Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Liangxian Liu, Boyu Cui, Lei Tan, Weihong Wang
Summary: In this study, a cellulose/lignin/xylan film with higher thermostability and water and oxidation resistance was developed using a simple and green immersing, drying, and hot-pressing procedure. Xylan enhanced the hydrogen bonding between cellulose and lignin, and water further plasticized and promoted the bonding of the ternary components, resulting in excellent properties for applications in food packaging, transportation, preservation, and biomedicine.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Daniele Molognoni, Maria Vega, Truus de Vrije, Ana Lopez Contreras, Montse Bosch, Pau Bosch-Jimenez, Eduard Borras
Summary: This study investigated glucose-based ABE electro-fermentation and found that setting the cathode potential (E-cat) at -0.8 V resulted in the optimal EF scenario for C. beijerinckii, leading to a higher specific growth rate and improved butanol production. The addition of 0.5 mM neutral red as a redox mediator further enhanced butanol productivity, with a very low energy consumption of 0.02 kWh/kg-butanol.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Teng Bao, Wenjie Hou, Xuefeng Wu, Li Lu, Xian Zhang, Shang-Tian Yang
Summary: This study increased n-butanol production from cellulose by overexpressing different genes in Clostridium cellulovorans. The engineered strain achieved the highest ever yield in batch fermentation and demonstrated the potential for n-butanol production from cellulosic biomass.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Jianzheng Li, Yafei Zhang, Kai Sun, Wenbin Liu, Han Yan, Jia Meng
Summary: By optimizing the ABE fermentation process, this study successfully increased the co-production of butanol and H2, demonstrating an effective approach to manipulate microbial metabolism for enhanced production.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Darrel Sarvesh Naidu, Maya Jacob John
Summary: In this study, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) were incorporated into xylan-alginate films to enhance mechanical and barrier properties for food packaging applications. The CNFs had fiber diameters between 10 and 80 nm and formed a highly entangled web-like structure. The incorporation of CNFs into the xylan-alginate matrix increased tensile strength and Young's modulus of the films, while improving water vapor permeability without significant impact on thermal properties.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Review
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Pedro R. V. Hamann, Eliane F. Noronha
Summary: Clostridium thermocellum is a model organism specialized in cellulose deconstruction and production of xylanases, which can be beneficial for industrial applications such as biofuel production. The xylanases derived from C. thermocellum exhibit thermal stability and specificity for different xylans, making them attractive for hemicellulose deconstruction in industrial processes.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yafei Zhang, Jianzheng Li, Jia Meng, Kai Sun, Han Yan
Summary: The introduction of neutral red as an electron mediator and the control of the polarized electrode significantly improved the production of butanol and hydrogen in the CEF system.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Paolo Costa, Giulia Usai, Angela Re, Marcello Manfredi, Giuseppe Mannino, Cinzia Margherita Bertea, Enrica Pessione, Roberto Mazzoli
Summary: Comparative gel-free proteomics analysis of Clostridium cellulovorans exposed to butanol revealed modulation of protein biosynthesis, up-regulation of ATPases, and rearrangement of cell envelope, suggesting potential gene targets for metabolic engineering strategies aimed at improving butanol tolerance in this microbial strain.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chao Chen, Kuan Qi, Fang Chi, Xiaojin Song, Yingang Feng, Qiu Cui, Ya-Jun Liu
Summary: This study investigates the inhibitory effects of different non-cellulose components of lignocellulose on the saccharification process mediated by cellulosome. It reveals that lignin and arabinoxylan have inhibitory effects, while xylan and xylooligosaccharides have minimal effects. The timely removal of dissolved xylan is found to be crucial for efficient saccharification.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yonghao Cui, Kun-Lin Yang, Kang Zhou
Summary: Co-culture has emerged as a popular strategy to overcome limitations in Clostridium fermentations, allowing for the use of cheaper substrates, maintaining growth without anaerobic treatment, and improving product yields and spectrum. Challenges in the development of Clostridium co-cultures need to be addressed for future research and applications.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Thermodynamics
