Chamath D.Y. Yahampath Arachchige Don, Sandhya Babel

Chemosphere • 2021

Swati Das, Sovik Das, Makarand M. Ghangrekar

Bioresource Technology • 2022

Hai-Tra Nguyen, Booki Min

Bioresource Technology • 2020

Arti Sharma, Meenu Chhabra, Shashi Kumar

Journal of environmental chemical engineering • 2024

Sharbani Kaushik, Mrinal Kumar Sarma, Pranab Goswami

Journal of Materials Chemistry A • 2017

A quantum dot-based nano-biocomposite supports FRET to photosystems, biofilm growth and electron relay on the anode in a cyanobacteria-based fuel cell.

Zhigang Yang, Changliang Nie, Qingjie Hou et al.

Chemical Engineering Journal • 2018

Zhigang Yang, Lijie Zhang, Changliang Nie et al.

Water Research • 2019

Chin‐Tsan Wang, Yan-Sian Huang, Thangavel Sangeetha et al.

Bioresource Technology • 2018

Jagdeep Kumar Nayak, Uttam Kumar Ghosh

Biomass and Bioenergy • 2019

Fabian Fischer

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews • 2018

This review examines the combination of photoelectric cells (PEC) and microbial fuel cells (MFC), including photosynthetic MFCs. It was found in a number of investigations that photoanodes and photocathodes can be well combined with electrogenic and photo-electrogenic microbes. The progress in this field originates from the idea that MFCs using light to power converting electrodes generate more power than with the dark reaction in an MFC alone or by solar power in a PEC. There are a multitude of possible designs for establishing Photo-MFCs. It is noteworthy that in addition to electric power, also hydrogen, methane and other solar-bioelectrofuels are producible using hybrid MFC-PEC type reactors, which are assembled from artificial and native photosensitive electrodes and electrogenic microbes.

Dayana Nascimento Dari, Isabelly Silveira Freitas, Francisco Izaias da Silva Aires et al.

Biomass • 2024

Fermentation is an oxygen-free biological process that produces hydrogen, a clean, renewable energy source with the potential to power a low-carbon economy. Bibliometric analysis is crucial in academic research to evaluate scientific production, identify trends and contributors, and map the development of a field, providing valuable information to guide researchers and promote scientific innovation. This review provides an advanced bibliometric analysis and a future perspective on fermentation for hydrogen production. By searching WoS, we evaluated and refined 62,087 articles to 4493 articles. This allowed us to identify the most important journals, countries, institutions, and authors in the field. In addition, the ten most cited articles and the dominant research areas were identified. A keyword analysis revealed five research clusters that illustrate where research is progressing. The outlook indicates that a deeper understanding of microbiology and support from energy policy will drive the development of hydrogen from fermentation.

Hemant Ghai, Deepak Sakhuja, Shikha Yadav et al.

Energies • 2022

Continuous urbanization and modernization have increased the burning of fossil fuels to meet energy needs across the globe, emanating environmental pollution and depleting fossil fuels. Therefore, a shift towards sustainable and renewable energy is necessary. Several techniques to exploit biomass to yield energy are trending, with pyrolysis one of them. Usually, a single feedstock is employed in pyrolysis for anoxygenic generation of biochar together with bio-oil at elevated temperatures (350–600 °C). Bio-oil produced through pyrolysis can be upgraded to crude oil after some modification. However, these modifications of bio-oil are one of the major drawbacks for its large-scale adoption, as upgradation increases the overall cost. Therefore, in recent years the scientific community has been researching co-pyrolysis technology that involves the pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass waste with non-biodegradable waste. Co-pyrolysis reduces the need for post-modification of bio-oil, unlike pyrolysis of a single feedstock. This review article discusses the recent advancements and technological challenges in waste biomass co-pyrolysis, the mechanism of co-pyrolysis, and factors that affect co-pyrolysis. The current study critically analyzes different recent research articles presented in databases such as PubMed, MDPI, ScienceDirect, Springer, etc. Hence, this review is one-of-a-kind in that it attempts to explain each and every aspect of the co-pyrolysis process and its current progress in the scientific field. Consequently, this review also compiles the remarkable achievements in co-pyrolysis and recommendations for the future.

Nicolás M. Clauser, Fernando E. Felissia, María Cristina Área et al.

