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Li Y, Zhang HM. Calcined pyrite accelerates sulfur metabolic and electron transfer in driving targeted microbial fuel cell denitrification. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 410:131285. [PMID: 39151569 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131285] [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: 07/16/2024] [Revised: 08/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
The sulfur powder as electron donor in driving dual-chamber microbial fuel cell denitrification (S) process has the advantages in economy and pollution-free to treat nitrate-contained groundwater. However, the low efficiency of electron utilization in sulfur oxidation (ACE) is the bottleneck to this method. In this study, the addition of calcined pyrite to the S system (SCP) accelerated electron generation and intra/extracellular transfer efficiency, thereby improving ACE and denitrification performance. The highest nitrate removal rate reached to 3.55 ± 0.01 mg N/L/h in SCP system, and the ACE was 103 % higher than that in S system. More importantly, calcined pyrite enhanced the enrichment of functional bacteria (Burkholderiales, Thiomonas and Sulfurovum) and functional genes which related to sulfur metabolism and electron transfer. This study was more effective in removing nitrate from groundwater without compromising the water quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education, MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, PR China
| | - Han-Min Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education, MOE), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, No.2 Linggong Road, Dalian 116024, PR China.
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2
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Zhu X, Lin F, Sun J, Li X, Zhu G, Lu Y, Sun L, Wang H. Effects of Weak Electric Fields on the Denitrification Performance of Pseudomonas stutzeri: Insights into Enzymes and Metabolic Pathways. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1218. [PMID: 38930600 PMCID: PMC11205929 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhanced denitrification has been reported under weak electric fields. However, it is difficult to investigate the mechanism of enhanced denitrification due to the complex interspecific interactions of mixed-culture systems. In this study, Pseudomonas stutzeri, capable of denitrification under anaerobic conditions, was selected for treating low COD/N (2.0, ratio between concentration of chemical oxygen demand and NO3--N) artificial wastewater under constant external voltages of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 V. The results revealed that P. stutzeri exhibited the highest efficiency in nitrate reduction at 0.2 V. Moreover, the maximum nitrate removal rate was 15.96 mg/(L·h) among the closed-circuit groups, 19.39% higher than that under the open-circuit group. Additionally, a notable reduction in nitrite accumulation was observed under weak electric fields. Enzyme activity analysis showed that the nitrate reductase activities were significantly increased among the closed-circuit groups, while nitrite reductase activities were inhibited. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and energy metabolism were increased, enhancing the resistance of P. stutzeri to environmental stress and the efficiency of carbon source utilization for denitrification. The current study examined the impacts of weak electric fields on enzyme activities and microbial metabolic pathways and offers valuable insights into the mechanism by which denitrification is enhanced by weak electric fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuyan Zhu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (X.Z.); (F.L.); (J.S.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (L.S.)
| | - Feng Lin
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (X.Z.); (F.L.); (J.S.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (L.S.)
| | - Ji Sun
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (X.Z.); (F.L.); (J.S.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (L.S.)
| | - Xin Li
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (X.Z.); (F.L.); (J.S.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (L.S.)
| | - Guangcan Zhu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (X.Z.); (F.L.); (J.S.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (L.S.)
| | - Yongze Lu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (X.Z.); (F.L.); (J.S.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (L.S.)
| | - Liwei Sun
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (X.Z.); (F.L.); (J.S.); (X.L.); (Y.L.); (L.S.)
| | - Hongyang Wang
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
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Ceballos-Escalera A, Pous N, Balaguer MD, Puig S. Nitrate electro-bioremediation and water disinfection for rural areas. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 352:141370. [PMID: 38316275 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141370] [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: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate-contaminated groundwater is a pressing issue in rural areas, where up to 40 % of the population lacks access to safely managed drinking water services. The high costs and complexity of centralised treatment in these regions exacerbate this problem. To address this challenge, the present study proposes electro-bioremediation as a more accessible decentralised alternative. Specifically, the main focus of this study is developing and evaluating a compact reactor designed to accomplish simultaneous nitrate removal and groundwater disinfection. Significantly, this study has established a new benchmark for nitrate reduction rate within bioelectrochemical reactors, achieving the maximum reported rate of 5.0 ± 0.3 kg NO3- m-3NCC d-1 at an HRTcat of 0.7 h. Furthermore, thein-situ generation of free chlorine was effective for water disinfection, resulting in a residual concentration of up to 4.4 ± 1.1 mg Cl2 L-1 in the effluent at the same HRTcat of 0.7 h. These achievements enabled the treated water to meet the drinking water standards for nitrogen compounds (nitrate, nitrite, and nitrous oxide) as well as pathogens content (T. coliforms, E. coli, and Enterococcus). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of the electro-bioremediation of nitrate-contaminated groundwater as a decentralised water treatment system in rural areas with a competitive operational cost of 1.05 ± 0.16 € m-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba Ceballos-Escalera
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Narcís Pous
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003, Girona, Spain
| | - M Dolors Balaguer
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003, Girona, Spain
| | - Sebastià Puig
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 69, E-17003, Girona, Spain.
