Environmental Technology & Innovation最新文献

{"title":"Sustainable cathode design for electrochemical hydrogen peroxide generation using waste-derived carbon from invasive biomass","authors":"Álvaro Ramírez,&nbsp;Lucía López-Rivilla,&nbsp;Martin Muñoz-Morales,&nbsp;Ester López-Fernández,&nbsp;Javier Llanos","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104358","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104358","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, carbonaceous materials were synthesized from <em>Phragmites australis</em>, an invasive reed species, through hydrothermal carbonization and NaOH chemical activation, and evaluated as electrocatalysts for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production. The electrochemical generation of H₂O₂ via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e-ORR) is gaining increasing interest as a green and decentralized approach for advanced water treatment. The impact of catalyst and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) loadings on electrode performance was systematically evaluated, identifying an optimal 1:50 catalyst/PTFE ratio that achieved 438.2 mg L⁻¹ of H₂O₂ with a Faradaic efficiency of 70 %, a power consumption of 4.46 kWh kg⁻¹, and production yield of 2.43 mg h⁻¹cm^-² after 120 min (-0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl). Morphological analyses confirmed that the optimal ratio achieved the desired hydrophobicity (contact angle greater than 120º) and uniform material distribution, which facilitated efficient mass transport at the three-phase boundary. These results improve upon those previously obtained for the same waste biomass activated with KOH and pyrolysis, both in terms of H₂O₂ accumulation and FE. Furthermore, they demonstrated the high transformation potential of this invasive plant biomass compared to other studies on biomass-derived carbon materials, offering a sustainable route for future environmental technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104358"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588452","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short-term hydrothermal fermentation amendments enhance labile organic carbon in deep soil: Synergistic effects of organic carbon, enzymes, and microbes","authors":"Jiaqi Hou ,&nbsp;Chengze Yu ,&nbsp;Meiying Ye ,&nbsp;Zhiying Guo ,&nbsp;Yanjun Xin ,&nbsp;Fanhua Meng ,&nbsp;Wenbing Tan ,&nbsp;Beidou Xi ,&nbsp;Mingxiao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104348","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104348","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organic conditioners, like food waste derived from short-time hydrothermal fermentation (SHF), enhance soil fertility by providing accessible organic carbon for microbial growth. However, the effects of SHF on labile organic carbon (LOC) in deep soils and its linkage with microbial indicators remain poorly understood. This study examined how SHF affects bacterial community structure, enzyme activities, and active carbon in various soil layers. After a three-year field application, SHF significantly increased dissolved organic carbon (DOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and LOC, especially a 244.4 % LOC increase in the 30–40 cm layer. SHF also significantly boosted α-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, and urease activities in the plow layer. Indicator species such as <em>Ktedonobacter</em> and <em>Sphaerobacter</em>, which aid in cellulose degradation and nitrogen fixation, thrived with SHF. Compared to chemical fertilizer, SHF enhanced microbial function and deep-soil fertility. Adding phosphorus and nitrogen or enhancing microbial biomass carbon and LOC could further boost these beneficial species and soil nutrients. Accordingly, SHF shows great potential as a sustainable soil conditioner for deep-rooted crops, facilitating the dual benefits of effective food waste recycling and enhanced soil quality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104348"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144588453","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthetic biology-assisted fungus-assembling beads for regulating rhizosphere microbiome and improving plant growth in saline soil","authors":"Yuxin Ji ,&nbsp;Shuo Liu ,&nbsp;Zirun Zhao ,&nbsp;Fancheng Gu ,&nbsp;Fang Wang ,&nbsp;Mingchun Li ,&nbsp;Qilin Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104343","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104343","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil salinization seriously reduces crop yields and threatens food security. Microbial inoculants have a wide prospect in the improvement of saline soil quality, while their soil colonization is frequently compromised. We previously isolated <em>Trichoderma atroviride</em> 1607 from the moss <em>Brachythecium piligerum</em> capable of reducing environmental salinity, while its efficiency in crop rhizosphere colonization was quite low. To improve its activity in enhancing crop salt tolerance, we introduced the synthetic <em>Escherichia coli</em> strain EcCMC, which exposed artificial glucan-binding protein to provide physical contacts between the fungal hyphae. During the co-incubation of EcCMC, 1607 and the solid substance perlite, the fungus exhibited dense hyphae both on the surface and within the pores of perlite, forming the well-developed fungus-assembling beads 1607Ec. In both the pot and field experiments of