BioResources • 2022

Manufacturing processes and their economy are dramatically evolving due to machinery and digital control improvements. Artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and the Internet of Things are key tools for this new industrial revolution era based on Industry 4.0. Bioeconomy and circular economy concepts have appeared in the forest, agriculture, food, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, chemical, biotechnological, and energy areas, etc., to achieve sustainable economic growth development via biomass valorization in a biorefinery platform. Biorefinery process development at an industrial scale requires the previous design and assessment of processes and technologies. Therefore, economic, environmental, and social factors should be evaluated to prevent the failure in one of these issues that could affect the performance of the others. With a growing interest in sustainable economic development, there is a need to incorporate new technologies early enough in the process design. This study aims to better understand how Industry 4.0 era tools can bring new solutions to the biorefinery process design, in terms of the technical, economic, environmental, and social factors. Thus, these tools could improve and revolutionize the process selection optimization, provide alternatives for biomass valorization, integration strategies, and the metrics selection for process evaluation, adding the approach toward sustainable economic development.

Maria Federica Carboni, Ariovaldo O. Florentino, Rachel Biancalana Costa et al.

Frontiers in Microbiology • 2021

This study compared the rates and microbial community development in batch bioassays on autotrophic denitrification using elemental sulfur (S 0 ), pyrite (FeS 2 ), thiosulfate (S 2 O 3 2- ), and sulfide (S 2- ) as electron donor. The performance of two inocula was compared: digested sludge (DS) from a wastewater treatment plant of a dairy industry and anaerobic granular sludge (GS) from a UASB reactor treating dairy wastewater. All electron donors supported the development of a microbial community with predominance of autotrophic denitrifiers during the enrichments, except for sulfide. For the first time, pyrite revealed to be a suitable substrate for the growth of autotrophic denitrifiers developing a microbial community with predominance of the genera Thiobacillus , Thioprofundum , and Ignavibacterium . Thiosulfate gave the highest denitrification rates removing 10.94 mM NO 3 - day -1 and 8.98 mM NO 3 - day -1 by DS and GS, respectively. This was 1.5 and 6 times faster than elemental sulfur and pyrite, respectively. Despite the highest denitrification rates observed in thiosulfate-fed enrichments, an evaluation of the most relevant parameters for a technological application revealed elemental sulfur as the best electron donor for autotrophic denitrification with a total cost of 0.38 € per m 3 of wastewater treated.

Isabella M. Goodchild-Michelman, George M. Church, Max G. Schubert et al.

Materials Today Bio • 2023

Cyanobacteria are ideal candidates to use in developing carbon neutral and carbon negative technologies; they are efficient photosynthesizers and amenable to genetic manipulation. Over the past two decades, researchers have demonstrated that cyanobacteria can make sustainable, useful biomaterials, many of which are engineered living materials. However, we are only beginning to see such technologies applied at an industrial scale. In this review, we explore the ways in which synthetic biology tools enable the development of cyanobacteria-based biomaterials. First we give an overview of the ecological and biogeochemical importance of cyanobacteria and the work that has been done using cyanobacteria to create biomaterials so far. This is followed by a discussion of commonly used cyanobacteria strains and synthetic biology tools that exist to engineer cyanobacteria. Then, three case studies-bioconcrete, biocomposites, and biophotovoltaics-are explored as potential applications of synthetic biology in cyanobacteria-based materials. Finally, challenges and future directions of cyanobacterial biomaterials are discussed.

Runlan Yu, Meilian Man, Zhaojing Yu et al.

Scientific Reports • 2021

In polluted groundwater, surface water, and industrial sites, chromium is found as one of the most common heavy metals, and one of the 20 main pollutants in China, which poses a great threat to the ecological environment and human health. Combining biological and chemical materials to treat groundwater contaminated by heavy metals is a promising restoration technology. In this research, Klebsiella variicola H12 (abbreviated as K. variicola) was found to have Cr(VI) reduction ability. A high-efficiency Klebsiella variicola H12-carboxymethyl cellulose (abbreviated as CMC)-FeS@biochar system was established for Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solution. The Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) results indicated that CMC-FeS was successfully loaded onto the surface of biochar, and K. variicola H12 grew well in the presence of CMC-FeS@biochar with microbial biomass up to 4.8 × 10 8 cells mL -1 . Cr(VI) removal rate of CMC-FeS@biochar system, K. variicola H12 system and K. variicola H12 + CMC-FeS@biochar system were 61.8%, 82.2% and 96.6% respectively. This study demonstrated K. variicola H12-CMC-FeS@biochar system have potential value for efficient removal of Cr(VI) from Cr(VI)-polluted groundwater.

Xian Li, Yale Deng, Xueying Li et al.

