Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marie Riisgaard-Jensen, Giulia Dottorini, Marta Nierychlo, Per Halkjaer Nielsen
Summary: The immigration of bacteria in influent wastewater has a strong impact on the microbial community of activated sludge in wastewater treatment plants. The use of primary settlers can selectively increase or reduce the abundance of certain bacteria. The process of primary settling changes the microbial community of influent wastewater and can be a candidate for upstream control to optimize the assembly of microbial communities in activated sludge.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shenglin Yang, Yangfei Zheng, Yuxuan Mao, Liang Xu, Zhan Jin, Min Zhao, Hainan Kong, Xianfeng Huang, Xiangyong Zheng
Summary: In this study, novel SWISs with NiiMi process were developed for the treatment of domestic wastewater. The Sandy soil system showed optimal removal performance, achieving high removal efficiencies of COD, TP, and NH4+-N. High-throughput sequencing revealed the presence of denitrifiers and key functional genera in the SWISs system.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lin Ma, Lingli Yang, Wei Liu, Yi Zhang, Qiaohong Zhou, Zhenbin Wu, Feng He
Summary: The biological dephosphorization process in PDCSs is jointly modulated by environmental factors and microbial communities. Less-studied environmental factors such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, sediment total phosphorus, and organic matter indirectly influence the biological dephosphorization process by modulating the relative abundances of bacteria taxa.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shentan Liu, Zuo Wang, Xiaojuan Feng, Sang-Hyun Pyo
Summary: An innovative design of MER coupled with IAF-PMFC was developed for azo dye wastewater treatment and electricity generation. The sequential degradation of azo dye and the feasibility of energy self-sufficiency were assessed. The combined system achieved high decolorization efficiency and COD removal, even at high dye concentration. The MER/IAF-PMFC technology can simultaneously realize refractory wastewater treatment and balance of electricity production and consumption.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cristian Torri, Alisar Kiwan, Martina Cavallo, Paolina Pascalicchio, Daniele Fabbri, Ivano Vassura, Alessandro Girolamo Rombola, Stefano Chiaberge, Rosa Carbone, Roberto Paglino, Roberta Miglio
Summary: A new anaerobic-aerobic process was developed to treat hydrothermal liquefaction wastewater, achieving a 97% COD removal rate through biogas production, organic matter precipitation, and aerobic oxidation. The system showed potential for valorization of HTWW despite inhibition challenges.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Chengyu Diao, Weizhuo Ye, Jia Yan, Tianwei Hao, Lei Huang, Yongheng Chen, Jianyou Long, Tangfu Xiao, Hongguo Zhang
Summary: Biological sulfate reduction technology is an efficient and economical method for treating sulfate-laden wastewater. Heterotrophic sulfate-reducing bacteria can utilize sulfate as an electron acceptor and various organic matter as electron donors. This article summarizes the pollutants that can be removed through sulfate reduction, including sulfate, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants. It also discusses the application of sulfate-reducing technology in different types of sulfate-laden wastewaters and the main influencing factors of this technology. Finally, it explores the challenges and potential applications of sulfate-reducing technology in aquatic and terrestrial bioremediation.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hao Wang, Hui Yun, Minghan Li, Hanlin Cui, Xiaodan Ma, Yanqing Zhang, Xuanyuan Pei, Liying Zhang, Ke Shi, Zhiling Li, Bin Liang, Aijie Wang, Jizhong Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the fate and toxicity of TCC in wastewater treatment systems. The results showed that TCC impacted chemical oxygen demand and inorganic nitrogen transformation. After treatment, the toxicity of TCC was reduced, but it inhibited NH4+-N removal and led to NO3--N accumulation. The study also found changes in microbial community structure due to TCC exposure.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lifang Yu, Qiong Zhang, Ren Li, Bingchuang Qiao, Ze Wang, Lanxiang Zheng, Dangcong Peng
Summary: The migration of microbial communities in a synergistic partial denitrification/anammox system was investigated. The anammox process was the dominant nitrogen removal pathway, with an average contribution of 74.31%. Nitrate-reducing bacteria tended to immigrate to anammox biofilms, possibly due to different extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-mediated mechanisms.
