Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andrei Chilian, Oana-Roxana Bancuta, Iulian Bancuta, Ion Popescu, Anca Irina Gheboianu, Narcis-Mihai Tanase, Marinela Tuican, Magdalena Zaharia, Inga Zinicovscaia
Summary: The sewage sludge generated by wastewater treatment plants is a hazardous waste containing heavy metals, pathogenic bacteria, and drugs. This article explores a sludge processing method that aims to eliminate biological risks, antibiotics, and heavy metals. Incineration is an effective way to reduce the risks associated with sludge and to convert heavy metals into a prospective source of phosphorus.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiao Xiong, Xiang Wu, Hang Lv, Shuhua Liu, Haobo Hou, Xu Wu
Summary: This study investigated the effects of rice husk dose and pyrolysis temperature on the phosphorus fractions and environmental risk of heavy metals in biochar co-pyrolyzed from sewage sludge and rice husk. The results showed that co-pyrolysis could improve biochar-P bioavailability, and the P species mainly existed as orthophosphate in biochar. Additionally, the toxicity and mobility of heavy metals decreased with increasing rice husk dose and pyrolysis temperature, indicating that co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge and rice husk could be a promising P reuse strategy.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kunsen Lin, Youcai Zhao, Jia-Hong Kuo, Chiou-Liang Lin
Summary: Phosphorus and operating temperature have significant effects on the behavior and distribution of heavy metals in fluidized bed combustion. Experimental results showed that the presence of phosphorus led to easier particle agglomeration and different emission trends for Pb, Cd, and Cr. Higher temperatures promoted the volatilization of Pb and Cd, while the emission of Cr was influenced by the affinity of Al and Cr with Na in the incinerator. The distribution of heavy metals was found to be higher in both the coarsest and finest particles during agglomeration/defluidization.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Minhsuan Chen, Kazuyuki Oshita, Masaki Takaoka, Kenji Shiota
Summary: The study evaluated the impact of sewage sludge phosphorus content on heavy metal behavior during co-incineration with municipal solid waste. It found that co-incineration delayed pyrolysis and polymer/fixed carbon incineration, resulting in increased sludge ratio and shifted weight loss peak. The study also observed a higher residual heavy metal ratio after sewage sludge mono-incineration compared to MSW. It further identified a synergistic effect of co-incineration on copper, but not on lead or cadmium.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiao Xiong, Jing Xia, Xiang Wu, Xu Wu, Haobo Hou, Hang Lv
Summary: This study investigates the influence of persulfate on the transformation of phosphorus and heavy metals during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge. The addition of persulfate improves sludge dewaterability and reduces the environmental risk of heavy metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Neslihan Semerci, Saifurahman Ahadi, Sevil Cosgun
Summary: The study suggests that strong acidic conditions are more effective for phosphorus extraction during acid and alkaline leaching processes, and dried sludge is a more advantageous resource for phosphorus extraction.
WATER AND ENVIRONMENT JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ziyan Ren, Wei Zeng, Hongjun Liu, Yuan Jia, Xiaojing Peng, Yongzhen Peng
Summary: Phosphorus, an essential element, is in inadequate supply from existing phosphate rock resources for modern agricultural development. Therefore, seeking alternative phosphorus sources is crucial. This study demonstrates that co-pyrolysis of sewage sludge with calcined clam shell powder can produce pyrochars rich in bioavailable phosphorus, improving phosphorus form and reducing environmental risks.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Niklas Stobernack, Christian Malek
Summary: Phosphorus (P) is a non-regenerative and finite raw material, and recycling methods are needed to protect the environment. In this study, sewage sludge (SS) was treated in a multi-stage process to produce a mineral P-reach fertilizer. The addition of MgCl2 improved the transportation rates of P and the solubilities of P in water and other solutions. The treatment of HTC-char favored the retention of P and the removal of easily volatile heavy metals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zaheer Ahmed Shariff, Laurent Fraikin, Aleksandra Bogdan, Angelique Leonard, Erik Meers, Andreas Pfennig
Summary: This study presents a new process called 'PULSE' for the recovery of phosphorus from sewage sludge, which can handle high metal contents. The process involves drying of sludge prior to acidic leaching to overcome challenges in solid-liquid separation and reduce material flows. The process also includes the removal of metals using reactive extraction to obtain a high-quality product. Laboratory experiments were conducted to optimize the process.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Valerio Guido Altieri, Marco De Sanctis, Emanuele Barca, Claudio Di Iaconi
Summary: This study evaluated an unconventional approach for treating wastewater generated from the cleaning of non-hazardous plastic solid waste during the plastic recycling process. The proposed scheme was based on sequencing batch biofilter granular reactor (SBBGR) technology, which showed remarkable removal efficiencies and a sludge production six-fold lower than the conventional plant. The SBBGR technology also did not result in a significant increase in the concentration of hazardous compounds in the sludge.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohamed Amine Saoudi, Patrick Dabert, Fabien Vedrenne, Marie-Line Daumer
Summary: This article discusses the mechanisms of phosphorus dissolution by biological acidification, as well as the correlation between phosphorus dissolution and iron phosphate speciation in different types of sludge and P removal technologies. The results showed that biological acidification had a higher percentage of phosphorus dissolution compared to chemical acidification, indicating its potential as an alternative method for phosphorus recovery. The study also found a negative correlation between phosphorus dissolution by biological acidification and phosphorus bound to ferric iron.