Archaea • 2020

Rather than direct nutrient removal from wastewaters, an alternative approach aimed at nutrient recovery from aquacultural wastewaters could enable sustainable management for aquaculture production. This study demonstrated the feasibility of cultivating marine macroalgae ( Chaetomorpha maxima ) with a moving bed bioreactor (MBBR-MA), to remove nitrogen and phosphorus in aquaculture wastewater as well as to produce macroalgae biomass. MBBR-MA significantly increased the simultaneous removal of nitrate and phosphate in comparison with only MBBR, resulting in an average total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency of 42.8 ± 5.5% and 83.7 ± 7.7%, respectively, in MBBR-MA while MBBR had no capacity for TN and TP removal. No chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was detected in both reactors. Phosphorus could be a limiting factor for nitrogen uptake when N : P ratio increased. The recovered nitrogen and phosphorus resulted in a specific growth rate of 3.86%-10.35%/day for C. maxima with an uptake N : P ratio of 6. The presence of macroalgae changed the microbial community in both the biofilter and water by decreasing the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Nitrospirae and increasing the abundance of Bacteroidetes. These findings indicate that the integration of the macroalgae C. maxima with MBBR could represent an effective wastewater treatment option, especially for marine recirculating aquaculture systems.

Debabrata Das

INAE Letters • 2017

Xiaolin Li, Dongguan Bao, Yao-Zhong Zhang et al.

Water • 2023

As a new type of biological treatment process, membrane aerated biofilm reactors (MABRs), which have received extensive attention and research in recent years, could reduce energy consumption by 70% compared to the traditional activated sludge process. The MABR system uses bubble-free aeration membrane material as the carrier, the counter-diffusion mechanism of oxygen and pollutants enables ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrate oxidizing bacteria (NOB) to adhere to the membrane surface so that simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) can occur to achieve simultaneous nitrogen and carbon removal. Currently, MABR technology has been successfully applied to the treatment of municipal sewage, various industrial wastewater, pharmaceutical, high salinity, high ammonia, aquaculture wastewater, landfill leachate and black and odorous water bodies in rivers. Many laboratory experiments and pilot-scale MABR reactors have been used to study the performance of membrane materials, the mechanism of pollutant removal and the effects of different factors on the system. However, the performance of MABR is affected by factors such as dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, C/N, biofilm thickness, hydraulic retention time (HRT), temperature, etc., which limits large-scale promotion. Therefore, membrane materials, membrane modules, biofilm, application of MABR technology, influencing factors of MABR system performance, and limitations and perspectives of MABR are reviewed in this paper, and we expect to provide valuable information.

Srujana Kathi, Siril Singh, Rajni Yadav et al.

Frontiers in Chemical Engineering • 2023

Global demand for freshwater is rapidly escalating. It is highly essential to keep pace with the necessities of the increasing population. The effluents of wastewater are gradually identified as a reservoir of resources for energy generation and economic boom. Henceforth, most wastewater and sludge have great potential for reuse and recycling. The re-utilization and valorization of wastewater and sludge contribute to accomplishing sustainable development goals, combating water scarcity, and alleviating adverse environmental impacts of wastewater on the environmental components. The present article highlights the most novel approaches for wastewater treatment for the waste valorization of different industrial origins and the generation of value-added products and recovery of biopolymers, vitamins, enzymes, dyes, pigments, and phenolic compounds. We highlighted the life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis. In addition, we have addressed a critical overview of the barriers to the large-scale application of resource recovery strategies and economic, environmental, and social concerns associated with using waste-derived products.

Luji Yu, Tao Chen, Yanhong Xu

Water Science & Technology • 2019

Micro-polluted river water is characterized as having limited biodegradability, low carbon to nitrogen ratio and little organic carbon supply, all of which makes it hard to further purify. Two bench scale constructed wetlands (CWs) with a horizontal subsurface flow mode were set up in the laboratory to evaluate their feasibility and efficiency on denitrification with and without corn cobs as external carbon sources. Micro-polluted river water was used as feed solution. The CW without corn cobs substrates possessed a good performance in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD, <40 mg/L) and ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 -N, <0.65 mg/L), but less efficiency in removing total nitrogen (TN) and nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 -N). In marked contrast, the CW with 1% (w/w) corn cobs substrates as external carbon sources achieved a significant improvement in the removal efficiency of TN (increased from 34.2% to 71.9%) and NO 3 -N (increased from 19% to 71.9%). The incorporation of corn cobs substrates did not cause any obvious increase in the concentrations of COD and NH 3 -N in the effluent. This improvement in the denitrification efficiency was owing to the released organic carbon from corn cobs substrates, which facilitated the growth of abundant microbes on the surface and pores of the substrate. The open area of the used corn chips is larger than that of the pristine ones, and corn cobs can continue to provide a carbon fiber source for denitrification.