cabbage cultivation, the 1607Ec beads reduced the soil salinity obviously, improved the levels of soil enzyme activity levels and organic matter content, together with the leaf chlorophyll contents and plant weights. Rhizosphere microbiome analysis further revealed that the 1607Ec beads increased the relative abundance of <em>Hypocreaceae</em>, particularly the genus <em>Trichoderma</em>. Moreover, 1607Ec increased the Simpson index of the rhizosphere bacterial compositions. The bacteria involved in polysaccharide production, e.g., <em>Sphingomonadaceae</em>, <em>Flavobacteriaceae,</em> and <em>Xanthomonadaceae</em>, exhibited the increased abundance in the 1607Ec group. Similarly, 1607Ec showed the growth-promoting effect on the <em>Poaceae</em> crops in saline soil. This study provides a synthetic biology-based strategy to facilitate the rhizosphere colonization of functional fungi for regulating rhizosphere microbiome and enhancing plant tolerance against saline stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104343"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sandwich-structured electric polarization device with molecularly imprinted fibrous mat for carbon dioxide adsorption and desorption with frequency","authors":"Chih-Wei Chen ,&nbsp;Muhammad Iqbal ,&nbsp;Chi-Jung Chang ,&nbsp;Chien-Hsing Lu ,&nbsp;Jem-Kun Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104356","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104356","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Highly selective molecularly imprinted poly(N,N-dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) (MIPs) for CO₂ capture were coated on Nylon-6 fibrous membrane (Nfm) to form a core/shell structured Nfm/MIP, creating CO₂-philic, tertiary amide-decorated cavities on the membranes led to a high affinity to CO₂. Electric polarization (EP) induces the separation of positive charge and negative charges in the MIP layers. The Nfm/MIP was placed in between two steel meshes to create an alternating electric field during the CO₂ dynamic adsorption. In the absence of EP, the maximum adsorption capacity of CO₂ on the Nfm/MIP was 1.37 mmol/g at room temperature, while the maximum adsorption capacity reached to 1.97 mmol/g in the presence of EP at 450 kHz and 26 V. The maximum adsorption capacity reduced from 1.97 mmol/g to 0.28 mmol/g by switching frequency from 450 to 1000 kHz. The Nfm containing MIP layer is reused up to 15 times under polarization switching frequencies between 450 and 1000 kHz. As a result, frequency of EP can manipulate the adsorption behavior of CO₂, enabling the improvement of CO₂ adsorption and the reuse of Nfm/MIP. This proposed platform introduces a novel methodology utilizing EP with Nfm/MIP for development of high-speed CO₂ capture and release techniques.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104356"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-term nitrogen addition changes phosphorus availability and reshapes phosphate-solubilizing bacterial community in purple soil of southwest China","authors":"Liuyan Zhou ,&nbsp;Jianguo Jiang ,&nbsp;Jun Xie ,&nbsp;Yuanxue Chen ,&nbsp;Huarong Guo ,&nbsp;Wencai Dai ,&nbsp;Rong Huang ,&nbsp;Zifang Wang ,&nbsp;Ming Gao","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104353","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104353","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microorganisms play central roles in regulating soil phosphorus (P) cycling and availability retention. However, how long-term nitrogen (N) fertiliser application in intensively managed croplands affects soil microbial P metabolism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of different N applications on availability P, phosphatase activity, P functional genes, and microbes that participate in organic P mineralisation and inorganic P dissolution in a continuously managed (6 years) maize fields. The results showed that as the rates of N fertiliser increased, soil pH decreased, whereas AP content increased first before decreasing (N180 highest). A similar trend was found in the activities of alkaline and acid phosphatase. Furthermore, an increase in the N fertiliser application rate enhanced the abundance of <em>phoX</em>, <em>pqqC</em>, and <em>gcd</em> genes but decreased that of <em>phoD</em> and <em>phoA</em> genes. Structural equation modelling and random forest analysis revealed that total N and pH were the most important predictors of <em>phoD</em>- and <em>pqqC</em>-harbouring microbial composition, respectively. N180 and N270 treatments harboured higher modularity, nodes, links, and proportion of positive linkages in the <em>phoD</em>- and <em>pqqC</em>-harbouring microbial co-occurrence networks. Overall, different N applications reshaped the <em>phoD</em>- and <em>pqqC</em>-harbouring communities through direct or indirect effects, making it more flexible and efficient in improving the P-utilisation rate. These results have implications for sustainable agricultural management and will be helpful for deepening our understanding of soil microbial interaction and P activation mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104353"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydrothermal carbonization of fish sludge: Effect of FeCl3 on the hydrochar properties and phosphorus and heavy metal transformation","authors":"Qingru Lin ,&nbsp;Xing Yang ,&nbsp;Wenchao Ma ,&nbsp;Aqib Zahoor ,&nbsp;Fangming Jin ,&nbsp;Xingcai Chen ,&nbsp;Lingyu Tai ,&nbsp;Benedetta