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Zhang Z, Huang Z, Li H, Wang D, Yao Y, Dong K. Impact of Nitrate on the Removal of Pollutants from Water in Reducing Gas-Based Membrane Biofilm Reactors: A Review. MEMBRANES 2024; 14:109. [PMID: 38786943 PMCID: PMC11123063 DOI: 10.3390/membranes14050109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) is a novel wastewater treatment technology, garnering attention due to its high gas utilization rate and effective pollutant removal capability. This paper outlines the working mechanism, advantages, and disadvantages of MBfR, and the denitrification pathways, assessing the efficacy of MBfR in removing oxidized pollutants (sulfate (SO4-), perchlorate (ClO4-)), heavy metal ions (chromates (Cr(VI)), selenates (Se(VI))), and organic pollutants (tetracycline (TC), p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB)), and delves into the role of related microorganisms. Specifically, through the addition of nitrates (NO3-), this paper analyzes its impact on the removal efficiency of other pollutants and explores the changes in microbial communities. The results of the study show that NO3- inhibits the removal of other pollutants (oxidizing pollutants, heavy metal ions and organic pollutants), etc., in the simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants by MBfR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiheng Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, 319 Yanshan Street, Guilin 541006, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.L.); (D.W.)
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Zhian Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, 319 Yanshan Street, Guilin 541006, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.L.); (D.W.)
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Haixiang Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, 319 Yanshan Street, Guilin 541006, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.L.); (D.W.)
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Dunqiu Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, 319 Yanshan Street, Guilin 541006, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.L.); (D.W.)
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Yi Yao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, 319 Yanshan Street, Guilin 541006, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.L.); (D.W.)
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Kun Dong
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, 319 Yanshan Street, Guilin 541006, China; (Z.Z.); (Z.H.); (H.L.); (D.W.)
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Water Pollution Control and Safety in Karst Area, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Theory and Technology for Environmental Pollution Control, Guilin 541006, China
- Guangxi Engineering Research Center of Comprehensive Treatment for Agricultural Non-Point Source Pollution, Guilin 541006, China
- Modern Industry College of Ecology and Environmental Protection, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541006, China
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2
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Li S, Duan L, Zhao Y, Gao F, Hermanowicz SW. Analysis of Microbial Communities in Membrane Biofilm Reactors Using a High-Density Microarray. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:324. [PMID: 36984711 PMCID: PMC10052966 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13030324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Membrane biofilm reactors (MBfRs) have attracted more and more attention in the field of wastewater treatment due to their advantages of high mass transfer efficiency and low-carbon emissions. There are many factors affecting their nitrogen removal abilities, such as operation time, electron donor types, and operation modes. The operation time is directly related to the growth status of microorganisms, so it is very important to understand the effect of different operation times on microbial composition and community succession. In this study, two parallel H2-based MBfRs were operated, and differences in microbial composition, community succession, and NO3--N removal efficiency were investigated on the 30th day and the 60th day of operation. The nitrogen removal efficiency of MBfRs with an operation time of 60 days was higher than that of MBfRs with an operation time of 30 days. Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum in both MBfRs; however, the composition of the microbial community was quite different. At the class level, the community composition of Proteobacteria was similar between the two MBfRs. Alphaproteobacteria was the dominant class in MBfR, and Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria were also in high proportion. Combined with the analysis of microbial relative abundance and concentration, the similarity of microbial distribution in the MBfRs was very low on day 30 and day 60, and the phylogenetic relationships of the top 50 dominant universal bacteria and Proteobacteria were different. Although the microbial concentration decreased with the extension of the operation time, the microbial abundance and diversity of specific functional microorganisms increased further. Therefore, the operation time had a significant effect on microbial composition and community succession.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Liang Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1710, USA
| | - Yang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Fu Gao
- Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Slawomir W. Hermanowicz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-1710, USA
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Abejón R. A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Selenium in Drinking Water during the 1990-2021 Period: Treatment Options for Selenium Removal. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:5834. [PMID: 35627373 PMCID: PMC9140891 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19105834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
