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Wu B, Lin R, Gu J, Yuan H, Murphy JD. Biochar confers significant microbial resistance to ammonia toxicity in n-caproic acid production. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 266:122367. [PMID: 39243461 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.122367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/31/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Microbial chain elongation integrating innovative bioconversion technologies with organic waste utilization can transition current energy-intensive n-caproic acid production to sustainable circular bioeconomy systems. However, ammonia-rich waste streams, despite their suitability, pose inhibitory challenges to these bioconversion processes. Herein, biochar was employed as an additive to enhance the activity of chain elongating microbes under ammonia inhibition conditions, with an objective to detail underlying mechanisms of improvements. Biochar addition significantly improved chain elongation performance even under severe ammonia stress (exceeding 8 g N/L), increasing n-caproic acid yields by 40 % to 158 % and reducing lag times by 51 % to 90 %, compared with the best-performing group without biochar addition. The material contribution to n-caproic production reached up to 94.3 % (at 4 g N/L). These enhancements were mainly attributed to the new electron syntrophy induced by biochar, which improved electron transfer system activity and electrical conductivity of the fermentation system. This is further substantiated by increased relative abundances of the genus Sporanaerobacter, electroactive bacteria, and up-regulated direct electron transfer-related genes including conductive pili and c-type cytochrome. This study demonstrates that biochar can confer robust resilience to ammonia toxicity in functional microbes, paving a way for efficient and sustainable n-caproic acid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benteng Wu
- Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork T23 XE10, Ireland; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High-Quality Recycling of End-of-Life New Energy Devices, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Richen Lin
- MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork T23 XE10, Ireland; Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Jing Gu
- Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High-Quality Recycling of End-of-Life New Energy Devices, Guangzhou 510640, China
| | - Haoran Yuan
- Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of High-Quality Recycling of End-of-Life New Energy Devices, Guangzhou 510640, China.
| | - Jerry D Murphy
- MaREI Centre, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Cork T23 XE10, Ireland; Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Architecture, University College Cork, Cork T12 YN60, Ireland.
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Liu Y, Chen L, Duan Y, Li R, Yang Z, Liu S, Li G. Recent progress and prospects for chain elongation of transforming biomass waste into medium-chain fatty acids. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 355:141823. [PMID: 38552798 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141823] [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: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Chain elongation technology utilises microorganisms in anaerobic digestion to transform waste biomass into medium-chain fatty acids that have greater economic value. This innovative technology expands upon traditional anaerobic digestion methods, requiring abundant substrates that serve as electron donors and acceptors, and inoculating microorganisms with chain elongation functions. While this process may result in the production of by-products and elicit competitive responses, toxicity suppression of microorganisms by substrates and products remains a significant obstacle to the industrialisation of chain elongation technology. This study provides a comprehensive overview of existing research on widely employed electron donors and their synthetic reactions, competitive reactions, inoculum selection, toxicity inhibition of substrates and products, and increased chain elongation approaches. Additionally, it presents actionable recommendations for future research and development endeavours in this domain, intending to inspire and guide researchers in advancing the frontiers of chain elongation technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhao Liu
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, China.
