Antoine Picard , Danielle Trap , Damien Batstone , Roman Moscoviz , Mathieu Haddad
{"title":"Data-driven modelling of volatile solids reduction in municipal sludge anaerobic digesters: Learning from six full-scale plants","authors":"Antoine Picard , Danielle Trap , Damien Batstone , Roman Moscoviz , Mathieu Haddad","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102553","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102553","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate prediction of Volatile Solids Reduction (VSR) is critical for sizing municipal sludge anaerobic digesters and estimating biogas potential. Existing models often rely on historical data and focus on forecasting performance for operating plants, making them unsuitable for design stages where such data is unavailable. This study introduces a mathematically explicit, pre-calibrated, data-driven model for predicting VSR under mesophilic conditions without requiring prior plant data. This contrasts with mechanistic approaches, which typically need site-specific calibration and lack direct integration into design workflows. The model was developed using process data from six full-scale wastewater treatment plants, covering diverse sludge types and treatment configurations, with time series data ranging from 192 to 4,696 days. Key input variables include hydraulic retention time, solids retention time of the activated sludge, wastewater temperature, primary sludge volatile solids content, and primary sludge fraction. Benchmarking against the Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1), both calibrated and default, showed the proposed model achieved the lowest average prediction root mean square error (4.2% VSR) and bias (2.3% VSR) when tested on unseen plants, confirming its suitability for design tasks. The model can support informed sizing of biogas networks and ancillary equipment, reducing inefficiencies and operational costs when applied within appropriate constraints. It also enables dynamic activated sludge retention time optimization strategies to enhance methane yield. Future improvements include integrating influent composition data and expanding the dataset to strengthen robustness across climates and process configurations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102553"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Md. Sanaul Haque , Md. Abul Hashem , Md. Enamul Hasan Zahin , Md. Mukimujjaman Miem
{"title":"Effectiveness of bio-additive in goatskin preservation and tannery wastewater treatment","authors":"Md. Sanaul Haque , Md. Abul Hashem , Md. Enamul Hasan Zahin , Md. Mukimujjaman Miem","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102493","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102493","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Typical soaking in leather manufacturing discharges salt from preserved raw stock, which increases Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and chloride (Cl<sup>−</sup>) levels in tannery wastewater. In this study, bio-additive (bagasse powder) was merged with lower common salt to preserve raw goatskin and monitored for 45 days. Moisture percentage, shrinkage temperature, viable bacteria count, total leachable nitrogen, and collagen content were examined on the 0th, 1st, 3rd, 6th, 10th, 14th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, and 45th days. GC–MS and FTIR analysis revealed the presence of antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant agents. The antimicrobial effect of bagasse revealed its effectiveness as a curing agent. In soaking wastewater, TDS and Cl<sup>−</sup>, Fe, and Ni content were significantly reduced by 93.91 %, 98.07 %, 64.9 %, and 52.55 %, respectively. The physicomechanical properties of preserved leather met standard requirements. SEM images depict a similar cross-sectional orientation. Hence, a bio-additive, lower-salt curing agent can be more environmentally friendly compared to salt-based preservation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102493"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145837806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Machine learning-driven congener-specific rhamnolipids production","authors":"Makary Nasser , Ashutosh Singh , Guneet Kaur","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102518","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102518","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rhamnolipids are popular biosurfactants for cleaning, environmental, food, and biomedical applications. Tailoring their production for specific applications however remains a challenge owing to the structural diversity of their congeners which dictate surfactant behavior. In this work, four machine learning (ML) models were developed to predict rhamnolipids production and congener composition based on key bioprocess parameters of substrate type, pH, temperature, cultivation time, carbon to