A bibliometric analysis based on the Scopus database was carried out to summarize the global research related to selenium in drinking water from 1990 to 2021 and identify the quantitative characteristics of the research in this period. The results from the analysis revealed that the number of accumulated publications followed a quadratic growth, which confirmed the relevance this research topic is gaining during the last years. High research efforts have been invested to define safe selenium content in drinking water, since the insufficient or excessive intake of selenium and the corresponding effects on human health are only separated by a narrow margin. Some important research features of the four main technologies most frequently used to remove selenium from drinking water (coagulation, flocculation and precipitation followed by filtration; adsorption and ion exchange; membrane-based processes and biological treatments) were compiled in this work. Although the search of technological options to remove selenium from drinking water is less intensive than the search of solutions to reduce and eliminate the presence of other pollutants, adsorption was the alternative that has received the most attention according to the research trends during the studied period, followed by membrane technologies, while biological methods require further research efforts to promote their implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Abejón
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Santiago de Chile (USACH), Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Estación Central, Santiago 9170019, Chile
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Martin G, Sharma S, Ryan W, Srinivasan NK, Senko JM. Identification of Microbiological Activities in Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization Systems. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:675628. [PMID: 34262541 PMCID: PMC8273512 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.675628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Thermoelectric power generation from coal requires large amounts of water, much of which is used for wet flue gas desulfurization (wFGD) systems that minimize sulfur emissions, and consequently, acid rain. The microbial communities in wFGDs and throughout thermoelectric power plants can influence system performance, waste processing, and the long term stewardship of residual wastes. Any microorganisms that survive in wFGD slurries must tolerate high total dissolved solids concentrations (TDS) and temperatures (50–60°C), but the inocula for wFGDs are typically from fresh surface waters (e.g., lakes or rivers) of low TDS and temperatures, and whose activity might be limited under the physicochemically extreme conditions of the wFGD. To determine the extents of microbiological activities in wFGDs, we examined the microbial activities and communities associated with three wFGDs. O2 consumption rates of three wFGD slurries were optimal at 55°C, and living cells could be detected microscopically, indicating that living and active communities of organisms were present in the wFGD and could metabolize at the high temperature of the wFGD. A 16S rRNA gene-based survey revealed that the wFGD-associated microbial communities included taxa attributable to both thermophilic and mesophilic lineages. Metatranscriptomic analysis of one of the wFGDs indicated an abundance of active Burholderiaceae and several Gammaproteobacteria, and production of transcripts associated with carbohydrate metabolism, osmotic stress response, as well as phage, prophages, and transposable elements. These results illustrate that microbial activities can be sustained in physicochemically extreme wFGDs, and these activities may influence the performance and environmental impacts of thermoelectric power plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Martin
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
| | - Shagun Sharma
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States.,Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
| | - William Ryan
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
| | | | - John M Senko
- Department of Biology, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States.,Integrated Bioscience Program, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States.,Department of Geosciences, The University of Akron, Akron, OH, United States
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Song B, Tian Z, van der Weijden RD, Buisman CJN, Weijma J. High-rate biological selenate reduction in a sequencing batch reactor for recovery of hexagonal selenium. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 193:116855. [PMID: 33556693 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.116855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Recovery of selenium (Se) from wastewater provides a solution for both securing Se supply and preventing Se pollution. Here, we developed a high-rate process for biological selenate reduction to elemental selenium. Distinctive from other studies, we aimed for a process with selenate as the main biological electron sink, with minimal formation of methane or sulfide. A sequencing batch reactor, fed with an influent containing 120 mgSe L-1 selenate and ethanol as electron donor and carbon source, was operated for 495 days. The high rates (419 ± 17 mgSe L-1 day-1) were recorded between day 446 and day 495 for a hydraulic retention time of 6 h. The maximum conversion efficiency of selenate amounted to 96% with a volumetric conversion rate of 444 mgSe L-1 day-1, which is 6 times higher than the rates reported in the literature thus far. At the end of the experiment, a highly enriched selenate reducing biomass had developed, with a specific activity of 856 ± 26 mgSe-1day-1gbiomass-1, which was nearly 1000-fold higher than that of the inoculum. No evidence was found for the formation of methane, sulfide, or volatile reduced selenium compounds like dimethyl-selenide or H2Se, revealing a high selectivity. Ethanol was incompletely oxidized to acetate. The produced elemental selenium partially accumulated in the reactor as pure (≥80% Se of the total mixture of biomass sludge flocs and flaky aggregates, and ~100% of the specific flaky aggregates) selenium black hexagonal needles, with cluster sizes between 20 and 200 µm. The new process may serve as the basis for a high-rate technology to remove and recover pure selenium from wastewater or process streams with high selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Song
- Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17; 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Z Tian
- Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17; 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - R D van der Weijden
- Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17; 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - C J N Buisman
- Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17; 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - J Weijma
- Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 17; 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
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6
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Ji Y, Wang YT. Se(VI) reduction by continuous-flow reactors packed with Shigella fergusonii strain TB42616 immobilized by Ca2+-alginate gel beads. Process Biochem 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2019.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Song W, Zhou J, Wang B, Li S, Cheng R. Production of SO2 Gas: New and Efficient Utilization of Flue Gas Desulfurization Gypsum and Pyrite Resources. Ind Eng Chem Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.9b04403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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8
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Xia S, Xu X, Zhou L. Insights into selenate removal mechanism of hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor for nitrate-polluted groundwater treatment based on anaerobic biofilm analysis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 178:123-129. [PMID: 30999180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The selenate removal mechanism of hydrogen-based membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) for nitrate-polluted groundwater treatment was studied based on anaerobic biofilm analysis. A laboratory-scale MBfR was operated for over 60 days with electron balance, structural analysis, and bacterial community identification. Results showed that anaerobic biofilm had an excellent removal of both selenate (95%) and nitrate (100%). Reduction of Selenate → Selenite → Se0 with hydrogen was the main pathway of anaerobic biofilm for selenate removal with amorphous Se0 precipitate accumulating in the biofilm. The element selenium was observed to be evenly distributed along the cross-sectional thin biofilm. A part of selenate (3%) was also reduced into methyl-selenide by heterotrophic bacteria. Additionally, Hydrogenophaga bacteria of β-Proteobacteria, capable of both nitrate and selenate removal, worked as the dominant species (over 85%) in the biofilm and contributed to the stable removal of both nitrate and selenate. With the selenate input, bacteria with a capacity for both selenate and nitrate removal were also developed in the anaerobic biofilm community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqing Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaoyin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lijie Zhou
- College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
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Bai YN, Wang XN, Lu YZ, Fu L, Zhang F, Lau TC, Zeng RJ. Microbial selenite reduction coupled to anaerobic oxidation of methane. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 669:168-174. [PMID: 30878925 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) is the process of coupling the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) with denitrification, which plays an important part in controlling the flow of methane in anoxic niches. In this study, we explored the feasibility of microbial selenite reduction using methane by DAMO culture. Isotopic 13CH4 and long-term experiments showed that selenite reduction was coupled to methane oxidation, and selenite was ultimately reduced to Se (0) by the analyses of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The introduction of nitrate, the original electron acceptor in the DAMO culture, inhibited selenite reduction. Meanwhile, the microbial community of DAMO culture was significantly changed when the electron acceptor was changed from nitrate to selenite after long-term selenite reduction. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that Methylococcus (26%) became the predominant microbe performing selenite reduction and methane oxidation and the possible pathways of AOM accompanied with selenite reduction were proposed. This study revealed more potential relation during the biogeochemical cycle of carbon, nitrogen, and selenium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Bai
- Advanced Laboratory for Environmental Research and Technology, USTC-CityU, Suzhou, PR China; School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Xiu-Ning Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Yong-Ze Lu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Ling Fu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China.
| | - Tai-Chu Lau
- Advanced Laboratory for Environmental Research and Technology, USTC-CityU, Suzhou, PR China; State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Raymond J Zeng
- Advanced Laboratory for Environmental Research and Technology, USTC-CityU, Suzhou, PR China; School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, PR China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, PR China.