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Jiang Y, Dong Y, Sui M, Yu J, Wu J, Fu D. Towards a new understanding of bioelectrochemical systems from the perspective of microecosystems: A critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 908:168410. [PMID: 37939951 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168410] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical system (BES) holds promise for sustainable energy generation and wastewater treatment. The microbial communities, as the core of BES, play a crucial role in its performance, thus needing to be systematically studied. However, researches considering microbial communities in BES from an ecological perspective are limited. This review provided a comprehensive summary of the BES with special emphasis on microecological principles, commencing with the dynamic formation and succession of the microbial communities. It also clarified the intricate interspecies relationships and quorum-sensing mechanisms regulated by dominant species. Furthermore, this review addressed the crucial themes in BES-related researches on ecological processes, including growth patterns, ecological structures, and defense strategies against external disturbances. By offering this novel perspective, it would contribute to enhancing the understanding of BES-centered technologies and facilitating future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiying Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Yue Dong
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Mingrui Sui
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Jimeng Yu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Jiaxin Wu
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Daxuan Fu
- College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
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Fekete-Kertész I, Pous N, Feigl V, Márton R, Berkl Z, Ceballos-Escalera A, Balaguer MD, Puig S, Molnár M. Ecotoxicity characterization assisted performance assessment of electro-bioremediation reactors for nitrate and arsenite elimination. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:250-265. [PMID: 37881108 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
The performance of combined reduction of nitrate (NO3 - ) to dinitrogen gas (N2 ) and oxidation of arsenite (As[III]) to arsenate (As[V]) by a bioelectrochemical system was assessed, supported by ecotoxicity characterization. For the comprehensive toxicity characterization of the untreated model groundwater and the treated reactor effluents, a problem-specific ecotoxicity test battery was established. The performance of the applied technology in terms of toxicity and target pollutant elimination was compared and analyzed. The highest toxicity attenuation was achieved under continuous flow mode with hydraulic retention time (HRT) = 7.5 h, with 95%, nitrate removal rate and complete oxidation of arsenite to arsenate. Daphnia magna proved to be the most sensitive test organism. The results of the D. magna lethality test supported the choice of the ideal operational conditions based on chemical data analysis. The outcomes of the study demonstrated that the applied technology was able to improve the groundwater quality in terms of both chemical and ecotoxicological characteristics. The importance of ecotoxicity evaluation was also highlighted, given that significant target contaminant elimination did not necessarily lower the environmental impact of the initial, untreated medium, in addition, anomalies might occur during the technology operational process which in some instances, could result in elevated toxicity levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildikó Fekete-Kertész
- Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Narcís Pous
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Viktória Feigl
- Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Rita Márton
- Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Berkl
- Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Maria D Balaguer
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Sebastià Puig
- LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Mónika Molnár
- Department of Applied Biotechnology and Food Science, Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
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Ntagia E, Lens P. Pyrite-based denitrification combined with electrochemical disinfection to remove nitrate and microbial contamination from groundwater. NPJ CLEAN WATER 2023; 6:59. [PMID: 38665805 PMCID: PMC11041687 DOI: 10.1038/s41545-023-00269-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Nitrate and microbial contamination of groundwater can occur in countries that face intense urbanization and inadequate sanitation. When groundwater is the main drinking water source, as is often the case in such countries, the need to remove these contaminants becomes acute. The combination of two technologies is proposed here, a biological step to denitrify and an electrochemical step to disinfect the groundwater, thereby aiming to reduce the chemical input and the footprint of groundwater treatment. As such, a pyrite-based fluidized bed reactor (P-FBR) was constructed to autotrophically denitrify polluted groundwater. The P-FBR effluent was disinfected in an electrochemical cell with electrogenerated Cl2. Nitrate was removed with 79% efficiency from an initial 178 mg NO3- L-1 at an average denitrification rate of 171 mg NO3- L-1 d-1, with 18 h hydraulic retention time (HRT). The electrochemical unit achieved a 3.8-log reduction in total coliforms with a 41.7 A h m-3 charge density.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleftheria Ntagia
- National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
| | - Piet Lens
- National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland
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Feng H, Yang W, Zhang Y, Ding Y, Chen L, Kang Y, Huang H, Chen R. Electroactive microorganism-assisted remediation of groundwater contamination: Advances and challenges. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 377:128916. [PMID: 36940880 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater contamination has become increasingly prominent, therefore, the development of efficient remediation technology is crucial for improving groundwater quality. Bioremediation is cost-effective and environmentally friendly, while coexisting pollutant stress can affect microbial processes, and the heterogeneous character of groundwater medium can induce bioavailability limitations and electron donor/acceptor imbalances. Electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) are advantageous in contaminated groundwater because of their unique bidirectional electron transfer mechanism, which allows them to use solid electrodes as electron donors/acceptors. However, the relatively low-conductivity groundwater environment is unfavorable for electron transfer, which becomes a bottleneck problem that limits the remediation efficiency of EAMs. Therefore, this study reviews the recent advances and challenges of EAMs applied in the groundwater environment with complex coexisting ions, heterogeneity, and low conductivity and proposes corresponding future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajun Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China; College of Environment and Resources, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wanyue Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Yangcheng Ding
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Long Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Kang
- Zhejiang Ecological Environmental Monitoring Center, 117 Xueyuan Road, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huan Huang
- Zhejiang Ecological Environmental Monitoring Center, 117 Xueyuan Road, Hangzhou 310012, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruya Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China.