de Caprariis ,&nbsp;Paolo De Filippis ,&nbsp;Martina Damizia","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104355","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104355","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recycling phosphorus (P) from P-enriched wastes is of great significance in addressing the global phosphorus resource crisis. However, very few studies have explored the phosphorus recovery potential of fish sludge (FS), a sediment from aquaculture systems. In this study, a distinct FS valorization method was proposed using hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) with the FeCl₃ as an additive, which shows significant effect on the formation of slow-release Fe-bound P and inhibits heavy metal pollution risks in the hydrochar (HC) product. The mechanisms of P and heavy metal transformation, as well as the evolution of HC properties, were comprehensively studied. Key reactions include the dissolution of Ca-bound P and CaCO₃, and the re-precipitation of free PO₄^3- with Ca²⁺ and Fe³⁺. Optimal results were achieved with 0.3 M FeCl₃ solution, showing the highest Fe-bound P proportion of 40.58 % and an HC surface area of 17.76 m²/g. The addition of FeCl₃ as a Lewis acid promoted organic matter degradation and aromatic condensation, consequently increasing the porosity and stability of the HC. While HTC treatment increased the total heavy metal in the HC product, it reduced their DTPA-extractable fractions. FeCl₃ facilitated the transfer of heavy metals from the solid product into the liquid phase, with the final HC product meeting organic fertilizer standards for Cd (2.01 mg/kg), Pb (37.78 mg/kg), Zn (304.89 mg/kg), and As (4.59 mg/kg). These findings demonstrated that HTC assisted by FeCl₃ is a sustainable strategy for the resource recovery and utilization of FS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104355"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144557521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Utilizing floating treatment wetlands for canal remediation: A case study from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam","authors":"Thi-Kim-Quyen Vo ,&nbsp;Pham-Yen-Nhi Tran ,&nbsp;Thi-Viet-Huong Dao ,&nbsp;Cong-Sac Tran ,&nbsp;Chi-Tuan Mai ,&nbsp;Mai-Nhu Hoang ,&nbsp;Nhu-Nguyet Phan ,&nbsp;Thi-Dieu-Hien Vo ,&nbsp;Piet N.L. Lens ,&nbsp;Xuan-Thanh Bui","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104354","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104354","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The floating treatment wetland (FTW) technology has significant potential for treating canal water. Most studied systems are lab-scale, so it is difficult to evaluate the feasibility of applying FTW systems to real canals or other water bodies. In this study, three FTWs with different configurations including FTW–advanced (with buoyant frames made by bamboo stems and planted on plastic rack units), FTW–PVC (with buoyant frames made by polyvinylchloride pipes and planted on plastic nets), and FTW–bamboo (with buoyant frames made by bamboo stems and planted on plastic nets) were installed in a canal with hydrodynamic flow (Hang Bang–A) and in a static canal (Hang Bang–B). The results indicated that FTW systems achieved a better performance in the Hang Bang–B canal with removal efficiencies of 23 % of organic matter, and 34 % of total nitrogen, compared to 19 % of organic matter, and 17 % of total nitrogen in the Hang Bang–A canal. The <em>Escherichia coli</em> concentration measured in Hang Bang–A canal was 4.6 – 4.9 log CFU 100 mL⁻¹ and around 4.3 log CFU 100 mL⁻¹ in Hang Bang–B canal. The failure to reduce <em>E. coli</em> concentrations during operation demonstrates that the FTW system has a limitation in treating pathogens. Additionally, the FTWs contribute to urban green space and the biodiversity of regional ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104354"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Co-application of organic amendment and plastic-degrading microbial inoculum drives functional microbial shifts in plastic-contaminated soils","authors":"Victor Carpena-Istan ,&nbsp;Macarena M. Jurado ,&nbsp;Simona Di Gregorio ,&nbsp;Jesus Salinas ,&nbsp;Maria R. Martinez-Gallardo ,&nbsp;Ana J. Toribio ,&nbsp;Maria J. Estrella-Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Juan A. Lopez-Gonzalez ,&nbsp;Francisca Suarez-Estrella ,&nbsp;Jose Saez ,&nbsp;Raul Moral ,&nbsp;Maria J. Lopez","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104352","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104352","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Plastic contamination in soil poses a significant threat to ecosystem health, disrupting soil properties and compromising agricultural sustainability. This study explores a novel bioremediation strategy for plastic-contaminated soil, utilizing a carrier to inoculate a specialized plastic-degrading microbial consortium. Mesocosm experiments were conducted in 4 L containers with 2.8 kg soils amended with three types of plastics—low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), and naturally weathered mulching film, at a concentration of 0.036 % (w/w)—under both inoculated and non-inoculated conditions. The microbial consortium, comprised of <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> RBM2 and <em>Pseudomonas putida</em> REBP7, was delivered via an organic-mineral blend of vermicompost, biochar (pH 8.50), and urea, aiming to promote its