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10
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Zhou C, Ontiveros-Valencia A, Nerenberg R, Tang Y, Friese D, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Rittmann BE. Hydrogenotrophic Microbial Reduction of Oxyanions With the Membrane Biofilm Reactor. Front Microbiol 2019; 9:3268. [PMID: 30687262 PMCID: PMC6335333 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.03268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxyanions, such as nitrate, perchlorate, selenate, and chromate are commonly occurring contaminants in groundwater, as well as municipal, industrial, and mining wastewaters. Microorganism-mediated reduction is an effective means to remove oxyanions from water by transforming oxyanions into harmless and/or immobilized forms. To carry out microbial reduction, bacteria require a source of electrons, called the electron-donor substrate. Compared to organic electron donors, H2 is not toxic, generates minimal secondary contamination, and can be readily obtained in a variety of ways at reasonable cost. However, the application of H2 through conventional delivery methods, such as bubbling, is untenable due to H2's low water solubility and combustibility. In this review, we describe the membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR), which is a technological breakthrough that makes H2 delivery to microorganisms efficient, reliable, and safe. The MBfR features non-porous gas-transfer membranes through which bubbleless H2 is delivered on-demand to a microbial biofilm that develops naturally on the outer surface of the membranes. The membranes serve as an active substratum for a microbial biofilm able to biologically reduce oxyanions in the water. We review the development of the MBfR technology from bench, to pilot, and to commercial scales, and we elucidate the mechanisms that control MBfR performance, particularly including methods for managing the biofilm's structure and function. We also give examples of MBfR performance for cases of treating single and co-occurring oxyanions in different types of contaminated water. In summary, the MBfR is an effective and reliable technology for removing oxyanion contaminants by accurately providing a biofilm with bubbleless H2 on demand. Controlling the H2 supply in accordance to oxyanion surface loading and managing the accumulation and activity of biofilm are the keys for process success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhou
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | | | - Robert Nerenberg
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, United States
| | - Youneng Tang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
| | | | - Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Bruce E Rittmann
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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11
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Jiang Y, Zhang B, He C, Shi J, Borthwick AGL, Huang X. Synchronous microbial vanadium (V) reduction and denitrification in groundwater using hydrogen as the sole electron donor. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 141:289-296. [PMID: 29803094 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater co-contaminated by vanadium (V) (V(V)) and nitrate requires efficient remediation to prevent adverse environmental impacts. However, little is known about simultaneous bio-reductions of V(V) and nitrate supported by gaseous electron donors in aquifers. This study is among the first to examine microbial V(V) reduction and denitrification with hydrogen as the sole electron donor. V(V) removal efficiency of 91.0 ± 3.2% was achieved in test bioreactors within 7 d, with synchronous, complete removal of nitrate. V(V) was reduced to V(IV), which precipitated naturally under near-neutral conditions, and nitrate tended to be converted to nitrogen, both of which processes helped to purify the groundwater. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were produced from hydrogen oxidation. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomic analyses revealed the evolutionary behavior of microbial communities and functional genes. The genera Dechloromonas and Hydrogenophaga promoted bio-reductions of V(V) and nitrate directly coupled to hydrogen oxidation. Enriched Geobacter and denitrifiers also indicated synergistic mechanism, with VFAs acting as organic carbon sources for heterotrophically functional bacteria while reducing V(V) and nitrate. These findings are likely to be useful in revealing biogeochemical fates of V(V) and nitrate in aquifer and developing technology for removing them simultaneously from groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Jiang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Baogang Zhang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China.