nitrogen ratio (C/N), and bacterial strain. Congeners were categorized into nine groups based on rhamnose units, fatty acid chain length, and hydrocarbon chain type (saturated or unsaturated). Among all models, Random Forest performed the best, achieving a test R<sup>2</sup> of 0.944 when predicting di-rhamnolipids with double short, saturated chains (e.g., Rha-Rha-C10-C10). SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) identified bacterial strain, cultivation time, and C/N as strong predictors which was supported by Spearman's rank correlation analysis. This work provides a predictive, interpretable, and comprehensive ML framework covering 9 congener groups to support the rational design of congener-specific rhamnolipids for targeted applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102518"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145921521","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Keratin-derived bio-adsorbents for water remediation: Current and future trends","authors":"Muhammad Zubair , Zahid Rauf , Aman Ullah","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102508","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102508","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Keratin-derived bio-adsorbents have become a highly effective solution for water remediation applications, owing to their sustainable and environmentally friendly properties. Keratin, which is naturally abundant, exhibits unique physicochemical properties and is environmentally benign. It can be extracted from many biomass sources such as feathers, hooves, wool, and hair, and is characterized by a fibrous protein structure rich in functional groups such as disulfide, amino, and carboxyl groups. These attributes enable the effective binding of metal ions and organic pollutants simultaneously from the polluted water. The review highlights recent progress in keratin-based bio-adsorbents adsorbing both metal cations and oxyanions such as Pb<sup>2+</sup>, Ni<sup>2+</sup>, Co<sup>2+</sup>, Zn<sup>2+</sup>, Cr<sup>3+</sup>/CrO₄<sup>2−</sup>, Cd<sup>2+</sup>, AsO₃<sup>3−</sup>/AsO₄<sup>3−</sup>, and SeO₃<sup>2−</sup>/SeO₄<sup>2−</sup>, alongside organic pollutants like methylene blue, reactive blue 19, crystal violet, methyl orange, and phenolic compounds for sustainable water purification. The review also examines chemical modifications and composite materials that enhance keratin's adsorption capacity, selectivity, and regeneration potential. Additionally, it identifies significant research gaps, such as limited scalability and challenges in regeneration and reuse. Ion exchange, complexation, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen bonding are identified as crucial mechanisms in the adsorption processes of keratin-based materials. Future research should focus on developing innovative keratin composites, employing environmentally friendly processing methods, creating mechanistic models, and conducting large-scale testing to bridge laboratory findings with industrial applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102508"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145921523","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jibin James , Silpa Chandran , Abdulaziz Anas , K. Devika Raj , Nizam Ashraf
{"title":"Genomic and functional characterization of pyomelanin production by Shewanella indica biofilms on 3D-printed scaffolds for dye removal","authors":"Jibin James , Silpa Chandran , Abdulaziz Anas , K. Devika Raj , Nizam Ashraf","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102595","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102595","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Inspired by the interactions between sponges and bacteria within marine ecosystems, this study presents a scalable platform for the production of pyomelanin utilizing <em>Shewanella indica</em> immobilized on three-dimensional (3D) printed gyroid spheres with a surface area of 1835 mm<sup>2</sup>. The application of five gyroid spheres immobilized with <em>S. indica</em> in 100 ml of growth medium resulted in a yield of 0.937 mg ml<sup>−1</sup> of pyomelanin, which could be enhanced to 3.76 mg ml<sup>−1</sup> when utilizing 20 spheres. The extraction of pyomelanin was accomplished through an alkali-acid treatment, and the gyroid spheres demonstrated reusability over five cycles. Furthermore, the pyomelanin exhibited an adsorption capacity of up to 70% for various textile dyes, including crystal violet and trypan blue, within a three-hour period. Genomic analysis identified genes associated with biofilm formation (lap A, B; lol A, B, D, E; DGC and bdl A) and pyomelanin biosynthesis (hppD, aspC, tyrA, and phhA). These results underscore a sustainable approach for pyomelanin production and its potential applications in bioremediation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102595"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Penicillium