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. Ouradou, M. Veillette, A. Belanger Cayouette, S. Corbin, C. Boulanger, S. Dorner, C. Duchaine, E. Bedard
Summary: Biofiltration, activated carbon, and chemical scrubbing are technologies used for odor control in wastewater treatment plants. These systems can impact the microbial load in the treated air. The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of these technologies in reducing airborne bacteria and fungi concentrations, as well as understand the microbial diversity in the biofiltration system.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kang Song, Yunpeng Xue, Lu Li, Min Deng, Xiaoli Zhao
Summary: Contamination by nanoplastics in urban water has raised increasing concerns. This study examined the impact of continuous nanoplastic exposure on wastewater treatment processes and found that it does not significantly inhibit total nitrogen removal. However, it does lead to a decrease in ammonia oxidation and denitrification rates. Nanoplastic exposure also affects microbial structure and bacterial functions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yun Zhang, Feng Liu, Yidong Lin, Lei Sun, Xinru Guo, Shuai Yang, Jinlong He
Summary: This study investigates the impact of planting plants and coupled microbial fuel cells (MFCs) on the decontamination capacity and purification mechanism of constructed wetlands (CWs). It was found that the combined system of planting plants and MFCs showed the highest pollutant removal efficiency, improving the area efficiency of the wetland system and fundamentally alleviating the disadvantage of large land footprint. High output voltages and power densities were recorded in the systems with MFCs, indicating their potential for enhancing wetland decontamination capacity. Additionally, anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria were identified as key players in nitrogen removal in the system.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Hussein E. Al-Hazmi, Gamal K. Hassan, Mojtaba Maktabifard, Dominika Grubba, Joanna Majtacz, Jacek M. Akinia
Summary: This review comprehensively presents and discusses the latest advances in nitrogen removal technologies from wastewaters, including traditional nitrification-denitrification and anammox-based systems. It focuses on the understanding of microbial community characteristics and optimization of operation parameters in anammox-based systems. The sustainability of BNR processes in wastewater treatment is evaluated using important indicators such as GWP, CF, and energy behaviors. The challenges and solutions for BNR processes are extensively discussed.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Yulong Huang, Yaqian Zhao, Cheng Tang, Asheesh Kumar Yadav, Rouzbeh Abbassi, Peiying Kang, Yamei Cai, Ang Liu, Anran Yang, Min Li
Summary: Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bioelectrochemical system that uses microorganisms to generate bioenergy by oxidizing organic matter. Despite its potential for wastewater treatment and electricity generation, there have been no significant breakthroughs in MFC performance at the laboratory scale. Recent research has focused on coupling MFC with other wastewater treatment technologies to enhance its effectiveness. This article reviews emerging MFC coupling technologies and explores their development trends and challenges.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiafeng Ding, Yunjuan Meng, Shihuan Lu, Yiwen Peng, Wen Yan, Wenbing Li, Jinchun Hu, Ting Ye, Yuchi Zhong, Hangjun Zhang
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of biological filter medium (Marchantia polymorpha) in pretreating aquaculture wastewater using a biological aerated filter (BAF). The BAF with M. polymorpha (BAF2) showed steady and consistent treatment even under high algal cell density (1.65 x 10(8) cell/L), with average removal rates of 74.4% for NH4+-N and 81.9% for algae cells. The addition of M. polymorpha enhanced the community structure of functional microbes in the BAF system, increasing the abundance of denitrifying bacteria such as Bdellovibrio and Pseudomonas.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Bongkyu Kim, Nulee Jang, Mungyu Lee, Jae Kyung Jang, In Seop Chang
Summary: The study focused on harvesting bioelectricity and struvite mineral from nitrogen and phosphorous rich wastewater using MFCs and a chemical precipitation system. It achieved removal of over 70% of C sources and around 95% of P and N sources, proposing applications in decentralized treatment process of agriculture and livestock wastewater to achieve circular economy.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shelesh Agrawal, David G. Weissbrodt, Medini Annavajhala, Marlene Mark Jensen, Jose Maria Carvajal Arroyo, George Wells, Kartik Chandran, Siegfried E. Vlaeminck, Akihiko Terada, Barth F. Smets, Susanne Lackner
Summary: A baseline investigation of qPCR-based analysis for microbial communities in PN/A systems revealed significant variability in DNA extraction and primer efficiency among different laboratories, as well as varying differences in abundance data for different microbial guilds. These insights will provide guidance for interpreting qPCR data for environmental scientists, engineers, and treatment plant operators.
Article
Microbiology
Yubo Wang, Han Gao, George F. Wells
Summary: This study used genome-resolved metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to investigate denitrifying bioprocesses enriched in yet-uncultivated denitrifying PAOs. The transcriptionally most active populations included several PAOs, a competing glycogen accumulating organism, and other non-PAO microorganisms. The potential cooperation between these different populations may help reduce the accumulation of toxic nitric oxide.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Haoran Duan, Yingfen Zhao, Konrad Koch, George F. Wells, Min Zheng, Zhiguo Yuan, Liu Ye
Summary: This article reviews the state-of-the-art of N2O mitigation studies in wastewater treatment, identifying key technical challenges and opportunities for improvement, and proposing directions for further research.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jie Wang, Ling Xia, Jieyu Chen, Xiaoning Wang, Hu Wu, Dapeng Li, George F. Wells, Jun Yang, Jie Hou, Xugang He
Summary: This study demonstrated the feasibility of achieving phosphorus removal through enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in an intermittent aeration constructed wetland (CW). The integration of EBPR with simultaneous nitrification-endogenous denitrification (SNED) significantly improved phosphorus and nitrogen removal efficiency, providing a novel approach for advanced nutrient removal in CWs.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Quan Yuan, Beiping He, Liang Qian, Helen Littleton, Glen T. Daigger, Mark Loosdrecht, George F. Wells, Kaijun Wang, Hulin Cai
Summary: The study revealed that microaerophilic conditions created by air scouring in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant in China can support robust nitritation/anammox process for efficient removal of ammonia and total inorganic nitrogen. Additionally, it was shown that anammox can effectively function at low dissolved oxygen conditions in anaerobic/anoxic tanks, leading to stable nitrogen removal.