| | - Chao He
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Jiaxin Shi
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
| | - Alistair G L Borthwick
- School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL, UK
| | - Xueyang Huang
- School of Water Resources and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Environmental Evolution, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, PR China
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12
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Ontiveros-Valencia A, Zhou C, Zhao HP, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Tang Y, Rittmann BE. Managing microbial communities in membrane biofilm reactors. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:9003-9014. [PMID: 30128582 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9293-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 08/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Membrane biofilm reactors (MBfRs) deliver gaseous substrates to biofilms that develop on the outside of gas-transfer membranes. When an MBfR delivers electron donors hydrogen (H2) or methane (CH4), a wide range of oxidized contaminants can be reduced as electron acceptors, e.g., nitrate, perchlorate, selenate, and trichloroethene. When O2 is delivered as an electron acceptor, reduced contaminants can be oxidized, e.g., benzene, toluene, and surfactants. The MBfR's biofilm often harbors a complex microbial community; failure to control the growth of undesirable microorganisms can result in poor performance. Fortunately, the community's structure and function can be managed using a set of design and operation features as follows: gas pressure, membrane type, and surface loadings. Proper selection of these features ensures that the best microbial community is selected and sustained. Successful design and operation of an MBfR depends on a holistic understanding of the microbial community's structure and function. This involves integrating performance data with omics results, such as with stoichiometric and kinetic modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ontiveros-Valencia
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN, 46617, USA. .,Escuela de Ingenieria y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Puebla, Ave. Atlixcáyotl 2301, 72453, Puebla, Pue, Mexico. .,Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5701, USA.
| | - C Zhou
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5701, USA
| | - H-P Zhao
- College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control & Environmental Safety, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - R Krajmalnik-Brown
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5701, USA.,School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Y Tang
- FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL, 32310, USA
| | - B E Rittmann
- Biodesign Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, 1001S McAllister Ave, Tempe, AZ, 85287-5701, USA.,School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
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Nancharaiah YV, Sarvajith M, Lens PNL. Selenite reduction and ammoniacal nitrogen removal in an aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactor. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 131:131-141. [PMID: 29278787 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Simultaneous removal of selenite and ammonium by aerobic granular sludge was investigated to develop an improved biological treatment process for selenium rich wastewaters. Aerobic granules not previously exposed to selenite were able to remove selenite by converting it to elemental selenium (Se(0)) and simultaneously remove ammonium under different conditions in batch experiments. To achieve sustainable selenite and ammonium removal, an aerobic granular sludge reactor was operated in fill-and-draw mode with a cycle of anaerobic (8 h) and aeration (15 h) phases. Almost complete removal of different initial concentrations of selenite up to 100 μM was achieved in the anaerobic phase. Ammonium removal was severely inhibited when the granules were initially exposed to 1.27 mg L-1 selenite, but ammonium and total nitrogen removal efficiencies gradually improved to 100 and 98%, respectively, under selenite-reducing conditions. Selenite loading shifted ammonium removal occurring mainly during the anaerobic phase to both the anaerobic and aeration phases. Selenite was removed from the aqueous phase by converting it to nanoparticulate Se(0), which was entrapped in the granular sludge. Scanning electron microscop-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of Se(0) nanospheres and their retention in the granular sludge. The effluent Se ranged from 0.02 to 0.25 mg Se L-1, while treating up to 12.7 mg L-1 selenite, which is lower as compared to previous studies on selenite removal using activated sludge or anaerobic granular sludge. This study shows that aerobic granular sludge reactors are not only capable of removing toxic selenite, but offer improved treatment of Se-rich wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y V Nancharaiah
- Biofouling and Biofilm Processes, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, 603102, Tamil Nadu, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400 094, India.
