ORCID Profile
0000-0002-6255-1153
Current Organisation
Nanyang Technological University
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Publisher: IWA Publishing
Date: 06-2011
DOI: 10.2166/WST.2011.461
Abstract: The treatment of inhibitory (saline) wastewaters is known to produce considerable amounts of soluble microbial products (SMPs), and this has been implicated in membrane fouling the fate of these SMPs was of considerable interest in this work. This study also investigated the contribution of SMPs to membrane fouling of the (a) cake layer/biofilm layer, (b) the compounds below the biofilm/cake layer and strongly attached to the surface of the membrane, (c) the compounds in the inner pores of the membrane, and (d) the membrane. It was found that the cake/biofilm layer was the main reason for fouling of the membrane. Interestingly, the bacteria attached to the cake/biofilm layer showed higher biodegradation rates compared with the bacteria in suspension. Moreover, the bacteria attached to the cake layer showed higher amounts of attached extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) compared with the bacteria in suspension, possibly due to accumulation of the released EPS from suspended biomass in the cake/biofilm layer. Molecular weight (MW) analysis of the effluent and reactor bulk showed that the cake layer can retain a large fraction of the SMPs in the reactor and prevent them from being released into the effluent. Hence, while cake layers lead to lower fluxes in submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAMBRs), and hence higher costs, they can improve the quality of the reactor effluent.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-06-1999
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19990605)63:5<601::AID-BIT10>3.0.CO;2-J
Abstract: A growing cell culture of Pseudomonas oleovorans was used to biotransform 1,7-octadiene to 1,2-epoxy-7,8-octene in a continuous-flow bioreactor with an external membrane module. A dense silicone rubber membrane was used to contact an organic phase, containing both the reactant (1,7-octadiene) and the growth substrate (heptane), with an aqueous biomedium phase containing the biocatalyst. Heptane and octadiene delivery to the aqueous phase, and epoxide extraction into the solvent, occurred by diffusion across the dense membrane under a concentration-driving force. In addition, a liquid feed of heptane and octadiene was pumped directly into the bioreactor to increase the rate of delivery of these compounds to the aqueous phase. In this system 1,2-epoxy-7,8-octene accumulated in a pure solvent phase, thus, product recovery problems associated with emulsion formation were avoided. Furthermore, no phase breakthrough of either liquid across the membrane was observed. In this system, the highest volumetric productivity obtained was 30 U.L-1, and this was achieved at a dilution rate of 0.07 h-1, 70 m2. m-3 of membrane area, and a steady-state biomass concentration of 2. 5 g.L-1. The system was stable for over 1250 h. Decreasing the dilution rate led to an increased biomass concentration, however, the specific activity was significantly reduced, and therefore, an optimal dilution rate was determined at 0.055 h-1. Copyright 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2003
DOI: 10.1002/BIT.10840
Abstract: Mass transfer rates in liquid-liquid extraction processes can be seriously affected by the presence of surface-active contaminants. This is especially true of applications of a biotechnological origin, where the microorganism used in the process may produce the surface-active contaminants. An investigation into the effects of soluble and insoluble fermentation broth components on mass transfer using chlor henicol extraction into octanol as the model system was conducted. Soluble components produced during fermentation were found to adsorb to the interface, where they reduced the overall mass transfer coefficient by up to 70%. After fractionation it was found that components in the weight range from 10-30 kDa had the greatest effect on mass transfer. Protein and phospholipid compounds of similar size were found to reduce the overall mass transfer coefficient to a similar extent to the broth components at concentrations around 0.001mg/l. The biomass produced during the fermentation also reduced mass transfer substantially, and it is likely that this was due to physical blockage of the interface.
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Date: 1997
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2018.04.009
Abstract: This study investigated the effects and fate of CIP on anaerobic sludge over a wide range of concentrations (0.05-50 mg/L), and 0.5-50 mg/L significantly inhibited organic removal and methanogenic activity, increased volatile fatty acids accumulation and low molecular weight soluble microbial products (SMPs), including p-cresol and nitrogen-containing compounds. Although microbial communities exposed to CIP did not differ significantly from the control in species ersity indices, Syntrophobacter and Methanothrix associated with acetogenesis and acetoclastic methanogenesis, respectively, were underrepresented in the CIP-exposed communities. Our study advances understanding of how environmentally relevant concentrations of CIP disrupts anaerobic digestion, which has important implications for anaerobic engineered systems treating CIP-bearing waste streams.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-1999
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-03-2003
DOI: 10.1002/BIT.10602
Abstract: Reactive liquid-liquid extraction can be used to recover hydrophilic fermentation products that would not otherwise partition into nonpolar solvents through an ion-exchange reaction at the two-phase interface. However, the ion-exchange reagent may not be specific to the solute of interest and other compounds present may also be extracted. In this study, the effect on solute extraction of other compounds present in the extraction medium was investigated for phenylalanine extraction using Aliquat 336. The extent of extraction at equilibrium was modeled using the equilibrium constants for the reactions present in the process. The interaction of different species within a multicomponent medium was examined using the model and experimental results. It was found that the extent of extraction and coextraction is controlled by the thermodynamics of each extraction reaction and, due to the formation of a common product, the interaction between each of the reactions. The main competition to reactive extraction will come from hydrophobic anionic compounds that will be present in fermentation broth.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2000
DOI: 10.1002/1097-0290(20001205)70:5<553::AID-BIT10>3.0.CO;2-2
Abstract: Microorganisms can be used as catalysts to produce organic compounds in a highly chemo-, regio- and enantioselective manner, and whole cells do not require the costly addition of cofactors for redox reactions. However, bioconversions are slow compared to alternative chemical reactions, and the biocatalyst works at its best in an aqueous medium, while the transformations of interest frequently involve compounds with a low-aqueous solubility and that are toxic to microorganisms. This results in low-volumetric productivity in classical bioreactors. The Continuous Closed-Gas-Loop Bioreactor is described here-a reactor system with high productivity, but without the problems associated with two-phase systems, such as an emulsified product stream and phase toxicity. Its working principle is to recirculate a gas phase through a bioreaction compartment and a saturator/absorber module where the product accumulates as a clear organic solution. A wide range of bioconversions should be possible in this set-up, and proof of concept was established for the epoxidation of 1,7-octadiene to (R)-1,2-epoxyoct-7-ene by a native strain of Pseudomonas oleovorans. This reaction represents a group of terminal alkene epoxidations where the bioconversion substrate does not support growth of the microorganism. Practical results at a 5l-scale are presented for this bioconversion for both batch and continuous operation with respect to the aqueous phase, showing continuous stable epoxidation at productivities >14 micromol min(-1) L(-1) (U L(-1)). The results confirm that the metabolism does not allow a simple optimization strategy, because growth and biotransformation substrates compete for the same enzyme sites, and conversely growth on a substrate using this very enzyme system is necessary for longterm bioconversion. Integrated removal of the CO(2) formed via the liquid overflow was estimated from theory and verified in experimental work.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-11-2018
DOI: 10.1002/BIT.26475