Changya Deng, Hongwei Wu
Summary: This paper investigates the char formation and inorganic transformation during rapid pyrolysis of various biomass model components. It is found that xylan and water-washed lignin produce char, while water-washed cellulose does not. Loading K2CO3 into the biomass components increases the char yield. The micromorphology analysis reveals that the formed char particles have a cenospheric structure and a rough surface with bubbles and pores.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMBUSTION INSTITUTE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Jana B. Schaubeder, Jonas L. Ravn, Eliott J. Q. Orzan, Joao H. C. Manfrao-Netto, Cecilia Geijer, Tiina Nypelo, Stefan Spirk
Summary: Enzymatic degradation of plant polysaccharide networks involves disrupting cellulose and hemicellulose assembly, and a new model platform using xylan-coated cellulose thin films was developed to study this process. The hydrolyzing activity of an endo-1,4-beta-xylanase was monitored using in situ surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy and the results showed that both enzyme concentration and incubation time affect the degradation process. Atomic force microscopy confirmed the removal of xylans from the cellulose thin films.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Carla Ferreira dos Santos Vieira, Mateus Cavichioli Codogno, Francisco Maugeri Filho, Rubens Maciel Filho, Adriano Pinto Mariano
Summary: This study demonstrates that Clostridium beijerinckii DSM 6423 is able to co-ferment first- and second-generation sugars while consuming lactic acid, resulting in high butanol yield.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cansu Birgen, Kristin F. Degnes, Sidsel Markussen, Alexander Wentzel, Havard Sletta
Summary: The study investigated the impact of different sugar mixtures on fermentation using the BioLector(R) system, demonstrating its suitability for high-throughput anaerobic cultivation studies. The results provide valuable insights for further research in industrial fermentations of lignocellulosic biomass.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bunmi. B. B. Omorotionmwan, Hengzheng Wang, Jonathan. P. P. Baker, Krzysztof Gizynski, Minyeong Yoo, Cynthia Akaluka, Ying Zhang, Nigel. P. P. Minton
Summary: Engineered microbial chassis using fermentation processes have the potential to replace environmentally damaging petrochemical feedstocks by recycling biomass-derived carbon into chemicals and fuels. Multiple marked auxotrophic strains of Clostridium acetobutylicum were created to allow rapid integration of heterologous genes at distinct loci using allele-coupled exchange. The system was demonstrated to successfully produce isopropanol by integrating synthetic acetone operon and a gene encoding secondary dehydrogenase into specific loci.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Zuotao Zhang, Jiao Sun, Haijiao Guo, Chongyang Wang, Tingting Fang, Matthew J. Rogers, Jianzhong He, Hui Wang
Summary: This study investigated the anaerobic biotransformation of PAHs by a newly isolated phenanthrene-degrading denitrifier strain PheN1. The findings provide insights into the key steps of phenanthrene biotransformation and can guide PAHs bioremediation in anaerobic environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Q. Q. Cai, B. C. Y. Lee, S. L. Ong, J. Y. Hu
Summary: The fluidized-bed Fenton (FBR-Fenton) process has gained attention for treating industrial wastewater, combining the effectiveness of Fenton synthesis and sludge reduction. Challenges include high consumption of Fenton reagents and strict pH control, but strategies for overcoming these limitations are being discussed for improving cost-effectiveness. Modeling techniques like computational fluid dynamics and artificial neural networks show promise for accelerating the full-scale application of FBR-Fenton technologies.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
M. Y. Wu, Q. Q. Cai, H. P. Xu, S. L. Ong, J. Y. Hu
Summary: An integrated computational fluid dynamics-kinetic model framework accurately describes the hydrodynamic and kinetic phenomena in a liquid-solid two phases Fluidized-bed reactor Fenton/GAC system. The simulation revealed that the GAC particles were uniformly circulated with clear interface layer between solid and liquid phases. The combined effects of (OH)-O-center dot oxidation and GAC adsorption in the fluidized bed region led to faster COD removal, reducing the overall predicted COD concentration by 59% from 122 to 35 mg/L.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fang Yee Lim, Teck Heng Neo, Huiling Guo, Sin Zhi Goh, Say Leong Ong, Jiangyong Hu, Brandon Chuan Yee Lee, Geok Suat Ong, Cui Xian Liou