| | - M Sarvajith
- Biofouling and Biofilm Processes, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, 603102, Tamil Nadu, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar, Mumbai, 400 094, India
| | - P N L Lens
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611 AX, Delft, The Netherlands; Department of Microbiology, National University of Ireland, University Road, Galway, H91 TK33, Ireland
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Tan LC, Nancharaiah YV, van Hullebusch ED, Lens PNL. Selenium: environmental significance, pollution, and biological treatment technologies. Biotechnol Adv 2016; 34:886-907. [PMID: 27235190 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2016.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Selenium is an essential trace element needed for all living organisms. Despite its essentiality, selenium is a potential toxic element to natural ecosystems due to its bioaccumulation potential. Though selenium is found naturally in the earth's crust, especially in carbonate rocks and volcanic and sedimentary soils, about 40% of the selenium emissions to atmospheric and aquatic environments are caused by various industrial activities such as mining-related operations. In recent years, advances in water quality and pollution monitoring have shown that selenium is a contaminant of potential environmental concern. This has practical implications on industry to achieve the stringent selenium regulatory discharge limit of 5μgSeL(-1) for selenium containing wastewaters set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Over the last few decades, various technologies have been developed for the treatment of selenium-containing wastewaters. Biological selenium reduction has emerged as the leading technology for removing selenium from wastewaters since it offers a cheaper alternative compared to physico-chemical treatments and is suitable for treating dilute and variable selenium-laden wastewaters. Moreover, biological treatment has the advantage of forming elemental selenium nanospheres which exhibit unique optical and spectral properties for various industrial applications, i.e. medical, electrical, and manufacturing processes. However, despite the advances in biotechnology employing selenium reduction, there are still several challenges, particularly in achieving stringent discharge limits, the long-term stability of biogenic selenium and predicting the fate of bioreduced selenium in the environment. This review highlights the significance of selenium in the environment, health, and industry and biotechnological advances made in the treatment of selenium contaminated wastewaters. The challenges and future perspectives are overviewed considering recent biotechnological advances in the management of these selenium-laden wastewaters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Chua Tan
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Yarlagadda V Nancharaiah
- Biofouling and Biofilm Process Section, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Kalpakkam, 603102 Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Eric D van Hullebusch
- Université Paris-Est, Laboratoire Géomatériaux et Environnement (EA 4508), UPEM, 77454 Marne-la-Vallée, France.
| | - Piet N L Lens
- UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611 AX Delft, The Netherlands; Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, P.O-Box 541, Tampere, Finland.
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Nancharaiah YV, Lens PNL. Selenium biomineralization for biotechnological applications. Trends Biotechnol 2015; 33:323-30. [PMID: 25908504 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2015.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is not only a strategic element in high-tech electronics and an essential trace element in living organisms, but also a potential toxin with low threshold concentrations. Environmental biotechnological applications using bacterial biomineralization have the potential not only to remove selenium from contaminated waters, but also to sequester it in a reusable form. Selenium biomineralization has been observed in phylogenetically diverse microorganisms isolated from pristine and contaminated environments, yet it is one of the most poorly understood biogeochemical processes. Microbial respiration of selenium is unique because the microbial cells are presented with both soluble (SeO(4)(2-) and SeO(3)(2-)) and insoluble (Se(0)) forms of selenium as terminal electron acceptor. Here, we highlight selenium biomineralization and the potential biotechnological uses for it in bioremediation and wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarlagadda V Nancharaiah
- Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, Delft DA 2601, The Netherlands; Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section of Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, 603102, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Piet N L Lens
- Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, PO Box 3015, Delft DA 2601, The Netherlands; Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering, Tampere University of Technology, PO Box 541, Tampere, Finland.
