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Al-Dhubhani E, Post JW, Duisembiyev M, Tedesco M, Saakes M. Understanding the Impact of the Three-Dimensional Junction Thickness of Electrospun Bipolar Membranes on Electrochemical Performance. ACS Appl Polym Mater 2023; 5:2533-2541. [PMID: 37090423 PMCID: PMC10112390 DOI: 10.1021/acsapm.2c02182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The use of electrospun bipolar membranes (BPMs) with an interfacial three-dimensional (3D) junction of entangled nano-/microfibers has been recently proposed as a promising fabrication strategy to develop high-performance BPMs. In these BPMs, the morphology and physical properties of the 3D junction are of utmost importance to maximize the membrane performance. However, a full understanding of the impact of the junction thickness on the membrane performance is still lacking. In this study, we have developed bipolar membranes with the same composition, only varying the 3D junction thicknesses, by regulating the electrospinning time used to deposit the nano-/microfibers at the junction. In total, four BPMs with 3D junction thicknesses of ∼4, 8, 17, and 35 μm were produced to examine the influence of the junction thickness on the membrane performance. Current-voltage curves for water dissociation of BPMs exhibited lower voltages for BPMs with thicker 3D junctions, as a result of a three-dimensional increase in the interfacial contact area between cation- and anion-exchange fibers and thus a larger water dissociation reaction area. Indeed, increasing the BPM thickness from 4 to 35 μm lowered the BPM water dissociation overpotential by 32%, with a current efficiency toward HCl/NaOH generation higher than 90%. Finally, comparing BPM performance during the water association operation revealed a substantial reduction in the voltage from levels of its supplied open circuit voltage (OCV), owing to excessive hydroxide ion (OH-) and proton (H+) leakage through the relevant layers. Overall, this work provides insights into the role of the junction thickness on electrospun BPM performance as a crucial step toward the development of membranes with optimal entangled junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emad Al-Dhubhani
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
- Membrane
Science and Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Jan W. Post
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Marat Duisembiyev
- L.N.
Gumilyov Eurasian National University, Satpayev str. 2, 010008 Astana, Repulic
of Kazakhstan
| | - Michele Tedesco
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Michel Saakes
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
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Pei R, Estévez-Alonso Á, Ortiz-Seco L, van Loosdrecht MCM, Kleerebezem R, Werker A. Exploring the Limits of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Production by Municipal Activated Sludge. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:11729-11738. [PMID: 35900322 PMCID: PMC9387092 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c03043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Municipal activated sludge can be used for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production, when supplied with volatile fatty acids. In this work, standardized PHA accumulation assays were performed with different activated sludge to determine (1) the maximum biomass PHA content, (2) the degree of enrichment (or volume-to-volume ratio of PHA-accumulating bacteria with respect to the total biomass), and (3) the average PHA content in the PHA-storing biomass fraction. The maximum attained biomass PHA content with different activated sludge ranged from 0.18 to 0.42 gPHA/gVSS, and the degree of enrichment ranged from 0.16 to 0.51 volume/volume. The average PHA content within the PHA-accumulating biomass fraction was relatively constant and independent of activated sludge source, with an average value of 0.58 ± 0.07 gPHA/gVSS. The degree of enrichment for PHA-accumulating bacteria was identified as the key factor to maximize PHA content when municipal activated sludge is directly used for PHA accumulation. Future optimization should focus on obtaining a higher degree of enrichment of PHA-accumulating biomass, either through selection during wastewater treatment or by selective growth during PHA accumulation. A PHA content in the order of 0.6 g PHA/g VSS is a realistic target to be achieved when using municipal activated sludge for PHA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhe Pei
- Department
of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
- Wetsus, European
Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water
Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Ángel Estévez-Alonso
- Department
of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
- Wetsus, European
Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water
Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Ortiz-Seco
- Wetsus, European
Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water
Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht
- Department
of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Robbert Kleerebezem
- Department
of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Alan Werker
- Wetsus, European
Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water
Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