Abstract: Resazurin is widely used as a metabolic indicator for living cells, however, there has been considerable debate in the literature with regards to the specific location in the cell where the non-fluorescent resazurin is reduced to the strongly fluorescent resorufin. This lack of clarity about the reduction site makes the use of resazurin reduction data in cytotoxicity studies difficult to interpret. In this study, E. faecalis, a Gram-positive and facultative anaerobic bacterial strain, and the most toxic chlorophenol, pentachlorophenol (PCP), were chosen as models for an anaerobe and toxicant, respectively. By studying the kinetics of resazurin reduction by E. faecalis after different treatments (cell disruption, bacterial filtration, and pre-exposure to toxicant), we confirmed that resazurin reduction to resorufin by live Gram-positive and facultative anaerobic bacterial cells can only happen intracellularly under anaerobic conditions, while resorufin reduction to dihydroresorufin can happen both intracellularly and extracellularly. Based on the understanding of these fundamental mechanisms, we suggest that resazurin reduction can be used as a quick bioassay for measuring cytotoxicity.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2016.12.113
Abstract: The effects of a biodegradable chelating agent, Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS), on the speciation and bioavailability of iron (Fe
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-03-2000
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19960705)51:1<69::AID-BIT8>3.0.CO;2-Z
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 1979
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-08-2011
DOI: 10.1002/BTPR.671
Abstract: The recovery of lysozyme from an aqueous solution containing precipitated lysozyme-AOT complexes formed by the direct addition of sodium bis-(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT) to a lysozyme solution was studied using both solvents, and a counterionic surfactant. Ethanol,methanol and solvent mixtures dissolved the surfactant precipitate and recovered lysozyme as a solid. Recovery efficiency and protein stability varied with the type of solvent used. An entirely different method of recovery was also evaluated using a counterionic surfactant: tri-octylmethylammonium chloride (TOMAC) which bound to AOT releasing lysozyme into solution.Complete recovery (100%) of lysozyme was achieved at a molar ratio of 2:1(TOMAC:AOT), and the original protein activity was maintained in the final aqueous phase.The recovered lysozyme retained its secondary structure as observed in circular dichroism(CD) spectra. Specific activity studies show that counterionic surfactant extraction does not alter the biological activity of the enzyme.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2016.12.053
Abstract: The effect of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the performance of an anoxic-aerobic submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR), and the characterization of the soluble microbial products (SMPs) produced in the presence of ZnO NPs was evaluated. Continuous operation over 144 days showed that ZnO NPs at concentrations of 10 and 50 mg/L exerted a negative impact on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrogen removal, although ZnO NPs were efficiently removed in the MBR (>92%). 10 and 50 mg/L ZnO NPs decreased COD removal substantially from 93.1± 0.6% to 90.1± 0.8% (<0.05) and 86.3± 2.3% (<0.05), respectively. Similarly, with 10 and 50 mg L ZnO NPs, the decreased in NH
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2000
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.JHAZMAT.2009.12.109
Abstract: Powdered activated carbon (PAC) was added to an effluent from a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAMBR) treating saline wastewater as a post-treatment method. The adsorption of contaminants was carried out and key Freundlich isotherm parameters were evaluated. The results showed a reduction in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the effluent of over 80% after treatment with 1.7gPAC/L. The composition of the effluent was determined by the use of size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and by GC-MS analysis. Most of the components of the effluent had a MW less than 1 kDa, and these were the hardest to eliminate by PAC adsorption. m-Aminophenylacetylene, cyclohexane 1,2,4 trimethyl and cholestan 3-one were found in the effluent, but could be removed by PAC adsorption. Finally, different methods for using PAC, with or without biomass, revealed that aerobic biomass enhanced the adsorption process resulting in higher DOC removals.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-1997
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-1992
DOI: 10.1007/BF00240720
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2017.05.061
Abstract: Six stirred fill-and-draw batch reactors with a range of carbohydrate feeds (glucose, fructose and sucrose), and nitrogen sources (NH
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-1997
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-11-2017
DOI: 10.1007/S11356-017-0586-X
Abstract: In this study, the production, composition, and characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in an anoxic-aerobic submerged membrane bioreactor (MBR) were investigated. The average concentrations of proteins and carbohydrates in the MBR aerobic stage were 3.96 ± 0.28 and 8.36 ± 0.89 mg/L, respectively. After membrane filtration, these values decreased to 2.9 ± 0.2 and 2.8 ± 0.2 mg/L, respectively. High performance size exclusion chromatograph (HP-SEC) analysis indicated a bimodal molecular weight (MW) distribution of DOMs, and that the intensities of all the peaks were reduced in the MBR effluent compared to the influent. Three-dimensional fluorescence excitation emission matrix (FEEM) indicated that fulvic and humic acid-like substances were the predominant DOMs in biological treatment processes. Precise identification and characterization of low-MW DOMs was carried out using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The GC-MS analysis indicated that the highest peak numbers (170) were found in the anoxic stage, and 54 (32%) compounds were identified with a similarity greater than 80%. Alkanes (28), esters (11), and aromatics (7) were the main compounds detected. DOMs exhibited both biodegradable and recalcitrant characteristics. There were noticeable differences in the low-MW DOMs present down the treatment process train in terms of numbers, concentrations, molecular weight, biodegradability, and recalcitrance.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2009
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2001
Abstract: Continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) and fill-and-draw reactors were used to investigate soluble microbial product (SMP) production during anaerobic digestion. Continuously stirred tank reactors with a glucose feed at three different strengths (5, 10, and 20 g chemical oxygen demand [COD]/L) and fill-and-draw reactors with four different feed compositions (glucose, glycerol, lactic acid, and starch at 10 g COD/L) were used with a solids retention time (SRT) of 15 days. The SMP production ranged from 102 to 588 mg COD/L for the glucose-fed CSTRs and between 157 and 1192 mg COD/L for the fill-and-draw reactors and was found to increase with increasing influent COD (SO). Normalized production of SMPs (SMP/So) ranged from 1.4 to 3% for the CSTRs and 12.0, 1.7, 14.7, and 3.6% for the glucose-, glycerol-, lactic acid-, and starch-fed reactors, respectively. A model incorporating SMP production and degradation was fitted to results from carbon-14 tracer studies in all of the reactors. The best-fit parameters from this model revealed that the type of SMP that dominates in any particular system depends not only on the strength of the feed but also on the composition of the feed and the type of reactor.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2015.12.074
Abstract: The treatment of leachate (Average TCOD=11.97 g/L, 14.4% soluble) from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste was investigated using a Submerged Anaerobic Membrane BioReactor (SAMBR), followed by an aerobic membrane bioreactor (AMBR) to polish this effluent. This paper investigated the exact nature and composition of the inorganic precipitate in each of the reactors in the process. The flux decreased due to precipitation of calcium as monohydrocalcite (CaCO3·H2O) containing traces of metals onto the SAMBR membrane because of high CO2 partial pressures. Precipitation of calcium in the AMBR was also observed due to a higher pH. In this case, phosphorus also precipitated with calcium in two different phases: the background layer contained calcium, oxygen, carbon and small amounts of phosphorus (2-6.7%), while flakes containing calcium, oxygen and higher amounts of phosphorus (10-17%) were probably hydroxyapatite (Ca5(PO4)3OH).