Summary: The study investigated the feasibility of using modular bioretention trees (MBT) to treat stormwater runoff in a highly urbanized tropical environment, and found that MBTs could effectively remove various pollutants, with removal efficiencies of total suspended solids and phosphorus exceeding 90%. Additionally, environmental factors and different tree species were found to have an impact on the performance of MBT.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Siyan Zhao, Chen Zhang, Matthew J. Rogers, Xuejie Zhao, Jianzhong He
Summary: This study developed a computational approach to identify genetic markers for discriminating between different strains of Dehalococcoides bacteria. By screening core genes from the Dehalococcoides pangenome, a gene encoding a bacterial neuraminidase repeat-containing protein was identified as a potential genetic marker. Using this marker, the researchers were able to effectively differentiate between different BNR sequences and Dehalococcoides isolates. The study also revealed a high diversity of Dehalococcoides in the environment.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guofang Xu, Ning Zhang, Xuejie Zhao, Chen Chen, Chunfang Zhang, Jianzhong He
Summary: This study explores the potential for offshore marine microbiota to transform organohalide pollutants and finds that marine Dehalococcoidia have a versatile dehalogenation capacity. The study demonstrates dechlorination of diverse organohalides by offshore marine microbiota, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP). It also identifies the presence of Dehalococcoides and uncultivated Dehalococcoidia in initial sediment microcosms, with Dehalococcoides being dominant in all enrichment cultures.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qian Li, Haifeng Jia, Hongkai Guo, Yunyun Zhao, Guohua Zhou, Fang Yee Lim, Huiling Guo, Teck Heng Neo, Say Leong Ong, Jiangyong Hu
Summary: The performance of a modified bioretention facility in removing road runoff pollutants and the variations in physicochemical properties and microbial diversity were evaluated in this study. The results showed that the modified bioretention facility had lower effluent concentrations and better removal efficiencies, as well as a richer microbial community.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guofang Xu, Hung Liang Ng, Chen Chen, Siyan Zhao, Jianzhong He
Summary: This study demonstrates that bioaugmentation with Dehalococcoides can accelerate the remediation of pentabrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in sediments, and the presence of tetrachloroethene (PCE) can improve the bioaugmentation performance. Ecological analysis shows that bioaugmentation leads to more deterministic microbial communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guofang Xu, Siyan Zhao, Chen Chen, Xuejie Zhao, Rajaganesan Ramaswamy, Jianzhong He
Summary: This study reports the reductive dehalogenation of penta-BDEs and PCBs by Dehalococcoides mccartyi strain MB. The strain was able to efficiently debrominate penta-BDEs and dechlorinate PCBs through reductive dehalogenation. The research also revealed the involvement of MbrA in the dehalogenation process and explored the mechanism through proteomic profiling and transcriptional analysis.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Siyan Zhao, Chang Ding, Guofang Xu, Matthew J. Rogers, Rajaganesan Ramaswamy, Jianzhong He
Summary: Anaerobic PBDE debromination was observed in microcosms established from e-waste recycling sites. Bacterial genera Dehalococcoides, Dehalogenimonas, and Dehalobacter were implicated in PBDE debromination. Complete debromination of penta-BDE mixture was also observed in axenic cultures of Dehalococcoides mccartyi strains. Four reductive dehalogenases were identified as potential markers for PBDE debromination in microbial communities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Harsha S. Fowdar, Teck Heng Neo, Say Leong Ong, Jiangyong Hu, David T. McCarthy
Summary: Nature-based solutions or Green infrastructure (GI) are increasingly popular for managing stormwater pollution globally. The MUSIC model, an important tool for planning these systems, was evaluated for its performance in a tropical climate. The model was able to reasonably simulate outflows and pollutant concentrations, but had some limitations in simulating hydrographs and pollutographs under different inflow and drying/wetting conditions.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. W. Goh, Y. Xiong, W. Wu, Z. Huang, S. L. Ong, J. Y. Hu
Summary: In this study, a MIL-101(Cr)@TiO2 composite was synthesized to overcome the drawbacks of TiO2 and achieve efficient degradation of CBZ. The composite exhibited delayed recombination of photo-generated h(+) and e(-), reduced band gap energy, and showed excellent degradation performance under UV-A irradiation.