Article
Plant Sciences
Aurora Neagoe, Virgil Iordache
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the positive interactions between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and lupine plants and provide preliminary data for myco-phytoremediation technology. The results showed that AMF inoculation improved the growth of lupine and decreased oxidative stress. Additionally, the phosphorus concentration in roots and leaves increased, and the activities of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase decreased due to AMF inoculation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Barbara Tonanzi, Agata Gallipoli, Maria Cristina Annesini, Cristiana La Penna, Andrea Gianico, Camilla Maria Braguglia
Summary: The study aims to evaluate the feasibility of sludge pre-treatments for promoting the release of metals and investigate the efficiency of the anaerobic process in leaching metals from municipal sludge.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
K. S. Mojapelo, W. K. Kupolati, J. M. Ndambuki, E. R. Sadiku, I. D. Ibrahim
Summary: As the population grows, there is an increase in domestic and industrial wastewater sludge, leading to its disposal in designated landfills. The use of sludge as a partial replacement for sand in concrete has been shown to be viable, with up to 7.5% replacement being suitable for structural applications. The density of concrete decreases with higher sludge content, attributed to the porous and irregular surface morphology of the sludge and concrete.
CASE STUDIES IN CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sha-sha Lu, Qian Sheng, Jing-jing Wang, Shi-jie Yuan, Bin Dong, Zu-xin Xu
Summary: Pyrolysis of sewage sludge (SS) to SS biochars (SBCs) is a promising method for maximizing the utilization of phosphorus (P) in SS. This study investigated the distribution and transformation of P in SS and SBCs using an improved Hedley sequential extraction method and advanced analytical techniques. Increasing the pyrolysis temperature increased the concentrations of total P and inorganic P in SS and SBCs. Spectroscopic analyses revealed an increase in hydroxyapatite (HAp) concentration with pyrolysis temperature, and Al-P was found to be the dominant species in both SS and SBCs.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Lebea N. Nthunya, Mokgadi F. Bopape, Oranso T. Mahlangu, Bhekie B. Mamba, Bart Van der Bruggen, Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen, Heidi Richards
Summary: While water is essential for life, freshwater sources are depleting rapidly. Desalination of saline water through membrane technology is a common method to supplement water resources, but faces challenges such as membrane fouling. Different membrane processes like RO, PV, ED, MD, and MCr are used, with MD showing potential for high performance and cost efficiency.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Bastian Kirkebaek, Gustav Simoni, Ingrid Lankveld, Martin Poulsen, Morten Christensen, Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen, Donghong Yu, Aamer Ali
Summary: This study presents lab-made magnetite particles coated with oleic acid as an efficient and environmentally-friendly solution for removing low concentrations of residual oil from produced water. The performance of the particles was studied in various conditions, and it was found that increasing the coating factor and oil to the particle concentration ratio improved oil removal efficiency. The presence of emulsifier and salt negatively affected the adsorption efficiency of the particles. Solvent washing was found to be more effective than centrifugation in restoring the performance of the particles.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Morten Lykkegaard Christensen, Cristina Cvitanich, Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen, Martin Thau, Bjorn Malmgren-Hansen
Summary: Phosphorus, a limited resource and an environmental pollutant, was successfully precipitated and recovered from wastewater through pilot-scale and bench-scale experiments. The study identified suitable conditions for the precipitation and removal of phosphate, as well as the recovery of phosphorus-containing precipitate.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aamer Ali, Usman Taqui Syed, Thomas Skovfoged Bak, Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen
Summary: This study proposes a novel method for treating and reusing produced water (PW) by preparing oil-in-water emulsion. The emulsions are prepared using hollow fiber membrane emulsification (ME) technique, allowing customization of droplet size and exhibiting good stability under high pressure and extended storage time. The method is suitable for offshore oil rigs, with its lightweight and small spatial footprint.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jheng-Han Tsai, Cejna Quist-Jensen, Aamer Ali
