Hye-Bin Kim , Muhammad Fahad Ehsan , Akram N. Alshawabkeh , Jong-Gook Kim
{"title":"Electrochemical activation of alum sludge for the adsorption of lead (Pb(II)) and arsenic (As): Mechanistic insights and machine learning (ML) analysis","authors":"Hye-Bin Kim , Muhammad Fahad Ehsan , Akram N. Alshawabkeh , Jong-Gook Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Alum sludge (AlS) has emerged as an effective adsorbent for anionic contaminants, with traditional activation methods like acid/base treatments and calcination employed to enhance its adsorption capacity. However, these approaches encounter significant drawbacks, including excessive waste generation, structural degradation, and limited efficacy for cationic contaminants. To overcome these challenges, this study proposes electrochemical activation as a sustainable method to enhance alum sludge adsorption performance by generating oxygen-containing functional groups (O-FGs) on its surface. In particular, cathodic activated AlS (E-AlS) leads to the formation of hydroxyl (–OH) and carboxyl (–COOH) groups, which served as key active sites for Pb(II) adsorption through complexation mechanisms. E-AlS effectively removed both Pb(II) and As within 4 h, showcasing its dual functionality for cationic and anionic contaminants. While HCl- and KOH-activated AlS also achieved 100 % Pb(II) removal, they caused substantial aluminum (Al) leaching, exceeding 1,000 mg/L, due to structural instability. In contrast, E-AlS minimized Al leaching, preserved structural integrity, and exhibited a 6.5-fold higher Pb(II) adsorption capacity than raw AlS. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and machine learning (ML) validated the enhanced adsorption performance of E-AlS. These findings highlight electrochemical activation as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly remediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132563"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143860373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Carbon distribution and metabolism mechanism of a novel mixotrophic Chlorella in municipal wastewater","authors":"Xiaoyan Wang , Yu Hong , Yuewen Zhang , Dezhi Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132562","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132562","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Conventional wastewater treatment technologies primarily convert complex organic matter into dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and a more difficult gaseous state CO<sub>2</sub>. Most microalgae species can photosynthetically assimilate above inorganic carbon, but their heterotrophic metabolic processes often dominate in glucose-mediated mixotrophy. Herein, we investigated the carbon-fixing metabolic pathways of <em>Chlorella</em> sp. MIHQ61 in municipal wastewater containing complex carbon sources. The total carbon removal (73.0 %) peaked on the 6th day, and DIC removal exceeded 50.0 % as the carbon migrating amount from municipal wastewater into the microalgal cells peaked. The glucose and NaHCO<sub>3</sub> combination promoted both autotrophic and heterotrophic metabolism. Headspace CO<sub>2</sub> emission, enzyme activity and central carbon metabolism results implied heterotrophic metabolism occurred more actively in the early stage and autotrophic metabolism dominated late stage. Redefined mixotrophic carbon allocation by revealing time-dependent autotrophic/heterotrophic interplay. Carbon distribution and mixotrophic mechanism provided new thinking on how to utilize microalgae and wastewater resource.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132562"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855135","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Qingyi He , Xueshi Zhang , Hui Xu , Xinyi Wang , Xianru Zhang , Yingshu Hao , Xinshan Song , Xin Cao
{"title":"Cultivation of high-protein Euglena gracilis for enhanced protein production under inorganic nitrogen sources: mechanisms revealed by proteomics","authors":"Qingyi He , Xueshi Zhang , Hui Xu , Xinyi Wang , Xianru Zhang , Yingshu Hao , Xinshan Song , Xin Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132560","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Amid global food shortage, alternative cost-effective protein sources are urgently needed for aquaculture and animal feed. Without a rigid cell wall, <em>Euglena gracilis</em> provides extractable, digestible proteins, and its high productivity makes it an ideal feed source. This study investigates the effects of different inorganic nitrogen sources on the biomass and biochemical composition of <em>E. gracilis</em>, and discusses the mechanisms of its nutrient transformation via proteomics. Results show ammonium nitrogen optimizes growth and protein accumulation by serving as an energy-efficient precursor for biomolecule synthesis compared to nitrate. Additionally, sulfate supplies sulfur for amino acid synthesis, and ammonium sulfate further enhances protein production. Under high-protein conditions, lipids and pigments increase while paramylon decreases significantly, underscoring nitrogen’s role in carbon allocation and energy metabolism. This study establishes a metabolic framework for nitrogen-sulfur coordinated regulation of protein synthesis in <em>E. gracilis</em>, paving the way for its industrial application as a next-generation protein resource<em>.</em></div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132560"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143851417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Rong Huang , Hui Xu , Ezequiel Santillan , Di Jin , Zhenju Sun , David C. Stuckey , Yan Zhou , Stefan Wuertz , Shunzhi Qian