WATER ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Seyed Aryan Emaminejad, Victoria L. Morgan, Kuldip Kumar, Avanti Kavathekar, Colin Ragush, Weitao Shuai, Zhen Jia, Ray Huffaker, George Wells, Roland D. Cusick
Summary: Water resource recovery facility operations personnel are increasingly relying on sensor networks for automated control, with bio-electrochemical sensors being developed to monitor changes in wastewater composition. This study evaluated the sensitivity of a bio-electrochemical sensor to organic load variations over a 247-day period, finding a strong correlation between the sensor signal and volatile fatty acid concentration but significant impacts from other environmental factors.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Shenbin Cao, Konrad Koch, Rui Du, George F. Wells, Liu Ye, Joerg E. Drewes
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Natalia Obrzut, Patricio F. F. Carnelli, Sophie Brauer, Justin M. Notestein, George F. Wells, Kimberly A. Gray
Summary: A biorefinery utilizing a microbial electrolysis cell is proposed to depolymerize lignin into valuable products. By optimizing the operating conditions, discrete aromatics (monomers and flavonoids) are obtained at a higher yield compared to previous reports, along with lignin nanoparticles. These products have potential applications in various industries.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Zhen Jia, Quan Yuan, Paul Roots, Fabrizio Sabba, Alex F. Rosenthal, Joseph A. Kozak, George F. Wells
Summary: In this study, a novel process for integrating partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) and enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in a single reactor was tested. The reactor was fed with mainstream municipal wastewater and achieved high removal efficiencies for ammonium, total inorganic nitrogen, and orthophosphate. By controlling the solids retention time, utilizing intermittent aeration, and segregating suspended and attached biomass populations, nitrite-oxidizing organisms were suppressed and ammonia-oxidizing organisms were retained. The integration of PN/A and EBPR in the same reactor showed promising results for efficient nutrient removal.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Quan Yuan, Zhen Jia, Paul Roots, George Wells
Summary: This study proposes a strategy for fast formation of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) biofilm under mainstream conditions. By cultivating an aerobic heterotrophic biofilm first and then transferring to anoxic conditions, a pre-cultivated heterotrophic biofilm can be formed in 12 days. This pre-cultivated biofilm then accelerates the adhesion and formation of Anammox bacteria biofilm.
Article
Environmental Sciences
McKenna Farmer, Fabrizio Sabba, Zhen Jia, Patrick Dunlap, James Barnard, Cindy Dongqi Qin, Levi Straka, Joseph A. A. Kozak, Leon Downing, George Wells
Summary: This study assessed the performance and microbial community structure of a full-scale sidestream-enhanced biological phosphorus removal (S2EBPR) demonstration supplemented with external carbon dosing. The most abundant phosphorus-accumulating organism (PAO) detected was Dechloromonas phosphorivorans, while the glycogen-accumulating organism Competibacter proliferated throughout the study with no tangible performance impacts.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Stephanie Klaus, Cody Campolong, Alex Rosenthal, Fabrizio Sabba, Matthew Baideme, George Wells, Haydee De Clippeleir, Kartik Chandran, Charles Bott
Summary: Partial denitrification/anammox (PdNA) is a promising and carbon-efficient technology for nitrogen polishing. It can be implemented with a variety of carbon sources, with or without upstream nitrite accumulation. In the pilot-scale study, glycerol, acetate, and methanol were evaluated as external carbon sources, and the average PdN efficiency was 88% +/- 13 with glycerol, 86% +/- 10 with acetate, and 66% +/- 11 with methanol. Contrary to previous reports, methanol did not inhibit anammox activity.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Quan Yuan, Zhen Jia, Paul Roots, Fabrizio Sabba, George Wells
Summary: Mathematical modeling is a useful approach to study complex bioprocesses. The study established a mathematical bioprocess model to understand the performance of a novel nitrogen and phosphorus removal reactor. The results show that operational factors can effectively suppress nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) while maintaining high overall nutrient removal efficiency.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Haoran Duan, Yingfen Zhao, Konrad Koch, George F. Wells, Max Weissbach, Zhiguo Yuan, Liu Ye
Summary: N2O recovery as an energy resource in wastewater treatment shows promise but faces technical and economic challenges, high-strength wastewater treatment is more favorable for N2O recovery.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Anna Kogler, McKenna Farmer, Julia A. Simon, Sebastien Tilmans, George F. Wells, William A. Tarpeh
Summary: Advancing nutrient recovery technologies requires systematic reporting and analysis to align research with practice, revealing gaps in energy consumption and cost reporting, and identifying opportunities to expand benefits and align research with critical barriers.
ACS ES&T ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Pei-Ru Chen, Peng-Fei Xia
Summary: Carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in mitigating global climate change and supporting life on Earth. Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering offer a promising approach to enhance CO2 fixation by combining the advantages of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. This article reviews the current progress in constructing synthetic CO2 fixation pathways, discusses the underlying design principles and challenges, and provides insights into the future of carbon recycling through engineered synthetic carbon fixation pathways.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2024)