| | - Long Chen
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Yacong Duan
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Ruihua Li
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Ziyan Yang
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Shuli Liu
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, China
| | - Guoting Li
- School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou, 450046, Henan Province, China
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Chen Z, Shi Z, Zhang Y, Shi Y, Sun M, Cui Y, Zhang S, Luo G. Metagenomic analysis towards understanding the effects of ammonia on chain elongation process for medium chain fatty acids production. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 395:130413. [PMID: 38310979 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130413] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
The production of medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) through chain elongation (CE) from organic wastes/wastewater has attracted much attention, while the effects of a common inhibitor-ammonia has not been elucidated. The mechanism of ammonia affecting CE was studied by metagenomic. The lag phase duration of caproate production was increased, and the maximum caproate production rate was decreased by 43.4 % at 4 g-N/L, as compared to 0 g-N/L. And hydrochar (HC) alleviated the inhibition of ammonia at 4 g-N/L. Metagenomic analysis indicated that ammonia induced UBA4085 sp.FDU78 as the dominant microorganism, and metabolic reconstruction revealed its potential CE ability. Furthermore, ammonia inhibited the reverse β oxidation pathway and Acetyl-CoA production pathway. The tolerance of UBA4085 sp.FDU78 to ammonia was associated with the uptake of inorganic ions, energy conservation, and synthesis of osmoprotectants. The present study provided a deep-insight on the ammonia tolerance mechanism on the CE process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhijian Shi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yalei Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yan Shi
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Meichen Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yong Cui
- Shanghai Wujiaochang Environmental Technology Co., Ltd, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Shicheng Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Shanghai Technical Service Platform for Pollution Control and Resource Utilization of Organic Wastes, Shanghai 200438, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Gang Luo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention (LAP(3)), Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Shanghai Technical Service Platform for Pollution Control and Resource Utilization of Organic Wastes, Shanghai 200438, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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4
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Wu SL, Wei W, Ngo HH, Guo W, Wang C, Wang Y, Ni BJ. In-situ production of lactate driving the biotransformation of waste activated sludge to medium-chain fatty acid. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118524. [PMID: 37423191 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) have drawn great attention due to their high energy density and superior hydrophobicity. Waste activated sludge (WAS) has been documented as a renewable feedstock for MCFAs production via anaerobic fermentation. However, MCFAs production from WAS depends on exogenous addition of electron donor (ED, e.g., lactate) for chain elongation (CE) bioprocess, which results in increased economic cost and limited practical application. In this study, a novel biotechnology was proposed to produce MCFAs from WAS with in-situ self-formed lactate by inoculating Yoghurt starter powder containing with Lactobacillales cultures. The batch experimental results revealed that the lactate was in-situ generated from WAS and the maximum production of MCFAs increased from 1.17 to 3.99 g COD/L with the increased addition of Lactobacillales cultures from 6✕107 to 2.3✕108 CFU/mL WAS. In continuous long-term test over 97 days, average MCFA production reached up to 3.94 g COD/L with a caproate yield of 82.74% at sludge retention time (SRT) 12 days, and the average MCFA production increased to 5.87 g COD/L with 69.28% caproate and 25.18% caprylate at SRT 15 days. A comprehensive analysis of the metagenome and metatranscriptome demonstrated that the genus of Lactobacillus and Streptococcus were capable of producing lactate from WAS and upgrading to MCFAs. Moreover, another genus, i.e., Candidatus Promineofilum, was firstly revealed that it might be responsible for lactate and MCFAs production. Further investigation of related microbial pathways and enzyme expression suggested that D-lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate ferredoxin oxidoreductase contributed to lactate and acetyl-CoA production, which were the crucial steps for MCFAs generation and were most actively expressed. This study provides a conceptual framework of MCFAs from WAS with endogenous ED, potentially enhancing the energy recovery from WAS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Lin Wu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Non-ferrous Metal Waste Recycling, Zhejiang Gongshang University, PR China
| | - Wei Wei
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Wenshan Guo
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Chen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, PR China
| | - Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.
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Zhu X, Huang H, He Y, Wang X, Jia J, Feng X, Li D, Li H. A preliminary study on the feasibility of industrialization for n-caproic acid recovery from food wastewater: From lab to pilot. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 366:128154. [PMID: 36270389 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Food wastewater is associated with greenhouse gas emission and has a significant water footprint. Here, the platform chemical n-caproate was recovered from liquor brewing wastewater at maximum and mean concentrations of 26.4 g/L and 17.0 ± 4.3 g/L, respectively, after 377 d operation. Laboratory-scale lactate-driven chain elongation (CE) process was implemented first. Taxonomic composition and metagenomic data analyses revealed that Caproiciproducens (e.g., Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6) and bacteria affiliated with Lachnospiraceae transformed lactate to n-caproate by reverse β-oxidation and/or fatty acid biosynthesis. The lactate-driven CE process was then scaled up from 2.5 L to 500 L and achieved a n-caproate production of 14.5 ± 0.6 g/L within 96 h. n-Caproic acid was extracted at a concentration and purity of 815.9 ± 8.3 g/L and 88.6 ± 8.9 %, respectively. The present study demonstrated a commercially viable strategy for resource recovery and carbon fixation from food waste streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyu Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China.