oxalicum mediated phosphate solubilization as a Bio-stimulant approach enhancing barley growth","authors":"Hitakshi Asnani, Preeti Yadav, Yatika Dixit, Arun Kumar Sharma, Mansi Kansal","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102590","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102590","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms (PSMs) enhance plant phosphorus uptake by converting insoluble phosphorus into a soluble form. This study isolated and evaluated PSMs from barley rhizosphere soils in Tonk, Rajasthan, using Pikovskaya's agar medium. Six bacterial and six fungal strains demonstrated phosphate solubilization, with <em>Penicillium oxalicum</em> (isolate BLF-7) showing the highest efficiency. <em>Penicillium oxalicum</em> exhibited the highest phosphate solubilization index (1.9 ± 0.02) and efficiency (49.42% ± 0.99). Subsequent investigation indicated that <em>P. oxalicum</em> exhibited elevated concentrations of soluble phosphorus (1147.93 ± 2.43 mg/L) on the 10th day of incubation and exhibited acid phosphatase activity (13.18 ± 0.51 μM/min/mL) on the 11th day. Furthermore, it produced indole-3-acetic acid (3.36 μg/mL) within three days, facilitating plant development. Pot studies with barley demonstrated a 20% enhancement in plant height, notable improvements in root and shoot biomass, and a 20% rise in chlorophyll content in plants treated with <em>P. oxalicum</em> and tricalcium phosphate. These findings underscore <em>P. oxalicum</em>'s dual role as a phosphate solubilizer and plant growth enhancer, affirming its promise as a sustainable biofertilizer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102590"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Arsenic mitigation in spinach using Pseudomonas putida NBRI-RC5.2: Integrating functional traits with genomic insights","authors":"Varsha Dharmesh , Nikita Tiwari , Satyam Rastogi , Ruchi Agnihotri , Prasanna Dutta , Sanjay Dwivedi , Meher Hasan Asif , Debasis Chakrabarty , Suchi Srivastava","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102586","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102586","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arsenic (As) mitigation recently gained prominence due to its escalating environmental risks. Vegetables, collected from affected areas, showed As accumulation ranging from 644 to 12,043 μg kg<sup>−1</sup>. Among all tested vegetable crops, spinach showed the highest accumulation of As (874–12,043 μg kg<sup>−1</sup>). Various arsenic-tolerant bacterial strains (∼763), along with plant growth-promoting traits, have been isolated from the rhizospheric and endophytic origins of these vegetables. <em>Pseudomonas putida</em> NBRI-RC5.2 (RC5.2), which possesses arsenate reductase and plant growth-promoting traits, was able to reduce the total As content in spinach leaves by ∼88%. Genes related to As resistance, plant growth promotion, and defense regulation have been identified through whole-genome analysis of RC5.2. The upregulated expression of <em>arsR</em>, <em>arsB</em>, <em>arsA</em>, <em>arsK</em>, <em>arsJ</em>, <em>aqp</em>, <em>arsH</em> and <em>arsC</em> genes in RC5.2 justifies its arsenic detoxification potential. The present study identified RC5.2 with a proven ability to tolerate and mitigate As uptake in spinach leaves. Development of RC5.2-based biofertilizer may be a promising candidate for sustainable As mitigation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102586"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146073571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Circular bioeconomy in the bioproducts industry: Utilizing cocoa and coffee husk as inert supports for the production of Trichoderma koningiopsis (Tricotec® WP)","authors":"Vanessa Chavarro-Anzola , Marcela Franco-Correa , Mauricio Cruz-Barrera","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102497","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102497","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The concept of circular bioeconomy has emerged as a sustainable strategy to addressing waste management, environmental degradation, and the demand for renewable resources. In the bioproducts industry, applying these principles enables the transformation of agricultural waste into valuable bio-based products. This study explores the potential of cocoa and coffee husks-bioproducts of the chocolate and coffee industries- as inert substrates for the production of <em>Trichoderma koningiopsis</em> - Th003, a beneficial fungus used in biocontrol and biofertilization. The research aims to assess the suitability of cocoa and coffee husks as growth substrates for <em>T. koningiopsis –</em> Th003. The husks underwent pre-treatment processes to remove contaminants and enhance their properties. Subsequently, <em>T. koningiopsis-</em> Th003 was inoculated on the treated husks and cultivated under controlled laboratory conditions. Fungal