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Macedo G, Olesen AK, Maccario L, Hernandez Leal L, v. d. Maas P, Heederik D, Mevius D, Sørensen SJ, Schmitt H. Horizontal Gene Transfer of an IncP1 Plasmid to Soil Bacterial Community Introduced by Escherichia coli through Manure Amendment in Soil Microcosms. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:11398-11408. [PMID: 35896060 PMCID: PMC9387108 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The quantification and identification of new plasmid-acquiring bacteria in representative mating conditions is critical to characterize the risk of horizontal gene transfer in the environment. This study aimed to quantify conjugation events resulting from manure application to soils and identify the transconjugants resulting from these events. Conjugation was quantified at multiple time points by plating and flow cytometry, and the transconjugants were recovered by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. Overall, transconjugants were only observed within the first 4 days after manure application and at values close to the detection limits of this experimental system (1.00-2.49 log CFU/g of manured soil, ranging between 10-5 and 10-4 transconjugants-to-donor ratios). In the pool of recovered transconjugants, we found amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) of genera whose origin was traced to soils (Bacillus and Nocardioides) and manure (Comamonas and Rahnella). This work showed that gene transfer from fecal to soil bacteria occurred despite the less-than-optimal conditions faced by manure bacteria when transferred to soils, but these events were rare, mainly happened shortly after manure application, and the plasmid did not colonize the soil community. This study provides important information to determine the risks of AMR spread via manure application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo Macedo
- Department
of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Asmus K. Olesen
- Department
of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Lorrie Maccario
- Department
of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Lucia Hernandez Leal
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter v. d. Maas
- Van
Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences, Agora 1, 8901 BV Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Dick Heederik
- Institute
for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dik Mevius
- Department
of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department
of Bacteriology and Epidemiology, Wageningen
Bioveterinary Research, Houtribweg 39, 8221 RA Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Søren J. Sørensen
- Department
of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Heike Schmitt
- Wetsus,
European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, Oostergoweg 9, 8911 MA Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
- Institute
for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Centre
for Infectious Disease Control, National
Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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Pintossi D, Saakes M, Borneman Z, Nijmeijer K. Tailoring the Surface Chemistry of Anion Exchange Membranes with Zwitterions: Toward Antifouling RED Membranes. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2021; 13:18348-18357. [PMID: 33827211 PMCID: PMC8153547 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c02789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fouling is a pressing issue for harvesting salinity gradient energy with reverse electrodialysis (RED). In this work, antifouling membranes were fabricated by surface modification of a commercial anion exchange membrane with zwitterionic layers. Either zwitterionic monomers or zwitterionic brushes were applied on the surface. Zwitterionic monomers were grafted to the surface by deposition of a polydopamine layer followed by an aza-Michael reaction with sulfobetaine. Zwitterionic brushes were grafted on the surface by deposition of polydopamine modified with a surface initiator for subsequent atom transfer radical polymerization to obtain polysulfobetaine. As expected, the zwitterionic layers did increase the membrane hydrophilicity. The antifouling behavior of the membranes in RED was evaluated using artificial river and seawater and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate as the model foulant. The zwitterionic monomers are effective in delaying the fouling onset, but the further build-up of the fouling layer is hardly affected, resulting in similar power density losses as for the unmodified membranes. Membranes modified with zwitterionic brushes show a high potential for application in RED as they not only delay the onset of fouling but they also slow down the growth of the fouling layer, thus retaining higher power density outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Pintossi
- Wetsus,
European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
- Membrane
Materials and Processes, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Michel Saakes
- Wetsus,
European centre of excellence for sustainable water technology, P.O. Box 1113, 8900 CC Leeuwarden, The Netherlands
| | - Zandrie Borneman
- Membrane
Materials and Processes, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Dutch
Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), P.O. Box 6336, 5600 HH Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Kitty Nijmeijer
- Membrane
Materials and Processes, Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology, P.O. Box 513, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Dutch
Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER), P.O. Box 6336, 5600 HH Eindhoven, The Netherlands
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