stable incorporation and persistence in the soil (15 % moisture). Viable cell counts using selective culture media and qPCR-based quantification confirmed that inoculated strains not only persisted but also, in some cases, thrived in the presence of plastic contaminants. Metabarcoding analysis of the soil microbiome revealed shifts in community composition and diversity, with specific enrichment of genera associated with plastic degradation. Furthermore, the upregulation of key enzymatic activities related to alkane degradation—such as alkane 1-monooxygenase—highlighted the functional activation of xenobiotic degradation pathways in response to both the inoculum and plastic exposure. Overall, the results demonstrate that the integration of a plastic-degrading microbial consortium via organic amendment can mitigate the adverse impacts of plastic pollution by restoring soil microbial functions and enhancing biodegradation potential. This sustainable approach offers a promising tool for managing plastic contamination in agricultural soils while supporting circular economy principles and long-term soil health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104352"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioprocess development for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) using the invasive macroalgae Rugulopteryx okamurae","authors":"Cristina Agabo-García ,&nbsp;Mirva Sarafidou ,&nbsp;Olga Psaki ,&nbsp;Chrysanthi Argeiti ,&nbsp;Ana Blandino ,&nbsp;Carlos Álvarez-Gallego ,&nbsp;Luis Isidoro Romero-García ,&nbsp;Apostolis Koutinas","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104342","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104342","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The brown macroalga <em>Rugulopteryx okamurae</em> was used to produce a sugar-rich hydrolysate, which served as a carbon source in <em>Paraburkholderia sacchari</em> DSM 17165 cultures for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). Biological pretreatment of <em>R. okamurae</em> using the fungal strains <em>Aspergillus awamori</em> and <em>Aspergillus oryzae</em> in solid-state fermentation (SSF) was employed to produce alginate lyase (24 IU/g_biomass) and protease (20 IU/g_biomass). The fermented solids were used for enzymatic hydrolysis in combination with a commercial cocktail of enzymes containing cellulase and hemicellulase. SSF of the macroalgae for 72 h by <em>A. oryzae</em>, followed by enzymatic saccharification for 48 h, resulted in a total reducing sugars (TRS) concentration of around 120 mg_TRS/g_biomass. Conducting a bioreactor batch fermentation on macroalgae-derived hydrolysate for PHB production by <em>P. sacchari</em>, consuming 51 g/L of glucose, resulted in 43.3 g/L of dry cell weight with 28.4 % PHB content (12.3 g/L PHB). This study demonstrated the feasibility of exploiting macroalgae as a feedstock for PHB production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104342"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571500","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Proof of concept: Recovery of high-purity volatile fatty acids by membrane system from source-separated waste streams","authors":"Isaac Owusu-Agyeman ,&nbsp;Martina Fridl ,&nbsp;Anna Köttö ,&nbsp;Frederico Marques Penha ,&nbsp;Zeynep Cetecioglu","doi":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104350","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.eti.2025.104350","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are platform chemicals with a higher value with wide applications. The feasibility of producing high-purity VFAs from source-separated wastewater using mixed-culture fermentation and membrane techniques was investigated. Batch studies were conducted for VFA production from blackwater and food waste under acidic and alkaline conditions. The VFA production from blackwater was higher at initial pH 9 with yield of up to 0.82 ± 0.03 gCOD/gCOD_fed due to higher buffer capacity, homogeneity, and biodegradability. The highest VFA yield from food waste was 0.36 ± 0.02 gCOD/gCOD_fed at initial pH 5. VFAs from the blackwater were dominated by acetic acid (up to 93 %), regardless of pH VFAs from the food waste were dominated by butyric acid (up to 76 %) and propionic acid (up to 52 %) at pH 5 and 9, respectively. Both the substrate types and pH influenced the microbial communities of the fermentation reactors. <em>Bacteroides</em> (up to 40 %) and <em>Atopostipes</em> (up to 51 %) were dominant genii for blackwater at initial pH 5 and 9, while <em>Clostridium_sensu_stricto</em> clusters (up to 58 %) and <em>Romboutsia</em> (up to 37 %) dominated food waste fermentation microbial communities at pH 5 and 9, respectively. VFAs were separated and purified with nanofiltration (NF) and reverse osmosis (RO). NF produced high-purity, but low-concentration permeate (900 −1500 mgCOD/L) at 50 % permeate recovery (with up to 42 % of acetic acid permeating the NF membrane). A higher concentration of pure VFAs (3x higher) was achieved with a subsequent step of RO. The study highlights the feasibility of the recovery of functional chemicals from waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":11725,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Technology & Innovation","volume":"40 ","pages":"Article 104350"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2025-07-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144571442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}