H. Wayne Harris, Irene Sánchez‐Andrea, Jeffrey S. McLean et al.

Frontiers in Microbiology • 2018

A novel bacterial behavior called congregation was recently described in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as the accumulation of cells around insoluble electron acceptors (IEA). It is the result of a series of "run-and-reversal" events enabled by modulation of swimming speed and direction. The model proposed that the swimming cells constantly sense their surroundings with specialized outer membrane cytochromes capable of extracellular electron transport (EET). Up to this point, neither the congregation nor attachment behavior have been studied in any other strains. In this study, the wild type of S. oneidensis MR-1 and several deletion mutants as well as eight other Shewanella strains ( Shewanella putrefaciens CN32, S . sp. ANA-3, S . sp. W3-18-1, Shewanella amazonensis SB2B, Shewanella loihica PV-4, Shewanella denitrificans OS217, Shewanella baltica OS155, and Shewanella frigidimarina NCIMB400) were screened for the ability to congregate. To monitor congregation and attachment, specialized cell-tracking techniques, as well as a novel cell accumulation after photo-bleaching (CAAP) confocal microscopy technique were utilized in this study. We found a strong correlation between the ability of strain MR-1 to accumulate on mineral surface and the presence of key EET genes such as mtrBC/omcA (SO_1778, SO_1776, and SO_1779) and gene coding for methyl-accepting protein (MCPs) with Ca + channel che motaxis receptor (Cache) domain (SO_2240). These EET and taxis genes were previously identified as essential for characteristic run and reversal swimming around IEA surfaces. CN32, ANA-3, and PV-4 congregated around both Fe(OH) 3 and MnO 2 . Two other Shewanella spp. showed preferences for one oxide over the other: preferences that correlated with the metal content of the environments from which the strains were isolated: e.g., W3-18-1, which was isolated from an iron-rich habitat congregated and attached preferentially to Fe(OH) 3 , while SB2B, which was isolated from a MnO 2 -rich environment, preferred MnO 2 .

Angelo J Victoria, Michael J Astbury, Alistair J. McCormick

Current Opinion in Biotechnology • 2024

Cyanobacteria are a diverse and ecologically important group of photosynthetic prokaryotes that contribute significantly to the global carbon cycle through the capture of CO 2 as biomass. Cyanobacterial biotechnology could play a key role in a sustainable bioeconomy through negative emissions technologies (NETs), such as carbon sequestration or bioproduction. However, the primary issues of low productivities and high infrastructure costs currently limit the commercialisation of such applications. The isolation of several fast-growing strains and recent advancements in molecular biology tools now offer promising new avenues for improving yields, including metabolic engineering approaches guided by high-throughput screening and metabolic models. Furthermore, emerging research on engineering coculture communities could help to develop more robust culturing systems to support broader NET applications.

Seyed Ariana Mirshokraee, Mohsin Muhyuddin, Roberto Lorenzi et al.

SusMat • 2023

Abstract Within the framework of the circular economy, the waste litchi's skins were upgraded and transformed into electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The waste litchi's skins were pyrolyzed, activated, and then used as carbon support for fabricating metal–nitrogen–carbons (M–N–Cs) which belong to a promising class of platinum group metal‐free electrocatalysts. The activated char was functionalized with transition metal (Fe, Ni, and Co)‐ phthalocyanine (Pc) in monometallic and bimetallic fashion by subjecting it to a thermal treatment at 600 and 900°C. The samples functionalized at 900°C showed higher performance for HER due to the formation of metal nanoparticles, whereas the samples functionalized at 600°C showed higher performance for ORR. Particularly, sample Ni–Co 900 had an overpotential of −0.38 V for HER, while the sample Fe 600 was the most active electrocatalyst for ORR by demonstrating the onset potential of ∼0.9 V (a half‐wave potential of ∼0.81 V) with the least production of unwanted peroxide anion.