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Rogińska J, Philippon T, Hoareau M, P. A. Jorand F, Barrière F, Etienne M. Challenges and Applications of Nitrate-Reducing Microbial Biocathodes. Bioelectrochemistry 2023; 152:108436. [PMID: 37099858 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems which employ microbes as electrode catalysts to convert chemical energy into electrical energy (or conversely), have emerged in recent years for water sanitation and energy recovery. Microbial biocathodes, and especially those reducing nitrate are gaining more and more attention. The nitrate-reducing biocathodes can efficiently treat nitrate-polluted wastewater. However, they require specific conditions and they have not yet been applied on a large scale. In this review, the current knowledge on nitrate-reducing biocathodes will be summarized. The fundamentals of microbial biocathodes will be discussed, as well as the progress towards applications for nitrate reduction in the context of water treatment. Nitrate-reducing biocathodes will be compared with other nitrate-removal techniques and the challenges and opportunities of this approach will be identified.
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Liu H, Qin S, Li A, Wen J, Lichtfouse E, Zhao H, Zhang X. Bioelectrochemical systems for enhanced nitrogen removal with minimal greenhouse gas emission from carbon-deficient wastewater: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 859:160183. [PMID: 36384176 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160183] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen pollution and the rising amount of wastewater generation are calling for advanced wastewater treatments, which is particularly necessary for carbon-deficient wastewater that contains multi-species inorganic nitrogen, since conventional heterotrophic denitrification processes cannot remove nitrogen completely when carbon sources are insufficient. For that, bioelectrochemical systems (BES) have been recently developed because they can simultaneously produce electricity and remove resistant nitrogen from the carbon-deficient wastewater. However, the simultaneous removal of multi-species inorganic nitrogen cannot be achieved by electroautotrophic denitrification using BES alone. Moreover, the efficiency of nitrogen removal and power generation has been thwarted by the low energy output, high internal resistance of the device, and electron competition in non-denitrification pathways. This review article discusses the latest developments for nitrogen removal through BES-enhanced denitrification and elucidates multiple coupled BES-based denitrification pathways to remove multi-species inorganic nitrogen simultaneously. Focus points of the research area include coupling BES technologies with emerged methods, electron transfer enhancement, and avoiding electron competition that improves performance with less cost. The prospect of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases is also critically reviewed, in the hope of reducing potential intermediate products of denitrification, such as nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas), through multi-factor regulation. We imply that BES is a good choice for future scale-up applications of MFC coupled with MEC to treat carbon-deficient wastewater. Overall, this review will provide useful information for the development of advanced technologies to treat carbon-deficient wastewater with less emission of greenhouse gases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Liu
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, 200093 Shanghai, China.
| | - Song Qin
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, 200093 Shanghai, China
| | - Anze Li
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, 200093 Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Wen
- School of Environment and Architecture, University of Shanghai for Science and Technology, 516 Jungong Road, 200093 Shanghai, China
| | - Eric Lichtfouse
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, IRD, INRA, Coll France, CEREGE, 13100 Aix en Provence, France.
| | - Heping Zhao
- College of Environmental and Resources Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhang Tang Road, 310058 Hangzhou, China.
| | - Xianzhong Zhang
- Shanghai Urban Construction Design & Research Institute [Group] Co., Ltd., 3447 Dongfang Road, 200125 Shanghai, China
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