| | - Huanhuan Huang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China
| | - Yong He
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, PR China
| | - Jia Jia
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China
| | - Xin Feng
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China
| | - Dong Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Environmental and Applied Microbiology, Environmental Microbiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu 610041, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100864, PR China
| | - Haixiang Li
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control Theory and Technology, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, PR China
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Wang YN, Shi H, Wang Q, Wang H, Sun Y, Li W, Bian R. Insights into the landfill leachate properties and bacterial structure succession resulting from the colandfilling of municipal solid waste and incineration bottom ash. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 361:127720. [PMID: 35914673 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Four simulated bioreactors were loaded with only MSW, 5 % BA + MSW, 10 % BA + MSW and 20 % BA + MSW to investigate the leachate property and bacterial community change trends during the colandfilling process. The results showed that with increasing BA addition proportion (5 %∼20 %), the leachate oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was lower, the leachate pH quickly entered the neutral stage, and the chemical oxygen demand (COD), volatile fatty acids (VFA), NH4+-N, Ca2+ and SO42- presented faster downward trends. The leachate SUVA254 and E300/400 confirmed that BA can accelerate the leachate humification process. BA can quickly increase bacterial diversity, and the higher the addition proportion of BA, the more significant the change in microbial community structure during the landfilling process. The leachate pH and COD greatly influenced the bacterial community structure. A low BA proportion can increase metabolism pathway abundance during the initial stage, but a high BA proportion had an inhibitory effect on the metabolism pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Nan Wang
- Qingdao Solid Waste Pollution Control and Resource Engineering Research Center, Qingdao University of Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao, China
| | - Han Shi
- Qingdao Solid Waste Pollution Control and Resource Engineering Research Center, Qingdao University of Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingzhao Wang
- Qingdao Solid Waste Pollution Control and Resource Engineering Research Center, Qingdao University of Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao, China
| | - Huawei Wang
- Qingdao Solid Waste Pollution Control and Resource Engineering Research Center, Qingdao University of Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao, China.
| | - Yingjie Sun
- Qingdao Solid Waste Pollution Control and Resource Engineering Research Center, Qingdao University of Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao, China
| | - Weihua Li
- Qingdao Solid Waste Pollution Control and Resource Engineering Research Center, Qingdao University of Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao, China
| | - Rongxing Bian
- Qingdao Solid Waste Pollution Control and Resource Engineering Research Center, Qingdao University of Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao, China
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Zhang C, Liu Y, Zhang W, Sun L, Baeyens J. Modification of wheat straw to improve the caproate production in a cell immobilized system. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 342:125984. [PMID: 34563819 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wheat straw is a favorable cell carrier in the caproate fermentation system, yet its smooth surface limits the biofilm formation. In this study, the modification of wheat straw was conducted using three different chemical methods and the influence of its modified surface on the caproate fermentation was investigated. Results showed that the sodium hydroxide was the optimum reagent for modification of wheat straw, where both the external and internal surfaces were effectively modified, resulting in 34.4% increased specific surface area. The highest caproate production of 21.1 g/L was obtained in fed-batch fermentation, which was ascribed to the formation of a thick biofilm on the modified carrier. Moreover, the crystallinity index of the carrier increased during the fed-batch fermentation, implying that the modified wheat straw was a stable matrix for cell immobilization. This study provides an effective way for efficient caproate production through modification of wheat straw.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunsheng Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212013, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Wastes Pollution Control and Recycling, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510006, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Biomass Energy and Material, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province 210042, PR China.
| | - Yan Liu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212013, PR China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212013, PR China
| | - Ling Sun
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province 212013, PR China
| | - Jan Baeyens
- KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab., 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
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