Ioannis Ieropoulos, John Greenman

Frontiers in Energy Research • 2023

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are an emerging green technology which offers several comparative advantages over other technologies for utilizing biomass. It is a technology that treats (cleans) wet organic waste, converting chemical energy to electricity that is used for connected peripherals and target applications. The main advantage is the technology’s ability to utilise wet biomass in suspension or in solution (i.e., too wet to burn) and change the biomass directly into bioenergy in the form of electricity. All other technologies either combust the biomass directly (e.g., wood fuel) or change the biomass into refined fuels which are then combusted or fed to chemical fuel cells to generate heat or electricity. Excluding methane production from biomass, and fermentation leading to hydrogen production, all other biomass/biofuel technologies utilize dry plant matter, which mainly consists of cellulose or lignocellulose and they cannot directly utilize sludge or slurries of organic detritus material. The substrates used for MFCs are not traditionally made into organic fuels, as with other biomass technologies, but are used directly as fuel, recasting the “waste” suspensions and solutions, and promoting them into fuels themselves. To a stack of MFCs, a polluted river, landfill leachate or farmland run-off, can all be reassigned as fuel. This wet fuel is widespread around the planet, the amounts found and the energy contained within are significant, and the cost as a fuel is close to zero. This review gives a general overview of biomass energy along with extraction techniques and compares advantages and disadvantages of MFCs with other biomass technologies for producing electrical energy.

N. Evelin Paucar, Chikashi Sato

Energies • 2022

Water, energy, and food are indispensable for sustainable economic development. Despite nutrients, especially phosphorus and nitrogen, being essential for plant growth and thus food supplies, those present in wastewater are considered an environmental burden. While microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are receiving much interest, combining wastewater treatment with an MFC has emerged as an option for low-cost wastewater treatment. Among others, a constructed wetland (CW) coupled with an MFC (CW-MFC) has the potential to provide a low carbon footprint and low-energy wastewater treatment, as well as nutrient and energy recovery from wastewater. Findings from this review show that the organic and nutrient removal and power generation by the integrated CW-MFC systems are affected by a number of factors including the organic loading rate, hydraulic retention time, system design, plant species, dissolved oxygen, substrate/media type, influent feeding mode, electrode materials and spacing, and external resistance. This review aims to summarize the current state of the CW-MFC and related technologies with particular emphasis on organic and nutrient removal, as well as on the bioenergy recovery from different wastewaters. Despite the benefits that these technologies can offer, the interactive mechanisms between the CW and MFC in the integrated system are still unclear. Further research is needed to fully understand the CW-MFC and related systems. The results of this work provide not only an overview and insight into existing knowledge but also the future direction of the CW-MFC technologies.

Swati Gupta, Zeev Ronen

Water • 2024

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs), which are widely used in pesticides, explosives, dyes, and pharmaceuticals, include nitrobenzene, nitrotoluenes, nitrophenols, and nitrobenzoates. They are also significant industrial pollutants in the environment. These substances, as well as their derivatives, frequently have toxic or mutagenic properties. Wastewater containing nitroaromatic compounds can be effectively managed by using biological treatment methods that are accessible, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. This review highlights the latest developments in biological treatment systems for removing NACs from wastewater. The large-scale implementation of biological treatment systems will be facilitated by future studies that focus on identifying the best operational methods and that determine how co-pollutants impact the removal of NACs from wastewater.

Nandini Moondra, Namrata Jariwala, Robin A. Christian

Water Conservation and Management • 2020

Even after secondary treatment, wastewater has a high convergence of nutrients, which frequently causes eutrophication and different destructive impacts on biological systems. Wastewater treatment is a critical activity that must be considered necessary for the improvement of society. The secondary contamination of sludge formation and disposal also makes the treatment difficult. The vitality and financial amount required for tertiary treatment of wastewater remain an issue for local bodies, limiting its use for treatment. Hence, to address most of the challenges of sewage treatment, an algal-based system can be more affordable and biologically secure with the additional advantages of asset recuperation and reusing. Phycoremediation system even eliminates the need for tertiary treatment. The paper illustrates the benefits and challenges of phycoremediation, with some recent studies on microalgae as a wastewater treatment alternative along with the factors affecting the wastewater treatment through microalgae. The in-depth knowledge of the microalgal treatment in every aspect could result in an advancement to the conventional treatment process if applied in the field.

Silvia Bolognesi, Daniele Cecconet, Arianna Callegari et al.

Bioresource Technology Reports • 2022

Wastewater treatment processes energy and emissions issues led researchers to investigate more sustainable alternative technologies, aimed at achieving effective contaminants removal with simultaneous resources recovery (i.e., energy). The combination of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology with microalgal-based processes in a photo-MFC (PhMFC) could potentially reduce GHGs impact of wastewater treatment, capturing anodically produced CO2 and photosynthetically convert it into oxygen, with a bioelectrochemical, cathodic polishing step. Two tubular PhMFCs were operated with synthetic wastewater under different conditions. Organic matter and nutrients removals and electricity production were monitored under each tested condition. Energy losses and design issues were also analyzed. The two PhMFCs globally proved to be effective in COD (up to 94%), total nitrogen (55%) and total phosphorus (60%) removal, with simultaneous bioelectricity production (up to 5.5 ‧ 10−4 kWh m−3). The presence of microalgae also opens the possibility of recovery opportunities connected to the post-processing of the cathodic effluent.