growth kinetics, biomass production, and viability were monitored throughout the process. The highest conidial concentration achieved was <span><math><mn>1.12</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>9</mn></msup><mspace></mspace></math></span>conidia/g in cocoa husks and <span><math><mn>4.30</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>8</mn></msup><mspace></mspace></math></span>conidia/g in coffee husks, comparable to the standard substrate (rice with wheat bran). Utilizing these agro-industrial waste materials as substrates for <em>T. koningiopsis</em>-Th003 let to production cost savings of up to 20 %. A second fermentation cycle with the waste materials yielded <span><math><mn>2</mn><mo>×</mo><msup><mn>10</mn><mn>9</mn></msup><mspace></mspace></math></span>conidia/g in coffee husks, leading to savings of up to 50 %. These findings demonstrated the potential of coffee and cocoa husks as promising alternatives to cereal-based substrates for production active ingredients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102497"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Min-Ying Wang , Yi-Fang Chang , Sally Wang , Chen-Hao Lin , William E. Bentley , Su-Yuan Lai
{"title":"Isolation and characterization of bacteria associated with the cultured diatom Halamphora sp.: Focus on heavy metal resistance and bioremediation potential","authors":"Min-Ying Wang , Yi-Fang Chang , Sally Wang , Chen-Hao Lin , William E. Bentley , Su-Yuan Lai","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102510","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102510","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Symbiotic relationships between microalgae and bacteria can play a crucial role in enhancing metal resistance and promoting bioremediation. The phycosphere refers to the microscale chemical boundary layer surrounding microalgal cells, where algae release dissolved organic matter and metabolites that attract and support associated microorganisms. In this study, 40 bacterial species were isolated and molecularly characterized directly from the phycosphere of the marine diatom <em>Halamphora</em> sp. (AQ4), and their resistance to heavy metal ions was subsequently evaluated under high-salt marine conditions. Our preliminary screening revealed two <em>Brachybacterium</em> strains (A4005, A4006) with exceptionally high tolerance to Co<sup>2+</sup> up to 500 mM, and three <em>Nitratireductor</em> strains (A4017, A4019, and A4020) to 125 mM. For Ni<sup>2+</sup>, A4005 and A4017 displayed nearly 60 % viability at 125 mM. Strains A4005, A4006, and A4019 tolerated concentrations of 15.625 mM of Zn<sup>2+</sup>. Further testing confirmed that <em>Brachybacterium</em> strains exhibited higher viabilities across all tested metals compared to <em>Nitratireductor</em>, especially A4006, highlighting its potential for bioremediation. Future research will explore the mechanisms behind this metal tolerance and its practical applications in environmental biotechnology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102510"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145880940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Eco-valorization of Persicaria hydropiper through mono- and polyculture vermistabilization with Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae: Phytotoxicity alleviation and morphophysiological performance of Capsicum chinense","authors":"Dimbeswar Das , Pankaj Kalita , Sumpam Tangjang","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102555","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102555","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Persicaria hydropiper</em>, a problematic invasive species, remains least explored in terms of biomass valorisation through sustainable bioconversion methods. This study investigates the potential of <em>P. hydropiper</em> biomass for vermicomposting using mono- <em>E. fetida</em> (VC1), <em>E. eugeniae</em> (VC2) and polyculture (VC3) earthworm systems. The resulting vermicomposts were assessed for physicochemical changes, microbial proliferation, humification parameters, Phytotoxicity via GI bioassay, and agronomic impact on <em>Capsicum chinense</em>. The results revealed a significant improvement in nutrient profiles across treatments, with the highest total nitrogen (15.22 ± 0.35 g/kg), phosphorus (4640.03 ± 13.79 mg/kg), and potassium (129.06 ± 4.10 mg/kg). Phytotoxicity, as indicated by GI was reduced up to 44%. VC1 achieved the highest bioconversion efficiency (69 ± 2.64%) while VC3 showed superior microbial enrichment. Maximum yield reached 1.16 ± 0.01 kg/plant (≈3-fold over control). These findings establish vermicomposting of <em>P. hydropiper</em> as an effective strategy for invasive weed biomass management, offering a nutrient-rich organic amendment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102555"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}