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 21-04-2017
DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2017.1312266
Abstract: In a conventional protein downstream processing (DSP) scheme, chromatography is the single most expensive step. Despite being highly effective, it often has a low process throughput due to its semibatch nature, sometimes with nonreproducible results and relatively complex process development. Hence, more work is required to develop alternative purification methods that are more cost-effective, but exhibiting nearly comparable performance. In recent years, surfactant precipitation has been heralded as a promising new method for primary protein recovery that meets these criteria and is a simple and cost-effective method that purifies and concentrates. The method requires the direct addition of a surfactant to a complex solution (e.g. a fermentation broth) containing the protein of interest, where the final surfactant concentration is maintained below its critical micelle concentration (CMC) in order to allow for electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the surfactant and the target protein. An insoluble (hydrophobic) protein-surfactant complex is formed and backextraction of the target protein from the precipitate into a new aqueous phase is then carried out using either solvent extraction, or addition of a counter-ionic surfactant. Importantly, as highlighted by past researchers, the recovered proteins maintain their activity and structural integrity, as determined by circular dichroism (CD). In this review, various aspects of surfactant precipitation with respect to its general methodology and process mechanism, system parameters influencing performance, protein recovery, process selectivity and process advantages will be highlighted. Moreover, comparisons will be made to reverse micellar extraction, and the current drawbacks/challenges of surfactant precipitation will also be discussed. Finally, promising directions of future work with this separation technique will be highlighted.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-04-2016
DOI: 10.1002/JCTB.4942
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-1993
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 09-2011
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Date: 10-2009
DOI: 10.2166/WST.2009.498
Abstract: A batch of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) was treated in a two-step process with effluent recirculation comprising a novel hydrolytic reactor (HR) followed by a Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (SAMBR) operating at a stable permeate flux of 5.6 L/m2 hr (LMH). A soluble COD removal higher than 95% was obtained from the SAMBR. The soluble COD as well as the Total Suspended Solids (TSS) did not build up due to efficient hydrolysis inside the SAMBR, and no VFA accumulation occurred due to the complete retention of methanogens by the membrane as well as the formation of syntrophic associations. Because of the microfiltration membrane in the second reactor a stabilized leachate was obtained from the very first days of the treatment and the highly stable process enabled shorter treatment periods compared to traditional leach bed processes. This experiment showed that the recycle of the stabilised leachate does not lead to a build up of SCOD. Size exclusion chromatography analysis confirmed that high molecular weight compounds were completely degraded and did not appear in the SAMBR permeate, and that low molecular weight fulvic-like and medium MW material were present in the permeate of the SAMBR but their concentration remained stable with time.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2019.04.024
Abstract: This study discovered a strong correlation between the autoinducer-2 (AI-2)-mediated quorum sensing (QS) with the performance of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor during its recovery from a pentachlorophenol (PCP) shock: a decrease in AI-2 levels coincided with a reduction in volatile fatty acid concentrations, and corresponded significantly to a decrease in the relative abundance of Firmicutes, and to an increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Synergistetes. Further batch experiments with the addition of an AI-2-regulating Escherichia coli mutant culture showed that a reduction in AI-2 levels resulted in the highest biogas production rate during a PCP shock. In contrast, an increase in AI-2 levels via addition of the E. coli wild type strain or an AI-2 precursor showed no obvious effects on biogas production. These results suggest that the AI-2 level in anaerobic sludge was governed primarily by Firmicutes, and the AI-2-mediated QS partially regulates the toxic shock response of anaerobic sludge via tuning the activities of Firmicutes and Synergistetes. A decrease in the AI-2 level might reduce acetogenesis and favor hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis, thus resulting in less VFA accumulation and higher methane production during the PCP shock. This study is the first of this type that exploits the role of quorum sensing in the toxic shock response of anaerobic sludge it demonstrates a novel approach to shortening the recovery period of anaerobic processes via manipulating the AI-2-mediated QS.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 22-03-2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2003
DOI: 10.1021/BP025630E
Abstract: Reactive liquid-liquid extraction can be used to separate hydrophilic fermentation products that would not otherwise partition into nonpolar solvents. However, during extraction of the target solute other compounds present in the extraction medium will also react with the ion exchange reagent and are thus co-extracted. In this study the effect of co-extraction on the interfacial flux of the target solute phenylalanine has been investigated for reactive extraction using Aliquat 336. The effect of co-extracting compounds has been included in a new interfacial flux balance, and experimental results reveal that the interfacial concentrations are equal to the final equilibrium conditions of the system. Using this information a simple mass transfer model has been developed from which film mass transfer coefficients may be determined. Co-extraction of other compounds present in the feed was found to reduce the interfacial flux of the target solute by reducing the driving force. Co-extraction did not affect the value of the film mass transfer coefficient, and therefore, co-extraction does not effect the transport properties of the solute to the interface. Extraction from a multicomponent fermentation broth resulted in a reduced flux, which arises from a reduction in the driving force caused by high levels of co-extraction. Furthermore, the flux was also reduced as the result of a mass transfer resistance caused by soluble surface-active compounds present in the fermentation broth adsorbing to the interface. The biomass associated with the fermentation broth was also found to reduce the solute flux, and it is believed that this is due to blockage of the interfacial area.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-01-2000
DOI: 10.1081/SS-100100196
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2000
DOI: 10.1002/1097-4660(200008)75:8<681::AID-JCTB270>3.0.CO;2-A
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2008
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-2012
DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2012.668029
Abstract: Plasticisers are commonly found in landfill leachate and accumulate in the environment. Some of them are known as disruptive endocrine compound. This manuscript assessed the toxicity of three common plasticisers, including Bis(2-Ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), o-hydroxybiphenyl (HBP) and 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-(dimethylaminomethyl) phenol (MAMP) on the methanogens during the anaerobic process. It was found that DEHP and MAMP did not impede methanogenesis up to 200 mg/L, but no additional methane could be obtained from their degradation. In contrast, HBP severely inhibited methanogens at 200 mg/L, but after acclimatisation it could be metabolised resulting in a 25% increase in methane production compared to the control.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-05-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2011.09.061
Abstract: The digestibility of a starch-polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) biopolymer insulated cardboard coolbox was investigated under a defined anaerobic digestion (AD) system with key parameters characterized. Laboratory results were combined with industrial operational data to develop a site-specific life cycle assessment (LCA) model. Inoculated with active bacterial trophic groups, the anaerobic biodegradability of three starch-PVOH biopolymers achieved 58-62%. The LCA modeling showed that the environmental burdens of the starch-PVOH biopolymer packaging under AD conditions on acidification, eutrophication, global warming and photochemical oxidation potential were dominated by atmospheric emissions released from substrate degradation and fuel combustion, whereas energy consumption and infrastructure requirements were the causes of abiotic depletion, ozone depletion and toxic impacts. Nevertheless, for this bio-packaging, AD of the starch-PVOH biopolymer combined with recycling of the cardboard emerged as the environmentally superior option and optimization of the energy utilization system could bring further environmental benefits to the AD process.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2014.04.044