Summary: Membrane distillation is a process for desalination, but high thermal energy consumption is a major obstacle to its widespread adoption. This study proposes multipass membrane modules to improve the thermal efficiency of membrane distillation. The results show that the multipass design is more energy efficient and has higher flux, while the single shell and multiple tube pass design has the highest specific thermal energy consumption.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Morten Haugaard Nielsen, Cejna Quist-Jensen, Aamer Ali
Summary: Efficient fractionation methods are essential for recycling industrial effluents. This study focuses on developing suitable membranes for a novel membrane process called percrystallization, which separates a solution into crystalline solute and solvent in a single-step. The researchers found that membranes with a permeation rate comparable to the evaporation rate are crucial for the process operation.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Peter M. Hylle, Jeppe T. Falden, Jeppe L. Rauff, Philip Rasmussen, Mads Moltzen-Juul, Maja L. Trudslev, Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen, Aamer Ali
Summary: This study investigated 189 combinations of Nu, ?m, and t to assess their capability to predict the experimental flux and outlet temperatures in hollow fiber MD modules. It was found that 31 combinations could predict the flux with reasonable accuracy, but only 13 combinations predicted the permeate outlet temperatures accurately. The study also identified the best-performing combinations to simultaneously predict flux, feed, and permeate outlet temperatures.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sina Haasler, Morten Lykkegaard Christensen, Kasper Reitzel
Summary: In the context of the global phosphorus crisis and eutrophication issues, lake sediment can be an alternative source of phosphorus after removal from eutrophic lakes. However, the high water content of sediment poses a challenge to the efficient reuse of remaining solids. The use of natural polymeric substances, such as starch or chitosan-based biopolymers, is preferred over synthetic polyacrylamide (PAM)-based polymers to minimize environmental risks. Biopolymers generally form smaller and less shear-sensitive flocs, with lower phosphorus levels in the reject water compared to synthetic polymers. The dewatering performance is influenced by polymer-specific properties, particularly the intrinsic viscosity and surface charge density.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Indira Chimanlal, Lebea N. Nthunya, Oranso T. Mahlangu, Bastian Kirkebaek, Aamer Ali, Cejna A. Quist-Jensen, Heidi Richards
Summary: Hydrophobic functionalized carbon nanotubes (fCNTs) and silica nanoparticles (fSiO(2)NPs) were added to polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) flat-sheet membranes to improve their performance in membrane distillation (MD). The incorporation of fCNTS and fSiO(2)NPs improved the water contact angle (WCA) and liquid entry pressure (LEP) of the PVDF membrane, as well as the membrane surface roughness. This resulted in high salt rejection and stable fluxes in the MD process.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Salman Amjad, Morten Lykkegaard Christensen, Kasper Reitzel, Haiyan Qu
Summary: This study investigated the recovery of phosphorus through crystallization of vivianite in digester supernatant. It was found that vivianite achieved a high recovery yield even in digester supernatant with low phosphorus concentration. Various strategies were tested to obtain vivianite crystals with large sizes and narrow size distribution.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
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, Chemical
Mohammad Mahdi A. Shirazi, Aamer Ali, Cejna Anna Quist-Jensen
Summary: In this study, membrane crystallization was used to recover lithium carbonate crystals from synthetic brine solutions. The effects of operating conditions and salt additives on crystallization were investigated. The results showed that feed temperature and the presence of NaCl and KCl had significant impacts on crystal size.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Irena Petrinic, Morten Lykkegaard Christensen, Moses Basitere, Hermina Buksek
Summary: Ultrafiltration is an effective method for treating wastewater from the poultry processing industry, improving water quality for recycling. Increasing transmembrane pressure enhances permeate quality and cleaning with acid and base restores initial permeate flux. The process efficiently removes particles, chemical oxygen demand, and phosphorus from the wastewater.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Indira Chimanlal, Lebea N. Nthunya, Cejna Quist-Jensen, Heidi Richards
Summary: Membrane distillation crystallization (MDC) is an emerging technology that can treat concentrated saline solutions and wastewater, but it still faces challenges such as fouling and wetting in practical industrial applications.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
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.