Article
Ecology
Guofang Xu, Xuejie Zhao, Siyan Zhao, Matthew J. Rogers, Jianzhong He
Summary: Organohalide pollutants are commonly found in coastal regions and pose threats to public health and ecosystems. This study investigates the effects of salinity on microbial dechlorination of PCE and PCBs in freshwater and marine sediments. The findings suggest that marine-derived microcosms exhibit higher halotolerance and a halotolerant dechlorinating culture was enriched. The study also reveals that salinity influences microbial community composition and dechlorination capabilities. These insights contribute to understanding the fate and bioremediation of organohalide pollutants in changing salinity environments.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guofang Xu, Siyan Zhao, Chen Chen, Ning Zhang, Jianzhong He
Summary: Contamination of groundwater by multiple chlorinated solvents is a common issue that poses a significant challenge for effective remediation. This study reveals that different cocontaminants have varying inhibitory effects on the dechlorination process, with chloroform showing the strongest inhibition. The inhibitory effects of cocontaminants can be mitigated by introducing specific bacterial strains, resulting in the concurrent detoxification of multiple chlorinated solvents. Furthermore, the presence of cocontaminants leads to significant changes in the composition, structure, and assembly of the dechlorinating microbiome.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jinting Liu, Guofang Xu, Siyan Zhao, Jianzhong He
Summary: This study systematically investigated the short- and long-term influence of microplastics and nanoplastics on the methanogenic digestion of waste-activated sludge (WAS). It found that plastics can have both enhancing and inhibitory effects on methanogenesis, with the coexistence of multiple plastics showing synergistic suppression. The inhibition of methanogenesis could be attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species. The study also revealed the resilience and functional redundancy of the digestion sludge microbiome, contributing to the recovery of methanogenesis during long-term operation.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Yinping Xiang, Meiying Jia, Rui Xu, Jialu Xu, Lele He, Haihao Peng, Weimin Sun, Dongbo Wang, Weiping Xiong, Zhaohui Yang
Summary: This study investigated the impact of the non-antibiotic pharmaceutical carbamazepine on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during anaerobic digestion. The results showed that carbamazepine induced the enrichment of ARGs and increased the abundance of bacteria carrying these genes. It also facilitated microbial aggregation and intercellular communication, leading to an increased frequency of ARGs transmission. Moreover, carbamazepine promoted the acquisition of ARGs by pathogens and elevated their overall abundance.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Weixin Zhao, Tianyi Hu, Hao Ma, Dan Li, Qingliang Zhao, Junqiu Jiang, Liangliang Wei
Summary: This review summarizes the effects and potential mechanisms of biochar on microbial behavior in AD systems. The addition of biochar has been found to promote microbial colonization, alleviate stress, provide nutrients, and enhance enzyme activity. Future research directions include targeted design of biochar, in-depth study of microbial mechanisms, and improved models.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Christina Karmann, Anna Magrova, Pavel Jenicek, Jan Bartacek, Vojtech Kouba
Summary: This review assesses nitrogen removal technologies in reject water treatment, highlighting the differences in environmental impacts and economic benefits. Partial nitritation-anammox shows potential for economic benefits and positive environmental outcomes when operated and controlled properly.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Wei-Hao Huang, Ying-Ju Chang, Duu-Jong Lee
Summary: This study modified pinecone biochar with layered double hydroxide (LDH) to enhance its adsorption capacity for heavy metal and phosphate ions. The LDH-biochar showed significantly improved adsorption capacities for Pb2+ and phosphate, and a slight increase for Cu2+ and Co2+. The LDH layer enhanced the adsorption through various mechanisms.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Chao Song, Fanfan Cai, Shuang Yang, Ligong Wang, Guangqing Liu, Chang Chen
Summary: This paper developed a machine learning model to predict the biochemical methane potential during anaerobic digestion. Model analysis identified lignin content, organic loading, and nitrogen content as key attributes for methane production prediction. For feedstocks with high cellulose content, early methane production is lower but can be improved by prolonging digestion time. Moreover, lignin content exceeding a certain value significantly inhibits methane production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sang Min Lee, Ju Young Lee, Ji-Sook Hahn, Seung-Ho Baek