{"title":"Predicting single-cell protein production from food-processing wastewater in sequencing batch reactors using ensemble learning","authors":"Rong Huang , Hui Xu , Ezequiel Santillan , Di Jin , Zhenju Sun , David C. Stuckey , Yan Zhou , Stefan Wuertz , Shunzhi Qian","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132561","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132561","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Producing single-cell protein (SCP) from food-processing wastewater offers a sustainable approach to resource recovery, animal feed production, and wastewater treatment. Decision-makers need accurate system performance data under variable influent conditions to select operational parameters for efficiency. However, predicting system performance under variable conditions is challenging due to the complexity of unsteady-state bioreactions. This study trained and tested ensemble learning algorithms, including the ensemble of Support Vector Regression, the ensemble of Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), Random Forest, and Extreme Gradient Boosting, to predict outcomes in a continuous-inflow, sequencing-batch-reactor-based SCP system using industrial soybean-processing wastewater. Interpretable analysis and trials validate feature significance for model optimization. Results show that ensemble-learning models, particularly GPR-based ones, outperform linear regression in predicting key effluent and biomass variables essential for operational decision-making. Notably, GPR-based ensembles with influential features predict biomass production (coefficient of determination (R<sup>2</sup>) = 0.72) against overfitting much better than linear regression (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.4).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132561"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143877299","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Yifan Zhang, Qingkun Wang, Matthew J. Rogers, Jianzhong He
{"title":"Autotrophic denitrification under anoxic conditions by newly discovered mixotrophic sulfide-oxidizing bacterium","authors":"Yifan Zhang, Qingkun Wang, Matthew J. Rogers, Jianzhong He","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Autotrophic denitrification (AutoDN) using sulfur represents a promising strategy for treating wastewater characterized by low carbon-to-nitrogen ratios (C/N). However, its widespread application is constrained by operational instability and the excessive sulfate accumulation. This study reports the isolation of <em>Thauera</em> sp. AutoDN2, a novel autotrophic denitrifier coupling nitrate reduction with sulfide oxidation while minizing sulfate production. AutoDN2 achieved nitrate removal of 99 ± 1 % at a sulfide-to-nitrogen ratio (S/N) of 4.8, primarily reducing nitrate to nitrite – a substrate for anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), with minimal further reduction observed at S/N ratios ≥ 6.4. Unlike conventional sulfide-driven autotrophic denitrifiers, AutoDN2 predominantly generated elemental sulfur rather than sulfate, thereby mitigating secondary pollution. It also exhibited mixotrophic denitrification, indicating metabolic adaptability across a wide range of C/N ratios (0.3–5.0). These findings highlight AutoDN2′s capability for sustainable treatment of organic-deficient, nitrate-rich wastewater, contributing to an integrated carbon–nitrogen-sulfur (C<img>N<img>S) cycle with reduced sulfate release.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132553"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143878561","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Structure-activity relationship of self-immobilized mycelial pellets and their functions in wastewater treatment","authors":"Li Wang , Yuqing Cao , Jiayu Wei , Shanshan Bai","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132558","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132558","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mycelial pellets (MPs) represent an emerging class of eco-friendly, self-immobilized bioactive materials characterized by high biological activity, superior porous structure, and unique biocompatibility. Based on structure–activity relationships, this paper reviews MPs' applications, mechanisms, and advantages in wastewater treatment, while updating fundamental theories on their production optimization, structure characteristics, and surface properties. Emphasis is placed on MPs' three principal functions in remediating pollution: biodegradation via high biological activity, adsorption through porous aggregated structure and superior surface features, and bio-carrier role based on the three-dimensional carbonaceous skeleton. Furthermore, the multifunctionality of MPs improves sludge settleability and dewaterability, as well as enhances aerobic granular sludge granulation and structural stability. Future research priorities include scalable low-cost production, mechanical reinforcement strategies, development of engineered strains and composites, and safe disposal of pollutant-laden MPs. This work provides valuable insights into the use of MPs in wastewater treatment and identifies critical directions for advancing MPs technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132558"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Qiangqiang Xia , Lisha Shi , Ding Ma , Wenjing Xia , Tao Xu
{"title":"Microorganism interaction in microbial community, metabolic behavior and biodegradation effect on bitumen","authors":"Qiangqiang Xia , Lisha Shi , Ding Ma , Wenjing Xia , Tao Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132555","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132555","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To understand microorganism interaction among different microbial species in a microbial community, metabolic behavior and biodegradation effect on bitumen, <em>Pseudomonas putida</em>, <em>Sphingomonas polyaromaticivorans</em>, <em>Bacillus cereus</em>, <em>Pseudomonas fluorescens</em>, and <em>Bacillus subtilis</em> were compounded. The interactions among microorganisms, their metabolic products and pathways, as well as the changes in chemical component, microscopic morphology, elemental content, microstructure and micromechanical properties during bituminous biodegradation were investigated. Results show that different microorganisms achieve mutual synergy through the division of substrate and complementary metabolic functions, promoting the degradation of bitumen and generating many alcohols, phenols, carboxylic acids, fatty acids, etc. This process causes the changes in chemical components and elemental contents of bitumen, as well as a reduction in bituminous adhesion and an increase in modulus, which lowers bituminous service performance. This study provides new insights into bituminous biodegradation, and offers theoretical basis for further prolonging the service life of bituminous pavement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132555"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143860374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Siyuan Long , Pengxin Yu , Jianrong Huang , Conghao Ku , Xinge Miao , Junjie Lan , Hao Fu , Chunbao Charles Xu , Haiwei Jiang , Zhengli Liu , Weiran Yang