Mahmoud E. Ahmed, Abdul Mannan Zafar, Mohamed A. Hamouda et al.

Sustainability • 2022

Due to rising population and industrialization, two-thirds of the world’s population may suffer water scarcity by 2025. Biodesalination is a promising sustainable practice targeting salt removal from seawater by micro-organisms, using lower energy consumption and resulting in less environmental impact. This study examined the evolution of biodesalination from 2007 to 2022 by applying bibliometric analysis. A scoping review was also conducted through content analysis of biodesalination publications. Using the Scopus database, the research trends, major contributors in the field, and recent advancements were identified. The study investigated a total of 80 peer-reviewed journal articles in the field of biodesalination. Results of the bibliometric analysis revealed that publications peaked in 2022 and citations in 2021, with values of 14 and 473, respectively. Results also revealed that the research trend in biodesalination is leaning towards the use of microbial desalination cells. Furthermore, advancements in the field focused on enhancing the nutrient medium to yield better growth rates for algae and cyanobacteria and improve desalination efficiencies to up to 40%. Other modifications focused on introducing microbial strains with increased salinity tolerance. Finally, an outline of future research potential was presented, focusing on nutrient medium modifications, specifically the substitution of chloride and sodium salts in the medium with nitrate and potassium minerals.

Mustafa Buyukharman, İbrahim Ender Mülazımoğlu, Hüseyin Bekir Yıldız

ACS Omega • 2024

In this research, a cyanobacteria ( Leptolyngbia sp.)-based biological photovoltaic cell (BPV) was designed. This clean energy-friendly BPV produced a photocurrent as a result of illuminating the photoanode and cathode electrodes immersed in the aqueous medium with solar energy. For this purpose, both electrodes were first coated with conductive polymers with aniline functional groups on the gold electrodes. In the cell, the photoanode was first coated with a gold-modified poly 4-(2,5-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)benzamine polymer, P(SNS-Aniline). Thioaniline-functionalized gold nanoparticles were used to provide a cross-link formation with bis-aniline conductive bonds with the conductive polymer using electrochemical techniques. Leptolyngbia sp., one of the cyanobacteria that can convert light energy into chemical energy, was attached to this layered electrode surface. The cathode of the cell was attached to the gold electrode surface with P(SNS-Aniline). Then, the bilirubin oxidase (BOx) enzyme was immobilized on this film surface with glutaraldehyde activation. This cell, which can use light, thanks to cyanobacteria, oxidized and split water, and oxygen was obtained at the photoanode electrode. At the cathode electrode, the oxygen gas was reduced to water by the bioelectrocatalytic method. To obtain a high photocurrent from the BPV, necessary optimizations were made during the design of the system to increase electron transport and strengthen its transfer. While the photocurrent value obtained with the designed BPV in optimum conditions and in the pseudosteady state was 10 mA/m 2 , the maximum power value obtained was 46.5 mW/m 2 . In addition to storing the light energy of the system, studies have been carried out on this system as a pesticide biosensor. Atrazine biosensing via the BPV system was analytically characterized between 0.1 and 1.2 μM concentrations for atrazine, and a very low detection limit was found as 0.024 μM. In addition, response time and recovery studies related to pesticide biosensor properties of the BPV were also investigated.

Fahimeh Hajipour, Sedigheh Asad, Mohammad Ali Amoozegar et al.

Iranian Biomedical Journal • 2020

Our findings revealed that this fluorometric sensor has the potential to be successfully applied for monitoring a wide linear range of MR concentration with the relative standard deviation of 4% rather than the other method.

Prakash Kumar Sarangi, Akhilesh Kumar Singh, Rajesh K. Srivastava et al.