Abstract: Effluents from biological processes contain a wide range of complex organic compounds, including soluble microbial products (SMP) and extracellular polymers (ECP), released during bacteria metabolism in mixed culture in bioreactors. It is important to clearly identify the primary components of SMPs and ECPs in order to understand the fundamental mechanisms of biological activity that create these compounds, and how to reduce these compounds in the effluent. In addition, these compounds constitute the main foulants in membrane bioreactors which are being used more widely around the world. A review on the extraction of ECP, characterization, and identification of SMPs and ECPs is presented, and we summarize up-to-date pretreatments and analytical methods for SMPs. Most researchers have focused more on the overall properties of SMPs and ECPs such as their concentrations, molecular weight distribution, aromaticity, hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties, biodegradability, and toxicity characteristics. Many studies on the identification of effluent SMPs show that most of these compounds were not present in the influent, such as humic acids, polysaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, organic acids, amino acids, exocellular enzymes, structural components of cells and products of energy metabolism. A few groups of researchers have been working on the identification of compounds in SMPs using advanced analytical techniques such as GC-MS, LC-IT-TOF-MS and MALDI-TOF-MS. However, there is still considerably more work needed to be done analytically to fully understand the chemical characteristics of SMPs and ECPs.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-1111
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2008.11.054
Abstract: This study investigated the performance of a submerged anaerobic membrane reactor (SAMBR) treating saline sewage under fluctuating concentrations of salinity (0-35g NaCl/L), at 8 and 20h HRT, with fluxes ranging from 5-8litres per square metre per hour (LMH). The SAMBRs attained a 99% removal of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) with 35g NaCl/L, while removal inside the reactor was significantly lower (40-60% DOC). Even with a sudden drop in salinity overall removal recovered quickly, while the recovery inside the reactor took place at a slower rate. This highlights the positive effect of the membrane in preventing the presence of high molecular weight organics in the effluent while also retaining biomass inside the reactor so that they can rapidly acclimatize to salinity. The reduction of continuous biogas sparging to intervals of 10min ON and 5min OFF resulted in a slight increase in transmembrane pressure (TMP) by 0.025bar, but also resulted in an increase in effluent DOC removal and inside the SAMBR by 10% and 20%, respectively. The addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) resulted in a decrease in the TMP by 0.070bar, and an increase in DOC removal in the reactor and effluent by 30% and 5%, respectively. The PAC dramatically decreased the high molecular weight organics in the reactor over a period of 72h. SEM pictures of the membrane and biomass before and after addition of PAC revealed a remarkable reduction of flocks on the membrane surface, and a reduction inside the reactor of soluble microbial products (SMPs). Finally, Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis of the membranes pores and biofilm highlighted the absence of organic matter in the inner pores of the membrane.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 1993
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2015.02.035
Abstract: A rapid fluorescence measurement based on resazurin reduction was developed and applied for the detection of toxicants/inhibitors to anaerobic digestion metabolism. By initially using a pure facultative anaerobic strain, Enterococcus faecalis as a model organism, this technique proved to be fast and sensitive when detecting the model toxicant, pentachlorophenol (PCP). The technique revealed significant metabolic changes in Enterococcus faecalis with a PCP spike ranging from 0.05 to 100 mg/L, and could detect PCP's toxicity to E. faecalis at a concentration of only 0.05 mg/L in 8 min. Furthermore, by extending this technique to a mixed anaerobic sludge, not only could the effect of 0.05-100 mg/L PCP be determined on anaerobic digestion metabolism within 10 min, but also its rate of biogas production. These results suggest that a resazurin-based fluorescence measurement can potentially be incorporated into a microfluidic system to develop a biosensor for the real-time monitoring, control and early warning of toxicant/inhibitor loads in the influent to an anaerobic digestion system.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 1993
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-1989
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2014.06.041
Abstract: The rapid development of nanotechnology will inevitably result in an increasing release of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) to wastewaters. In this study we investigated the fate and toxicity of ZnO NPs in aquatic plant mesocosms, as well as the potential for root accumulation and root-to-shoot translocation of these Zn NPs in the wetland plant Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani exposed to ZnO NPs. The growth of S. tabernaemontani in these hydroponic mesocosms was significantly inhibited by ZnO NPs (1000 mg L(-1)) compared to a control. Levels of Zn in the plant roots for the ZnO NP treatment ranged from 402 to 36513 μg g(-1), while values ranged from 256 to 9429 μg g(-)(1) (dry weight) for Zn(2+) treatment, implying that the uptake of Zn from ZnO NPs was substantially greater than that for Zn(2+). The root uptake (of the initial mass of Zn in the solution) for ZnO NP treatment ranged from 8.6% to 43.5%, while for Zn(2+) treatment they were 1.66% to 17.44%. The low values of the translocation factor for both ZnO NP (0.001-0.05) and Zn(2+) (0.05-0.27) treatments implied that the potential for translocation of Zn NPs from roots to shoots was limited. ZnO NP distribution in the root tissues of S. tabernaemontani was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that ZnO NPs could pass through plant cell walls, and were present within the plant cells of S. tabernaemontani.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-2008
DOI: 10.1080/09593330802175856
Abstract: The effects of biomass acclimatisation and adaptation during the start-up of three 3-litre submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAMBRs) were studied for the treatment of a sucrose-meat extract based medium strength wastewater (4 gCOD l(-1)). At 30 hours hydraulic retention time, the SAMBRs achieved more than 90% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal with two different types of initial sludge--one previously adapted in a SAMBR for low strength treatment (SAMBR A), while the other was acclimatised in low shear continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs mixture of biomass from two CSTR reactors fed on sucrose and/or acetate and propionate: SAMBR B--gassed at 5 litres per minute, SAMBR C at 2 litres per minute = 1.2 m3 m(-2) h(-1)). Although acclimatisation (enrichment of sludge adapted in a SAMBR for sewage treatment) took longer (100 days) than adaptation (enrichment and adaptation of sludge to SAMBR conditions) (39 days), the methane potential of the biomass improved substantially from its initial values. For successful start-up of SAMBRs a low initial loading rate, low biogas sparging rate and long acclimatisation and adaptation times were necessary to develop strong bacterial associations for interspecies electron transfer (SAMBRs A and C). The shorter adaptation time in SAMBR B resulted in permanent deterioration of performance, probably because of an insufficient population of methanogens and acetogens, and a reduction in floc size during overloaded conditions. The low value of flux (2 litres per square metre per hour) during high strength treatment was attributed to fine colloids, higher amounts of SMP and a high biomass concentration inside the reactor.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 03-10-2016
Abstract: Stimulation of anaerobic digestion by essential trace metals is beneficial from a practical point of view to enhance the biodegradability and degradation rate of wastes. Hence, a quick method to determine which metal species, and at what concentration, can optimize anaerobic digestion is of great interest to both researchers and operators. In this present study, we investigated the effect of nickel(II), cobalt(II), and their mixture, on the anaerobic digestion of synthetic municipal wastewater. Using a volumetric method, that is, measuring methane production over time, revealed that anaerobic digestion was stimulated by the addition of 5 mg L
