-feed anaerobic coupled four-stage micro-oxygen gradient aeration process to treat digested swine wastewater. The nitrogen removal efficiency was satisfactory, with an effluent total nitrogen concentration of 53 +/- 19 mg/L and a removal rate of 93 +/- 3%. Simultaneous partial nitrification and denitrification were achieved in the four micro-oxygen zones, with zones O1 primarily responsible for denitrification and zones O2 and O3 for nitrification. Low-dissolved oxygen gradient control was found to be the key to efficient nitrogen removal.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Liyuan Zhang, Qiong Zhang, Jiatong Dai, Yanhui Chen, Zhuo Zhu, Xiyao Li, Yongzhen Peng
Summary: The study successfully implemented a novel strategy of adding hydroxylamine under low DO conditions to achieve simultaneous partial nitrification denitrification and anammox process for municipal sewage, with a nitrogen removal efficiency of up to 87.9%.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
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.