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Liu Z, Cui Z, Guo Z, Li D, He Z, Liu W, Yue X, Zhou A. Insights into the effect of nitrate photolysis on short-chain fatty acids production from waste activated sludge in anaerobic fermentation system: Performance and mechanisms. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 258:121772. [PMID: 38761600 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate photolysis has become an efficient, low-cost and promising technology for emerging contaminants removal, while its performance and mechanism for waste activated sludge (WAS) treatment is still unknown. This study innovatively introduced nitrate photolysis for WAS disintegration, and investigated the effect of nitrate addition (150-375 mg N/L) for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production during anaerobic fermentation (AF). The results showed that nitrate photolysis significantly promoted the SCFAs production from WAS, and peaked at 280.7 mg/g VSS with 7-d fermentation with 150 mg N/L addition (150N-UV), which increased by 8.8-35.0 % and 10.7-23.3 % compared with other photolysis groups and sole nitrate groups. Effective release of the soluble organics was observed in the nitrate photolysis groups during AF, especially soluble proteins, reaching 1505.4 mg COD/L at 9 d in 150N-UV group, promoted by 7.0∼15.7 % than nitrate/nitrate photolysis groups. The model compounds simulation experiment further demonstrated the positive effect of nitrate photolysis on organics hydrolysis and SCFAs accumulation. The result of the radical capture and quenching verified the reactive oxygen species contributed more compared with reactive nitrogen species. Functional group analysis confirmed the effective bioconversion of the macromolecular organics during the fermentation. Moreover, the nitrate photolysis enhanced the enrichment of the functional consortia, including anaerobic fermentation bacteria (AFB), e.g., Fnoticella, Romboutsia, Gracilibacter and Sedimentibacter, and nitrate reducing bacteria (NRB), e.g., Acinerobacter and Ahniella. The macrogenetic analysis further revealed that glycolysis, amino acid metabolism, acetate metabolism and nitrogen metabolism were the dominating metabolic pathways during fermentation, and the abundance of the relevant genes were enhanced in 150N-UV group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Academy of Advanced Research and Innovation, Taiyuan 030024, China
| | - Zhixuan Cui
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhengtong Guo
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China
| | - Dengfei Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi-Zheda Institute of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zhangwei He
- School of Environment and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Shanxi 710055, China
| | - Wenzong Liu
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xiuping Yue
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi-Zheda Institute of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan, China
| | - Aijuan Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi-Zheda Institute of Advanced Materials and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan, China.
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Wang Y, Guo H, Li X, Chen X, Peng L, Zhu T, Sun P, Liu Y. Peracetic acid (PAA)-based pretreatment effectively improves medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) production from sewage sludge. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 20:100355. [PMID: 38192428 PMCID: PMC10772567 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Peracetic acid (PAA), known for its environmentally friendly properties as a oxidant and bactericide, is gaining prominence in decontamination and disinfection applications. The primary product of PAA oxidation is acetate that can serve as an electron acceptor (EA) for the biosynthesis of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) via chain elongation (CE) reactions. Hence, PAA-based pretreatment is supposed to be beneficial for MCFAs production from anaerobic sludge fermentation, as it could enhance organic matter availability, suppress competing microorganisms and furnish EA by providing acetate. However, such a hypothesis has rarely been proved. Here we reveal that PAA-based pretreatment leads to significant exfoliation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from sludge flocs and disruption of proteinic secondary structures, through inducing highly active free radicals and singlet oxygen. The production of MCFAs increases substantially to 11,265.6 mg COD L-1, while the undesired byproducts, specifically long-chain alcohols (LCAs), decrease to 723.5 mg COD L-1. Microbial activity tests further demonstrate that PAA pretreatment stimulates the CE process, attributed to the up-regulation of functional genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis pathway. These comprehensive findings provide insights into the effectiveness and mechanisms behind enhanced MCFAs production through PAA-based technology, advancing our understanding of sustainable resource recovery from sewage sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Haixiao Guo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xuecheng Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Xueming Chen
- Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Rural Waste Recycling Technology, College of Environment and Safety Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fujian, 350116, China
| | - Lai Peng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Mineral Resources Processing and Environment, Wuhan University of Technology, Luoshi Road 122, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Luoshi Road 122, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China
| | - Tingting Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Peizhe Sun
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Yiwen Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