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-1998
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-1999
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4660(199905)74:5<409::AID-JCTB57>3.0.CO;2-O
Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Date: 11-2000
Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Date: 02-2006
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-06-1998
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19980620)58:6<587::AID-BIT4>3.0.CO;2-E
Abstract: The Membrane Bioreactor for Biotransformations (MBB) is based on the aqueous/organic two-phase system, and uses a tubular silicone rubber membrane to separate the two liquid phases. This avoids the key problem associated with direct contact two-phase processes, specifically, product emulsification. The baker's yeast mediated reduction of geraniol to citronellol was used as a model biotransformation to demonstrate MBB operation. Values for the overall mass transfer coefficient were determined for geraniol, (2.0 x 10(-5) ms-1), and for citronellol, (2.1 x 10(-5) ms-1) diffusion across the silicone rubber membrane. Using these values, and the specific activity of the biocatalyst (5 nmols-1g biomass-1), a suitable membrane surface area: biomass ratio was determined as 2.4 x 10(-3) m2g biomass-1. The bioreactor was operated at this surface area: biomass ratio and achieved a product accumulation rate 90-95% that of a conventional direct contact two-phase system. The slight reduction in product accumulation rate was shown not to be due to mass transfer limitations with respect to reactant delivery or product extraction. Copyright 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2017.05.022
Abstract: Using adsorbents/flocculants in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) to reduce membrane fouling is comparatively rare. This study evaluated 8 additives: 3 powdered activated carbons, 2 granular activated carbons, 1 cationic polymer, and 2 metal salts to identify the best additive and dose to minimise membrane fouling. Small cross flow filtration tests showed 400mg/L PAC SAE2, or 150mg/L FeCl
Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Date: 2007
Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Date: 11-2003
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2017.04.151
Abstract: A quorum quenching (QQ) consortium comprised of both acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs)- and autoinducer-2 (AI-2)-degrading bacteria, either immobilized in polymer-coated alginate beads or in liquid suspension, was examined for fouling control in lab-scale MBRs under both steady and changing organic loading rates (OLRs). Under steady conditions the QQ consortium retarded biofouling by a factor of 3. However, a continuous increase in OLR vastly reduced the effectiveness of QQ bacteria the biofouling was retarded only by factors of 1.4-1.8. A significant increase in extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), especially loosely-bound EPS in mixed liquor together with an increase in polysaccharide content up to 4 times in EPS resulted from the increase in OLR, was attributed to the impaired QQ efficacy. In control MBRs, cake layer resistance was the major factor (>60%) contributing to the increased trans-membrane pressure, as compared with pore blockage resistance and intrinsic membrane resistance. In contrast, the pore blockage resistance became dominant in QQ MBRs (>40%).
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2016.07.063
Abstract: Anaerobic digestion of plant biomass to hydrocarbons could play a major part in meeting the needs of a modern low carbon society, but the cost reductions needed to make it an economically viable technology have been slower to arrive than in other renewable technologies. This is notwithstanding the observation that ruminants carry out the rate limiting hydrolysis step up to 30 times faster than an AD plant, and that bio-mimicry of ruminants could be an important source of innovation. This paper examines a number of factors which may, by focusing emphasis on the physical and chemical environment within cellulolytic biofilms, help accelerate development in the arena. It examines the process of cellulolysis from the perspective of a bacterium attached within a biofilm to a piece of insoluble cellulosic substrate to illustrate the extent of chemical heterogeneity that exists in the film, and between the film and the supernatant, and how this might control the rate of cellulolysis. It suggests several strategies used by ruminants to manage this heterogeneity that may be significant contributors to their effectiveness, and could provide a useful guide to more effective anaerobic digestion.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 27-04-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2009.06.004
Abstract: Oil well produced water (PW) can serve as an alternative water resource for restricted halotolerant agricultural purposes if the main pollutants, hydrocarbons and heavy metals, can be removed to below the irrigation standards. In this work, the potential removal of cadmium(II), chromium(III) and nickel(II) from PW by chemical precipitation in biological treatment was evaluated. Precipitation as a sulphide salt was found to be a very effective mechanism, which together with biosorption, biological metal uptake, precipitation as hydroxides and carbonates could remove heavy metals down to below irrigation standards. The existence and capability of these various mechanisms was demonstrated in the performance of a continuous artificial pond followed by intermittent sand filter, achieving removals of around 95% for nickel(II) and even higher removal rates for cadmium(II), chromium(III) from artificial PW after the installation of an anaerobic stage. The treated effluent quality was higher than that required by current European standards.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOTECHADV.2015.12.006
Abstract: Trace metals are essential for the growth of anaerobic microorganisms, however, in practice they are often added to anaerobic digesters in excessive amounts, which can lead to inhibition. The concept of bioavailability of metals in anaerobic digestion has been poorly understood in the past, and a lack of deep understanding of the relationship between trace metal speciation and bioavailability can result in ineffective metal dosing strategies for anaerobic digesters. Sequential extraction schemes are useful for fractionating trace metals into their different forms, and metal sulfides can serve as a store and source for trace metals during anaerobic digestion, while natural/synthetic chelating agents (soluble microbial products-SMPs, extracellular polysaccharides-EPS, and EDTA/NTA) are capable of controlling trace metal bioavailability. Nevertheless, more work is needed to: investigate the speciation and bioavailability of Ca, Mg, Mn, W, and Se compare the bioavailability of different forms of trace metals e.g. carbonates, sulfides, phosphates to different anaerobic trophic groups determine what factors influence metal sulfide dissolution investigate whether chelating agents can increase trace metal bioavailability develop and adapt specialized analytical techniques, and determine how trace metal dynamics change in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR).
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2000
DOI: 10.1016/S0141-0229(00)00198-8
Abstract: The application of many biotransformation processes is limited because the substrates roducts are poorly water soluble, can be further metabolized, or are inhibitory. Hence non-aqueous media (e.g. two-phase systems, low water environments) are being examined to determine whether they can be used to overcome these problems. One novel approach is to encapsulate whole cells in water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsions (reverse micelles). In this study we have investigated the influence of key system parameters on system stability and epoxidation activity of Mycobacterium M156 cells in reverse micelles comprised of a mixture of Tween 85 and Span 80 (10-20 w%, with an hydrophilic/lipophilic balance [HLB] of 10 and a weight ratio of Tween 85 to Span 80 = 5.7) in n-hexadecane. It was found that the minimum allyl phenyl ether (APE) concentration required in the bulk hexadecane solvent phase for epoxidation to occur was 15 mM, whereas the minimum molar ratio of water to surfactant (W(0)) was 35. The optimum epoxidation rate achieved was 3.8 nmol/mg dwt-min with an APE concentration of 50 mM, and a W(0) of 50, with an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 86%. However, epoxidation was found to terminate approximately 3 h after initiation, and the causes for this were postulated to be either: the deleterious effect of the solvent on the Mycobacteria inactivation of the energy generating system an insufficient energy supply, or the instability of the monooxygenase enzyme. It was concluded that on balance emulsion systems are not an economically viable system for producing phenyl glycidyl ether (PGE).
Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Date: 07-2000
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 25-02-2016
Abstract: Five commercially available assay kits were tested on the same protein s le with the addition of 17 different types of interfering substances typically found in the biological wastewater treatment, and a comparison of the use of these assays with 22 different protein and peptide s les is also presented. It was shown that a wide variety of substances can interfere dramatically with these assays the metachromatic response was also clearly influenced by different proteinaceous material. Measurement of the "protein" content in the effluent of an anaerobic membrane bioreactor was then carried out using these assay methods. Quantitative results of the "protein" concentration in the different effluent s les, with or without spiked additions of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), showed considerable disagreement. We concluded that the "protein" measured in wastewater s les using standard colorimetric assays often shows false positive results and has little correlation to their real value. A new analytical method needs to be developed in order to gain greater insight into the biological transformations occurring in anaerobic digestion, and how soluble microbial products (SMPs) are produced.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-2010
Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Date: 2007
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-05-2017
Abstract: The targeted spatial organization (sorting) of Gprotein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is essential for their biological function and often takes place in highly curved membrane compartments such as filopodia, endocytic pits, trafficking vesicles or endosome tubules. However, the influence of geometrical membrane curvature on GPCR sorting remains unknown. Here we used fluorescence imaging to establish a quantitative correlation between membrane curvature and sorting of three prototypic class A GPCRs (the neuropeptide Y receptor Y2, the β
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-1992
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 10-09-2010
DOI: 10.1021/ES903981K
Abstract: This study investigated fundamental mechanisms that anaerobic biomass employ to cope with salinity, and applied these findings to a continuous SAMBR. When anaerobic biomass was exposed to 20 and 40 g NaCl/L for 96 h, the main solute generated de novo by biomass was trehalose. When we separately introduced trehalose, N-acetyl-β-lysine and potassium into a batch culture a slight decrease in sodium inhibition was observed. In contrast, the addition of 0.1 mM and 1 mM of glycine betaine dramatically improved the adaptation of anaerobic biomass to 35 g NaCl/L, and it continued to enhance the adaptation of biomass to the salt for the next three batch feedings without further addition. No shift in archaeal microbial ersity was found when anaerobic biomass was exposed in batch mode to 35 g NaCl/L for 360 h, and no changes were found when glycine betaine was added. The dominant species identified under these conditions were Methanosarcina mazeii and Methanosaeta sp. The addition of 5 mM glycine betaine to a continuous SAMBR at 12 h hydraulic retention time (HRT), and operation in batch mode for 2 days can significantly enhance saline (35 g NaCl/L) synthetic sewage degradation. In addition, the injection of 1 mM of glycine betaine into a SAMBR for five subsequent days also significantly enhanced dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removal from sewage under these conditions. The main compatible solutes generated by anaerobic biomass after 44 days exposure to 35 g NaCl/L in a SAMBR were N-acetyl-β-lysine and glycine betaine. Finally, the addition of 1 mM glycine betaine to the medium was beneficial for anaerobic biomass in batch mode at 20 °C under saline and non saline conditions.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-1998
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4660(1998100)73:2<153::AID-JCTB939>3.0.CO;2-1
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2017.05.098
Abstract: This study examined the effects of a deficiency in trace metals (TMs) on the performance of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAMBR). When trace metals were excluded from the feed to the SAMBR, COD removal and methane yield reduced while VFAs in the effluent increased. A reduction of up to 37.48% in the total metal content in the reactor was observed, while the less bioavailable fractions increased up to 13.29%. Pulse addition of trace metals for 7 days at 5-times the daily metal loading was effective in improving the performance of the SAMBR by increasing the amount of trace metals in the bioavailable fractions from 2.12% to 11.92%, with up to 87.7% of added metals retained in the reactor within 24h. However, the second and third pulse at 5 and 10-times daily metal loading did not result in similar changes in metal speciation and might have inhibited the methanogens.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 15-06-2000
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-1998
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2009.09.043
Abstract: This study investigated the performance of two submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAMBRs) operating at a mean solids residence time (SRT) of 30 (SAMBR30) and 300 days (SAMBR300) at mesophilic and psychrophilic temperatures. At 35 degrees C results showed that SAMBR30 and 300 could achieve 95% soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) removal at 1.5 and 1.1 days HRT, respectively, whereas at 20 degrees C only SAMBR300 could maintain the same performance. Low temperatures were associated with higher bulk SCOD concentrations, which contributed to reducing the flux, but this was partly reversible once the SCOD was degraded. The utilization rate of compounds was affected differently by the drop in temperature with the concentration of some recalcitrants increasing, while for others such as bisphenol A it decreased when the temperature was decreased. Among the recalcitrants detected in SAMBR30 at 20 degrees C there were not only long chain fatty acids such as undecanoic acid and dodecanoic acid, but also long chain alkanes such as tetracosane and heneicosane that could not be hydrolyzed at 20 degrees C. In SAMBR300 these alkanes and acids only appeared at 10 degrees C, whereas at 20 degrees C complex compounds such as phenol, 2-chloro-4-(1,1-dimethylethyl), 6-tert-butyl-2,4-dimethylphenol, benzophenone, and n-butyl benzenesulfonamide were found.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2009
DOI: 10.1002/BTPR.268
Abstract: Fermentation systems can contain may surface-active compounds that can interfere with downstream separation processes. This work examines the interactions that can occur between surfactants and biomass during solute mass transfer in a liquid-liquid extraction system. Adding the surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate and dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide to the aqueous phase caused a substantial increase in the mass transfer of chlor henicol between water and octanol. Further investigation of the interfacial region using an optical Schlieren apparatus revealed that these increases were due to interfacial turbulence that gave rise to a rapid surface renewal convective mass transfer mechanism. When microbial biomass was present with sodium dodecyl sulfate, an increase in the mass transfer rate was again found, however, to a lesser extent. In contrast, dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide did not promote mass transfer and it is postulated that electrical interactions between the surfactant and the cell surface prevented adsorption of either at the interface. The interaction between the antifoaming agent polypropylene glycol 2000 and extraction system components was also investigated, with both positive and negative effects being recorded under varying conditions.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2001
DOI: 10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00365-1