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Abstract
In nature, selenium is actively cycled between oxic and anoxic habitats, and this cycle plays an important role in carbon and nitrogen mineralization through bacterial anaerobic respiration. Selenium-respiring bacteria (SeRB) are found in geographically diverse, pristine or contaminated environments and play a pivotal role in the selenium cycle. Unlike its structural analogues oxygen and sulfur, the chalcogen selenium and its microbial cycling have received much less attention by the scientific community. This review focuses on microorganisms that use selenate and selenite as terminal electron acceptors, in parallel to the well-studied sulfate-reducing bacteria. It overviews the significant advancements made in recent years on the role of SeRB in the biological selenium cycle and their ecological role, phylogenetic characterization, and metabolism, as well as selenium biomineralization mechanisms and environmental biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y V Nancharaiah
- Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - P N L Lens
- Environmental Engineering and Water Technology Department, UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands
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Lai CY, Yang X, Tang Y, Rittmann BE, Zhao HP. Nitrate shaped the selenate-reducing microbial community in a hydrogen-based biofilm reactor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:3395-3402. [PMID: 24579788 DOI: 10.1021/es4053939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
To study the effect of nitrate (NO3(-)) on selenate (SeO4(2-)) reduction, we tested a H2-based biofilm with a range of influent NO3(-) loadings. When SeO4(2-) was the only electron acceptor (stage 1), 40% of the influent SeO4(2-) was reduced to insoluble elemental selenium (Se(0)). SeO4(2-) reduction was dramatically inhibited when NO3(-) was added at a surface loading larger than 1.14 g of N m(-2) day(-1), when H2 delivery became limiting and only 80% of the input NO3(-) was reduced (stage 2). In stage 3, when NO3(-) was again removed from the influent, SeO4(2-) reduction was re-established and increased to 60% conversion to Se(0). SeO4(2-) reduction remained stable at 60% in stages 4 and 5, when the NO3(-) surface loading was re-introduced at ≤ 0.53 g of N m(-2) day(-1), allowing for complete NO3(-) reduction. The selenate-reducing microbial community was significantly reshaped by the high NO3(-) surface loading in stage 2, and it remained stable through stages 3-5. In particular, the abundance of α-Proteobacteria decreased from 30% in stage 1 to less than 10% of total bacteria in stage 2. β-Proteobacteria, which represented about 55% of total bacteria in the biofilm in stage 1, increased to more than 90% of phylotypes in stage 2. Hydrogenophaga, an autotrophic denitrifier, was positively correlated with NO3(-) flux. Thus, introducing a NO3(-) loading high enough to cause H2 limitation and suppress SeO4(2-) reduction had a long-lasting effect on the microbial community structure, which was confirmed by principal coordinate analysis, although SeO4(2-) reduction remained intact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Yu Lai
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecosystem Health, College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310029, People's Republic of China
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Wei X, Li B, Zhao S, Wang L, Zhang H, Li C, Wang S. Mixed pharmaceutical wastewater treatment by integrated membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) system--a pilot-scale study. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2012; 122:189-195. [PMID: 22832229 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2011] [Revised: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A pilot-scale integrated membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) system, consisted of hydrolysis/acidification pretreatment, MABR process and activated carbon adsorption post-processing, was designed to treat the high-loading mixed pharmaceutical wastewater. A study of MABR process was conducted to investigate the effect of aeration condition, circulation flow rate and water quality on performance over 260 days. The performances of these processes were evaluated by the removal efficiency of COD, BOD(5), turbidity, NH(4)(+)-N and TN. MABR process could effectively remove above 90% of COD and 98% of ammonia. The capacities per unit volume of MABR could reach up to 1311 gCOD/m(3)d and 48.2 gNH(4)(+)-N/m(3)d with single membrane aeration, and the oxygen utilization rate could be as high as 45%. After post-processing, the effluent of integrated treatment MABR system kept stable with COD below 200 mg/L and NH(4)(+)-N below 3 mg/L.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wei
- Chemical Engineering Research Center, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
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Tang Y, Zhou C, Van Ginkel SW, Ontiveros-Valencia A, Shin J, Rittmann BE. Hydrogen permeability of the hollow fibers used in H2-based membrane biofilm reactors. J Memb Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2012.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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