Summary: This study successfully developed an efficient platform strain using Yarrowia lipolytica for the bioconversion of renewable resources into adipic acid, achieving a remarkable increase in production level.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sefkan Kendir, Matthias Franzreb
Summary: This study presents a novel approach using magnetic separation to efficiently harvest freshwater microalgae, Chlorella vulgaris. By combining pH-induced calcium phosphate precipitation with cheap natural magnetite microparticles, harvesting efficiencies up to 98% were achieved in the model medium.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Ishaq Kariim, Ji-Yeon Park, Wajahat Waheed Kazmi, Hulda Swai, In-Gu Lee, Thomas Kivevele
Summary: The impact of reaction temperature, residence time, and ethanol: acetone on the energy compositions and yield enhancement of biocrudes was investigated. The results showed that under appropriate conditions, biocrudes with high energy and low oxygen content can be obtained, indicating a high potential for utilization.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xiyue Zhang, Xiyao Li, Liang Zhang, Yongzhen Peng
Summary: Intermittent aeration is an innovative approach to enhance nitrogen removal in low carbon-to-nitrogen ratio municipal sewage, providing an efficient strategy for the continuous plug-flow AOA process.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Xu Yang, Mahmoud Mazarji, Mengtong Li, Aohua Li, Ronghua Li, Zengqiang Zhang, Junting Pan
Summary: This study investigated the impact of magnetite on the nitrogen cycle of pig manure biostabilisation. The addition of magnetite increased N2O emissions and decreased NH3 emissions during composting. It also increased the total nitrogen content but should be considered for its significant increase in N2O emissions in engineering practice.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Ty Shitanaka, Haylee Fujioka, Muzammil Khan, Manpreet Kaur, Zhi-Yan Du, Samir Kumar Khanal
Summary: The market value of microalgae has exponentially increased in the past two decades, thanks to their applications in various industries. However, the supply of high-value microalgal bioproducts is limited due to several factors, and strategies are being explored to overcome these limitations and improve microalgae production, thus increasing the availability of algal-derived bioproducts in the market.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Martin Kerner, Thorsten Wolff, Torsten Brinkmann
Summary: The efficiency of using enriched CO2 from flue gas for large-scale production of green microalgae has been studied. The results show that the use of membrane devices and static mixers can effectively improve the CO2 recovery rate and maintain the suitable pH and temperature during cultivation, achieving a more economical and sustainable microalgae production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rui Ma, Ji Li, Rd Tyagi, Xiaolei Zhang
Summary: This review summarizes the microorganisms capable of using CO2 and CH4 to produce PHAs, illustrating the production process, factors influencing it, and discussing optimization techniques. It identifies the challenges and future prospects for developing economically viable PHAs production using GHGs as a carbon source.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Bing Wang, Peng Zhang, Xu Guo, Xu Bao, Junjie Tian, Guomin Li, Jian Zhang
Summary: The addition of zeolite in the co-composting of chicken manure and straw significantly reduced the emissions of ammonia and N2O, and increased the nitrate content. Zeolite also promoted the abundance of nitrification genes and inhibited the expression of denitrification genes.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Rohit Dey, Franziska Ortiz Tena, Song Wang, Josef Martin Messmann, Christian Steinweg, Claudia Thomsen, Clemens Posten, Stefan Leu, Matthias S. Ullrich, Laurenz Thomsen
Summary: This study investigated the operation of a 1000L microalgae-based membrane photobioreactor system for continuous secondary wastewater treatment. The research focused on a green microalgae strain called Desmodesmus sp. The study aimed to understand key trends and optimization strategies by conducting experiments in both summer and winter seasons. The findings showed that maintaining low cell concentrations during periods of light inhibition was beneficial for nutrient uptake rates. Effective strategies for enhancing algae-based wastewater treatment included cell mass recycling and adjusting dilution rates based on light availability.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