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Gu X, Sun J, Wang T, Li J, Wang H, Wang J, Wang Y. Comprehensive review of microbial production of medium-chain fatty acids from waste activated sludge and enhancement strategy. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 402:130782. [PMID: 38701982 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Microbial production of versatile applicability medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) (C6-C10) from waste activated sludge (WAS) provides a pioneering approach for wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to achieve carbon recovery. Mounting studies emerged endeavored to promote the MCFAs production from WAS while struggling with limited MCFAs production and selectivity. Herein, this review covers comprehensive introduction of the transformation process from WAS to MCFAs and elaborates the mechanisms for unsatisfactory MCFAs production. The enhancement strategies for biotransformation of WAS to MCFAs was presented. Especially, the robust performance of iron-based materials is highlighted. Furthermore, knowledge gaps are identified to outline future research directions. Recycling MCFAs from WAS presents a promising option for future WAS treatment, with iron-based materials emerging as a key regulatory strategy in advancing the application of WAS-to-MCFAs biotechnology. This review will advance the understanding of MCFAs recovery from WAS and promote sustainable resource management in WWTPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jing Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Han Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jialin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yayi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Liu Y, Ye X, Chen K, Wu X, Jiao L, Zhang H, Zhu F, Xi Y. Effect of nanobubble water on medium chain carboxylic acids production in anaerobic digestion of cow manure. WASTE MANAGEMENT (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2024; 184:37-51. [PMID: 38795539 DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2024.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Nanobubble water promotes the degradation of difficult-to-degrade organic matter, improves the activity of electron transfer systems during anaerobic digestion, and optimizes the composition of anaerobic microbial communities. Therefore, this study proposes the use of nanobubble water to improve the yield of medium chain carboxylic acids produced from cow manure by chain elongation. The experiment was divided into two stages: the first stage involved the acidification of cow manure to produce volatile acidic fatty acids as electron acceptors, and the second phase involved the addition of lactic acid as an electron donor for the chain elongation. Three experimental groups were established, and air, H2, and N2 nanobubble water were added in the second stage. Equal amounts of deionized water were added in the control group. The results showed that nanobubble water supplemented with air significantly increased the caproic acid concentration to 15.10 g/L, which was 55.03 % greater than that of the control group. The relative abundances of Bacillus and Caproiciproducens, which are involved in chain elongation, and Syntrophomonas, which is involved in electron transfer, increased. The unique ability of air nanobubble water supplemented to break down the cellulose matrix resulted in further decomposition of the recalcitrant material in cow manure. This effect subsequently increased the number of microorganisms associated with lignocellulose degradation, increasing carbohydrate metabolism and ATP-binding cassette transporter protein activity and enhancing fatty acid cycling pathways during chain elongation. Ultimately, this approach enabled the efficient production of medium chain carboxylic acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Jiangsu Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Livestock Integration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, 210014 Nanjing, China; State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiaomei Ye
- Jiangsu Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Livestock Integration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, 210014 Nanjing, China
| | - Kequan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiayuan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Lihua Jiao
- Jiangsu Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Livestock Integration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, 210014 Nanjing, China
| | - Hongyu Zhang
- Jiangsu Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Livestock Integration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, 210014 Nanjing, China
| | - Fei Zhu
- Jiangsu Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Livestock Integration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, 210014 Nanjing, China
| | - Yonglan Xi
- Jiangsu Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China; Key Laboratory of Crop and Livestock Integration, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, 210014 Nanjing, China; Department of Applied Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcka 129, Praha-Suchdol 16500, Czech Republic.
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Wang Y, Zhang Z, Wang X, Guo H, Zhu T, Ni BJ, Liu Y. Percarbonate-strengthened ferrate pretreatment for enhancing short-chain fatty acids production from sewage sludge. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166771. [PMID: 37660812 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Sewage sludge management poses a pressing environmental challenge, demanding the implementation of sustainable solutions to facilitate resource recovery. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) serve as valuable chemicals and renewable energy sources, underscoring the importance of maximizing their production to achieve sustainable waste management. Therefore, this study proposes a novel and green strategy, i.e., percarbonate-strengthened ferrate pretreatment to enhance SCFAs synthesis from sewage sludge, because percarbonate could activate ferrate oxidation through providing (bi) carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. Results show that percarbonate largely reduces the required ferrate dosage for fermentation improvement, and their combination exhibits obvious synergistic effects on SCFAs accumulation and sludge reduction. Under the optimal pretreatment conditions, SCFAs production is promoted to 3670.2 mg COD/L, representing a remarkable increase of 5512.4 %, 156.0 % or 395.1 % compared to the control, percarbonate alone or ferrate alone, respectively. Mechanism explorations demonstrate that percarbonate-strengthened ferrate pretreatment significantly enhances sludge solubilization, elevates substrate biodegradability, and alters the physiochemical properties of sludge to favor organics fermentation. The synergistic effects on solid organics release and sludge properties can be attributed to the combined mechanisms of enhanced oxidation and alkaline hydrolysis. Further investigations on metabolic pathways reveal that the combination substantially improves key enzyme activities associated with hydrolysis and SCFAs formation, while severely inhibits that of SCFAs consumption. These findings are further supported by the functional genes coding relevant enzymes. Moreover, the combination alters microbial structures and compositions, leading to the screening and enrichment of key microbes that facilitate SCFAs accumulation. This innovative strategy holds significant promise in advancing sewage sludge management towards a more circular and resource-efficient paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufen Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Zixin Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Haixiao Guo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Tingting Zhu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Yiwen Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
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