Sustainability • 2023

Worldwide, a huge production of agro-industrial wastes is observed every year in the milling, brewing, agricultural, and food industries. Biochemical and bioactive substances can be produced from these agricultural wastes. Pineapple by-products, which consist of the peeled skin, core, crown end, etc., account for 60% of the weight of pineapple fruit and are disposed of as waste, causing disposal and pollution problems. The bioconversion process can utilize these wastes, which are rich in cellulose and hemicellulose, the main components, to produce value-added biochemicals/bioactive compounds such as pectin, citric acid, bromelain, ferulic acid, vanillin, and so on. Therefore, the sustainable solution for food and nutrition security can be supported by the utilization of pineapple waste. The proposed review article addresses approaches that do not generate waste while adding value. This can be achieved by using innovative biorefinery techniques such as green extraction and the use of green solvents. Microbial fermentation with an effective pretreatment (such as hydrothermal treatment and enzymatic treatment) to convert complex waste (pineapple fruit) into simple sugars and later fuel production are also discussed. The proposed review also provides a concise overview of the most recent research and developments in the field of advanced pineapple waste processing technologies.

Olga Babich, Светлана Иванова, Philippe Michaud et al.

Biotechnology Reports • 2023

Fermentation of both microalgae and macroalgae is one of the most efficient methods of obtaining valuable value-added products due to the minimal environmental pollution and the availability of economic benefits, as algae do not require arable land and drift algae and algal bloom biomass are considered waste and must be recycled and their fermentation waste utilized. The compounds found in algae can be effectively used in the fuel, food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries, depending on the type of fermentation used. Products such as methane and hydrogen can be produced by anaerobic digestion and dark fermentation of algae, and lactic acid and its polymers can be produced by lactic acid fermentation of algae. Article aims to provide an overview of the different types potential of micro- and macroalgae fermentation, the advantages and disadvantages of each type considered, and the economic feasibility of algal fermentation for the production of various value-added products.

Shinta Marito, Sunita Keshari, Supitchaya Traisaeng et al.

Scientific Reports • 2021

Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) ATCC 12228 was incubated with 2% polyethylene glycol (PEG)-8 Laurate to yield electricity which was measured by a voltage difference between electrodes. Production of electron was validated by a Ferrozine assay. The anti-Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) activity of electrogenic S. epidermidis was assessed in vitro and in vivo. The voltage change (~ 4.4 mV) reached a peak 60 min after pipetting S. epidermidis plus 2% PEG-8 Laurate onto anodes. The electricity produced by S. epidermidis caused significant growth attenuation and cell lysis of C. acnes. Intradermal injection of C. acnes and S. epidermidis plus PEG-8 Laurate into the mouse ear considerably suppressed the growth of C. acnes. This suppressive effect was noticeably reversed when cyclophilin A of S. epidermidis was inhibited, indicating the essential role of cyclophilin A in electricity production of S. epidermidis against C. acnes. In summary, we demonstrate for the first time that skin S. epidermidis, in the presence of PEG-8 Laurate, can mediate cyclophilin A to elicit an electrical current that has anti-C. acnes effects. Electricity generated by S. epidermidis may confer immediate innate immunity in acne lesions to rein in the overgrowth of C. acnes at the onset of acne vulgaris.

Gene Drendel, Elizabeth R. Mathews, Lucie Semenec et al.

Applied Sciences • 2018

Microbial fuel cells present an emerging technology for utilizing the metabolism of microbes to fuel processes including biofuel, energy production, and the bioremediation of environments. The application and design of microbial fuel cells are of interest to a range of disciplines including engineering, material sciences, and microbiology. In addition, these devices present numerous opportunities to improve sustainable practices in different settings, ranging from industrial to domestic. Current research is continuing to further our understanding of how the engineering, design, and microbial aspects of microbial fuel cell systems impact upon their function. As a result, researchers are continuing to expand the range of processes microbial fuel cells can be used for, as well as the efficiency of those applications.

Adriana M. Bonilla Loaiza, Rosa M. Rodríguez‐Jasso, Ruth Belmares et al.

Molecules • 2022

The development of green technologies and bioprocesses such as solid-state fermentation (SSF) is important for the processing of macroalgae biomass and to reduce the negative effect of Sargassum spp. on marine ecosystems, as well as the production of compounds with high added value such as fungal proteins. In the present study, Sargassum spp. biomass was subjected to hydrothermal pretreatments at different operating temperatures (150, 170, and 190 °C) and pressures (3.75, 6.91, and 11.54 bar) for 50 min, obtaining a glucan-rich substrate (17.99, 23.86, and 25.38 g/100 g d.w., respectively). The results indicate that Sargassum pretreated at a pretreatment temperature of 170 °C was suitable for fungal growth. SSF was performed in packed-bed bioreactors, obtaining the highest protein content at 96 h (6.6%) and the lowest content at 72 h (4.6%). In contrast, it was observed that the production of fungal proteins is related to the concentration of sugars. Furthermore, fermentation results in a reduction in antinutritional elements, such as heavy metals (As, Cd, Pb, Hg, and Sn), and there is a decrease in ash content during fermentation kinetics. Finally, this work shows that Aspergillus oryzae can assimilate nutrients found in the pretreated Sargassum spp. to produce fungal proteins as a strategy for the food industry.