{"title":"Sequential hydrothermal liquefaction of lignocellulose-rich livestock manure: A new perspective on enhancing the production and quality of low-phenolic biocrude","authors":"Siyuan Long , Pengxin Yu , Jianrong Huang , Conghao Ku , Xinge Miao , Junjie Lan , Hao Fu , Chunbao Charles Xu , Haiwei Jiang , Zhengli Liu , Weiran Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132556","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132556","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The treatment and valorization of bulk livestock manure rich in lignocellulose demand efficient processing techniques. Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) has emerged as a promising approach for waste-to-energy conversion, effectively transforming lignocellulosic biomass into renewable biocrude. However, the advances in the utilization of HTL-derived biocrude have been hindered by its poor oil quality due to several factors including high phenolic compound content. This study focuses on enhancing the production and quality of low-phenolic biocrude via a sequential HTL process. The results revealed that sequential HTL achieved a high biocrude yield of 59.9%, with a concurrent reduction in phenolic content to 4.2%. This represents an 84.2% decrease in phenolic content compared to biocrude derived from direct HTL (280 ℃), achieving a tradeoff between biocrude yield and quality. Notably, GC–MS revealed that the biocrude produced through sequential HTL was enriched with fatty acids and esters accounting for 80.5%, contributing to the production of hydrocarbon fuels. Additionally, FT-ICR MS revealed that sequential HTL enhanced the biocrude quality and encouraged the production of light fuels. The petroleum fractionation analysis further revealed that sequential HTL-derived biocrude was more desirable in the downstream petroleum refining industry. The model compounds experiments revealed that phenols were likely to to be transferred to the oil phase at relatively high temperatures. Overall, it is the first study to elucidate the phenols removal mechanism and quality improvement of biocrude through the sequential HTL, demonstrating its potential for sustainable disposal and valorization of waste lignocellulosic biomass, and contributing to the development of renewable energy.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132556"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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":"Effect of phase-separation and thin-slurry recirculation on flexible biogas production from maize silage and bedding straw","authors":"Eike Janesch , Peter Neubauer , Stefan Junne","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132491","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132491","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates a two-stage anaerobic digestion (AD) process to enhance methane production from lignocellulosic biomass, in this case bedding straw, co-fed with maize silage. The system combines phase separation and double thin-slurry recirculation under mesophilic conditions. The first hydrolysis-acidogenesis stage produced over 10 g L<sup>−1</sup> short-chain carboxylic acids (SCCA) at an organic loading rate of 1.3–3.0 g (L d)<sup>−1</sup> when fed with a content of 50 wt% straw. The subsequent methanogenesis stage achieved a maximum methane yield of 260 mL CH<sub>4</sub> gCOD<sup>−1</sup>, with 50 % variation in methane production within 24 h. Thin-slurry recirculation was shown to improve the methane content by 20 %. Cell activity and quick recovery of gas production was proven after fasting periods of several weeks. The approach demonstrates the potential for flexible, efficient processing of bedding straw in AD without further treatment beyond cutting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132491"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
María del Rosario Rodero , Jean-Philippe Steyer , María Fernanda Pérez-Bernal , Willy Verstraete , Renaud Escudié , Gabriel Capson-Tojo
{"title":"Dinitrogen fixation by open purple non-sulfur bacteria cultures for protein production: Diazotrophy boosts photoheterotrophic uptake rates","authors":"María del Rosario Rodero , Jean-Philippe Steyer , María Fernanda Pérez-Bernal , Willy Verstraete , Renaud Escudié , Gabriel Capson-Tojo","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132554","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2025.132554","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) offer a sustainable alternative to current inefficient protein production systems thanks to their high yields. This study explored the potential of specialized diazotrophic PNSB open cultures for protein production, benchmarking their performance against ammonium-grown PNSB and other diazotrophs. While diazotrophic yields (0.85–0.93 gCOD<sub>biomass</sub>·gCOD<sub>substrate</sub><sup>-1</sup>; COD being chemical oxygen demand) were slightly lower than non-diazotrophic (∼1.0), they were over double those of heterotrophic-diazotrophic rhizobacteria, with full N recovery as biomass (∼1.0 gN<sub>biomass</sub>·gN<sub>fixed</sub><sup>-1</sup>). Photoheterotrophic-diazotrophic uptake rates were the fastest ever reported for PNSB and any other diazotroph (e.g., 5.20 ± 0.83 vs. 2.64 ± 0.34 gCOD<sub>substrate</sub>·gCOD<sub>biomass</sub><sup>-1</sup>·d<sup>-1</sup> for PNSB on NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>). Optimal rates required high light intensities, aligning with diazotrophic energy demands. Photoheterotrophic-diazotrophic conditions were highly selective, enriching a specialized <em>Rhodopseudomonas palustris</em> strain. Biomass protein contents and essential amino acid metrics confirmed nutritional suitability for humans. This work lays the background for exploiting PNSB’s potential to address global protein demands through sustainable nitrogen fixation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"430 ","pages":"Article 132554"},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143849585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}