Zeiad Moussa, Abeer A. Ghoniem, Ashraf Elsayed et al.

Scientific Reports • 2022

The present investigation has been designed by Taguchi and hybrid artificial neural network (ANN) paradigms to improve and optimize the binary sorption of Cobalt(II) and methylene blue (MB) from an aqueous solution, depending on modifying physicochemical conditions to generate an appropriate constitution for a highly efficient biosorption by the alga; Sargassum latifolium. Concerning Taguchi's design, the predicted values of the two responses were comparable to actual ones. The biosorption of Cobalt(II) ions was more efficient than MB, the supreme biosorption of Cobalt(II) was verified in run L 21 (93.28%), with the highest S/N ratio being 39.40. The highest biosorption of MB was reached in run L 22 (74.04%), with a S/N ratio of 37.39. The R 2 and adjusted R 2 were in reasonable values, indicating the validity of the model. The hybrid ANN model has exclusively emerged herein to optimize the biosorption of both Cobalt(II) and MB simultaneously, therefore, the ANN model was better than the Taguchi design. The predicted values of Cobalt(II) and MB biosorption were more obedience to the ANN model. The SEM analysis of the surface of S. latifolium showed mosaic form with massive particles, as crosslinking of biomolecules of the algal surface in the presence of Cobalt(II) and MB. Viewing FTIR analysis showed active groups e.g., hydroxyl, α, β-unsaturated ester, α, β-unsaturated ketone, N-O, and aromatic amine. To the best of our knowledge, there are no reports deeming the binary sorption of Cobalt(II) and MB ions by S. latifolium during Taguchi orthogonal arrays and hybrid ANN.

Cheng‐Han Thong, Siew‐Moi Phang, Fong‐Lee Ng et al.

Energy Science & Engineering • 2019

Abstract Rapid population and economic growth in the world have accelerated the search for new sustainable and environment‐friendly energy sources. Power‐producing systems generally add to the carbon load in the environment, contributing to global climate change. In photosynthesis, energy from light splits water molecules into oxygen, protons, and electrons. Algal biophotovoltaic (BPV) platforms were developed to harvest these electrons to generate bioelectricity through algal photosynthesis. Irradiance is one of the most important parameters that determine power output efficiency from algal BPV devices. In this study, the effective range of irradiance levels for power generation from algal BPV devices comprising of suspension and alginate‐immobilized Chlorella cultures on ITO anodes was determined. Immobilized cultures were prepared by entrapping the algal cells in 2% sodium alginate solution. The algal BPV devices were illuminated by four different irradiance levels (30, 90, 150, and 210 µmol photons m −2 s −1 ). The maximum power density of 0.456 mW m −2 was generated from the prototype algal fuel cell at the irradiance level of 150 µmol photons m −2 s −1 . At 210 µmol photons m −2 s −1 , low power density was produced due to photoinhibition as indicated by F v / F m values generated through PAM fluorometry. In terms of carbon fixation rate, the highest value was recorded in immobilized culture at 217.11 mg CO 2 L −1 d −1 . The algal biophotovoltaic device is multifunctional and can provide sustainable energy with simultaneous carbon dioxide removal.

Jnanada Joshi, Sarah Vanessa Langwald, Andrea Ehrmann et al.

Polymers • 2024

Algae-based biopolymers can be used in diverse energy-related applications, such as separators and polymer electrolytes in batteries and fuel cells and also as microalgal biofuel, which is regarded as a highly renewable energy source. For these purposes, different physical, thermochemical, and biochemical properties are necessary, which are discussed within this review, such as porosity, high temperature resistance, or good mechanical properties for batteries and high energy density and abundance of the base materials in case of biofuel, along with the environmental aspects of using algae-based biopolymers in these applications. On the other hand, bacterial biopolymers are also often used in batteries as bacterial cellulose separators or as biopolymer network binders, besides their potential use as polymer electrolytes. In addition, they are also regarded as potential sustainable biofuel producers and converters. This review aims at comparing biopolymers from both aforementioned sources for energy conversion and storage. Challenges regarding the production of algal biopolymers include low scalability and low cost-effectiveness, and for bacterial polymers, slow growth rates and non-optimal fermentation processes often cause challenges. On the other hand, environmental benefits in comparison with conventional polymers and the better biodegradability are large advantages of these biopolymers, which suggest further research to make their production more economical.