Abstract: Due to legislative pressures, sludge production and processing in the UK will increase substantially in the future resulting in a supernatant liquid high in ammonia (500-1000 mg l-1) and "hard" COD (approximately 500 mg l-1). A small footprint reactor is required to effectively nitrify this effluent, and the aim of this work was to compare a number of immobilisation media under a variety of conditions in order to determine which media held the most promise for future development. Laboratory-scale continuously stirred tank reactors containing freely suspended and immobilised biomass were operated with a high-strength synthetic ammonia wastewater (500 mg N l-1) to determine the nitrification rates at various temperatures, and ammonia and COD loadings. COD:NH3 ratios in sludge liquors vary widely depending on the treatment processes employed, and therefore ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 were tested as being fairly typical. The freely suspended nitrifiers were washed out of the reactors at a 1 d hydraulic retention time (HRT), whereas the reactors containing adsorption particles (Linpor and Kaldnes) and PVA-encapsulated nitrifiers continued partially nitrifying down to 12 h, and oxygen addition enhanced nitrification. A decrease in temperature from 25 to 16 degrees C only caused a small (10%) decrease in nitrification in the immobilised cell reactors, demonstrating that nitrification was mass transfer rather than kinetically controlled. A reduction in nitrification occurred when glucose (500 mg l-1) was added to the feed due to the growth of a heterotrophic population. The adsorbed biomass reactors lost 35% of nitrification compared to only 7% with PVA, and it appears that the colonisation of PVA by heterotrophs is more difficult than for Linpor and Kaldnes. Respiration rates for all particles increased with time in the reactors, and nitrifiers immobilised in PVA retained approximately 40% of their viability after immobilisation. Volumetric nitrification rates were generally higher for the PVA reactor than for Linpor and Kaldnes, and were: suspended biomass reactor: 0.36 Linpor: 0.57 Kaldnes: 0.53 and PVA: 0.70 kg N m-3-reactor d-1 for a 25% reactor fill. These equate to 2.28, 4.24 and 3.97 g N m-2-media d-1 for Linpor, Kaldnes and PVA respectively, hence other reactor fill rates for Kaldnes warrant further investigation. However, the PVA particles with the highest nitrification rates under all conditions showed promise as an immobilisation medium, and are amenable to further optimisation for the nitrification of high-strength ammonia wastewaters.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.CHEMOSPHERE.2014.10.033
Abstract: Bioaugmentation (the process of adding selected strains/mixed cultures to wastewater reactors to improve the catabolism of specific compounds, e.g. refractory organics, or overall COD) is a promising technique to solve practical problems in wastewater treatment plants, and enhance removal efficiency. The potential of this option can now be enhanced in order to take advantage of important advances in the fields of microbial ecology, molecular biology, immobilization techniques and advanced bioreactor design. Reports on bioaugmentation in WWT show the difficulties in evaluating the potential parameters involved, leading frequently to inconclusive outcomes. Many studies have been carried out on the basis of trial-and-error approaches, and it has been reported that reactors bioaugmented with pure cultures often fail to perform as well as the pure cultures under laboratory conditions. As an interesting technical challenge, the feasibility of bioaugmentation should ultimately be assessed by data from field implementation, and this review highlights several promising areas to explore in the future.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-01-2000
DOI: 10.1081/SS-100100172
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2011
DOI: 10.1016/J.WASMAN.2011.02.015
Abstract: This paper focused on the factors affecting the respiration rate of the digestate taken from a continuous anaerobic two-stage process treating the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). The process involved a hydrolytic reactor (HR) that produced a leachate fed to a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAMBR). It was found that a volatile solids (VS) removal in the range 40-75% and an operating temperature in the HR between 21 and 35 °C resulted in digestates with similar respiration rates, with all digestates requiring 17 days of aeration before satisfying the British Standard Institution stability threshold of 16 mg CO(2) g VS(-1) day(-1). Sanitization of the digestate at 65 °C for 7 days allowed a mature digestate to be obtained. At 4 g VS L(-1) d(-1) and Solid Retention Times (SRT) greater than 70 days, all the digestates emitted CO(2) at a rate lower than 25 mg CO(2) g VS(-1) d(-1) after 3 days of aeration, while at SRT lower than 20 days all the digestates displayed a respiration rate greater than 25 mg CO(2) g VS(-1) d(-1). The compliance criteria for Class I digestate set by the European Commission (EC) and British Standard Institution (BSI) could not be met because of nickel and chromium contamination, which was probably due to attrition of the stainless steel stirrer in the HR.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOTECHADV.2014.10.005
Abstract: Anaerobic digestion is increasingly being used to treat wastes from many sources because of its manifold advantages over aerobic treatment, e.g. low sludge production and low energy requirements. However, anaerobic digestion is sensitive to toxicants, and a wide range of compounds can inhibit the process and cause upset or failure. Substantial research has been carried out over the years to identify specific inhibitors/toxicants, and their mechanism of toxicity in anaerobic digestion. In this review we present a detailed and critical summary of research on the inhibition of anaerobic processes by specific organic toxicants (e.g., chlorophenols, halogenated aliphatics and long chain fatty acids), inorganic toxicants (e.g., ammonia, sulfide and heavy metals) and in particular, nanomaterials, focusing on the mechanism of their inhibition/toxicity. A better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms behind inhibition/toxicity will enhance the wider application of anaerobic digestion.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2014.08.011
Abstract: Anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs) have been shown to be successful units for the treatment of low strength wastewaters, however, the issue of membrane fouling is still a major problem in terms of economic viability. Biogas sparging has been shown to reduce fouling substantially, and hence this study monitored the effect of biogas sparging rate on an AnMBR. The critical flux under a sparging rate of 6 l per minute (LPM) was found to be 11.8 l m(-2) h(-1) (LMH), however, membrane hysteresis was found to have an effect on the critical flux, and where the AnMBR had previously been operated with a 2 LPM sparging rate, the critical flux fell to 7.2 LMH. The existence of a "critical sparging rate" was also investigated under the condition that 'there exists a sparging rate beyond which any further decrease in sparging rate will cause a dramatic rise in TMP'. For an AnMBR operating at a flux of 7.2 LMH the critical sparging rate was found to be 4 LPM.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 27-10-2015
Abstract: The sensitivity of anaerobic digestion metabolism to a wide range of solutes makes it important to be able to monitor toxicants in the feed to anaerobic digesters to optimize their operation. In this study, a rapid fluorescence measurement technique based on resazurin reduction using a microplate reader was developed and applied for the detection of toxicants and/or inhibitors to digesters. A kinetic model was developed to describe the process of resazurin reduced to resorufin, and eventually to dihydroresorufin under anaerobic conditions. By modeling the assay results of resazurin (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM) reduction by a pure facultative anaerobic strain, Enterococcus faecalis, and fresh mixed anaerobic sludge, with or without 10 mg L(-1) spiked pentachlorophenol (PCP), we found it was clear that the pseudo-first-order rate constant for the reduction of resazurin to resorufin, k1, was a good measure of "toxicity". With lower biomass density and the optimal resazurin addition (0.1 mM), the toxicity of 10 mg L(-1) PCP for E. faecalis and fresh anaerobic sludge was detected in 10 min. By using this model, the toxicity differences among seven chlorophenols to E. faecalis and fresh mixed anaerobic sludge were elucidated within 30 min. The toxicity differences determined by this assay were comparable to toxicity sequences of various chlorophenols reported in the literature. These results suggest that the assay developed in this study not only can quickly detect toxicants for anaerobic digestion but also can efficiently detect the toxicity differences among a variety of similar toxicants.
Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Date: 2007
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-2011
DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2011.609402
Abstract: In this study, various methods were compared to reduce the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) content of stabilised leachate from a Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (SAMBR). It was found that Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC) resulted in greater COD removals (84 %) than Granular Activated Carbon (GAC-80 %), an ultrafiltration membrane of 1kDa (75 %), coagulation-flocculation with FeCl(3) and polyelectrolyte (45 %), FeCl(3) alone (32 %), and polymeric adsorbents such as XAD7HP (46 %) and XAD4 (32 %). Results obtained on the <1 kDa fraction showed that PAC and GAC had a similar adsorption efficiency of about 60 % COD removal, followed by XAD7HP (48 %), XAD4 (27 %) and then FeCl(3) (23 %). The post-treatment sequence UF+GAC would result in a final effluent with less than 100 mg COD/L. Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC) revealed that the extent of adsorption of low MW compounds onto PAC was limited due to low MW hydrophilic compounds, whereas the kinetics of PAC adsorption depended mainly on the adsorption of high MW aromatics.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-11-2006
DOI: 10.1002/JCTB.1622
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2016.03.082
Abstract: This study examined the effects of Fe(2+) and its bioavailability for controlling VFAs during organic shock loads in batch reactors and a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAMBR). When seed grown under Fe-sufficient conditions (7.95±0.05mgFe/g-TSS), an organic shock resulted in leaching of Fe from the residual to organically bound and soluble forms. Under Fe-deficient seed conditions (0.1±0.002mgFe/gTSS), Fe(2+) supplementation (3.34mgFe(2+)/g-TSS) with acetate resulted in a 2.1-3.9 fold increase in the rate of methane production, while with propionate it increased by 1.2-1.5 fold compared to non-Fe(2+) supplemented reactors. Precipitation of Fe(2+) as sulphides and organically bound Fe were bioavailable to methanogens for acetate assimilation. The results confirmed that the transitory/long term limitations of Fe play a significant role in controlling the degradation of VFAs during organic shock loads due to their varying physical/chemical states, and bioavailability.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-1998
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-08-2008
DOI: 10.1007/S10532-008-9210-6
Abstract: This study investigated the acclimation potential of batch fed anaerobic biomass with salinities of 0-50 gNaCl l(-1). Anaerobic biomass was acclimatized to salinities up to 20 gNaCl l(-1)over a period of 35 days, with 3 consecutive feedings. After this period the biomass was subjected to non-saline conditions to simulate fluctuating feed compositions. High activity was obtained after the first exposure to non saline conditions for biomass previously exposed to 30 gNaCl l(-1). Short exposure (2-48 h) to high salinity (40 gNaCl l(-1)) did not reduce biomass activity when it was re-subjected to normal conditions. The sensitivity of each anaerobic bacterial group showed that propionate utilisers were the most affected by sudden changes in salinity. Using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) it was found that biomass exposed to concentrations of salinity above 30 gNaCl(-1) produced higher molecular weight soluble microbial products (SMPs) which were present in the culture for longer periods than the control indicating that the effluent was more difficult to degrade. With the sudden removal of salinity anaerobic biomass can easily readapt to normal conditions without any high MW compounds being produced. These findings highlight the fact that anaerobic biomass is able to overcome sharp decreases in salinity in contrast with aerobic biomass as reported in the literature.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-11-2015
DOI: 10.1002/BIT.25865
Abstract: This study seeks to examine the ability of non-ionic/non-polar Colloidial Liquid Aphrons (CLAs) to preserve enzyme functionality upon immobilization and release. CLAs consisting of micron-sized oil droplets surrounded by a thin aqueous layer stabilized by a mixture of surfactants, were formulated by direct addition (pre-manufacture addition) using 1% Tween 80/mineral oil and 1% Tween 20 and the enzymes lipase, aprotinin and α-chymotrypsin. The results of activity assays for both lipase and α-chymotrypsin showed that kinetic activity increased upon immobilization by factors of 7 and 5.5, respectively, while aprotinin retained approximately 85% of its native activity. The conformation of the enzymes released through desorption showed no significant alterations compared to their native state. Changes in pH and temperature showed that optimum conditions did not change after immobilization, while analysis of activation energy for the immobilized enzyme showed an increase in activity at higher temperatures. Furthermore, the effect of bound water within the aphron structure allowed for some degree of enzyme hydration, and this hydration was needed for an active conformation with results showing a decrease in ΔH* for the immobilized system compared to its native counterpart.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 07-04-2017
Abstract: Microfluidic droplet reactors have many potential uses, from analytical to synthesis. Stable operation requires preferential wetting of the channel surface by the continuous phase which is often not fulfilled by materials commonly used for lab-on-chip devices. Here we show that a silica nanoparticle (SiNP) layer coated onto a Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and other thermoplastics surface enhances its wetting properties by creating nanoroughness, and allows simple grafting of hydrocarbon chains through silane chemistry. Using the unusual stability of silica sols at their isoelectric point, a dense SiNP layer is adsorbed onto PMMA and renders the surface superhydrophilic. Subsequently, a self-assembled dodecyltrichlorosilane (DTS) monolayer yields a superhydrophobic surface that allows the repeatable generation of aqueous droplets in a hexadecane continuous phase without surfactant addition. A SiNP-DTS modified chip has been used to monitor bacterial viability with a resazurin assay. The whole process involving sequential reagents injection, and multiplexed droplet fluorescence intensity monitoring is carried out on chip. Metabolic inhibition of the anaerobe Enterococcus faecalis by 30 mg L
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2012.09.093
Abstract: This study presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) model comparing the waste management options for starch-polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) biopolymers including landfill, anaerobic digestion (AD), industrial composting and home composting. The ranking of biological treatment routes for starch-PVOH biopolymer wastes depended on their chemical compositions. AD represents the optimum choice for starch-PVOH biopolymer containing N and S elements in global warming potential (GWP(100)), acidification and eutrophication but not on the remaining impact categories, where home composting was shown to be a better option due to its low energy and resource inputs. For those starch-PVOH biopolymers with zero N and S contents home composting delivered the best environmental performance amongst biological treatment routes in most impact categories (except for GWP(100)). The landfill scenario performed generally well due largely to the 100-year time horizon and efficient energy recovery system modeled but this good performance is highly sensitive to assumptions adopted in landfill model.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2017
DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2016.1266460
Abstract: This study reviews the addition of compatible solutes to biological systems as a strategy to counteract osmolarity and other environmental stresses. At high osmolarity many microorganisms accumulate organic solutes called "compatible solutes" in order to balance osmotic pressure between the cytoplasm and the environment. These organic compounds are called compatible solutes because they can function inside the cell without the need for special adaptation of the intracellular enzymes, and also serve as protein stabilizers in the presence of high ionic strength. Moreover, the compatible solutes strategy is regularly being employed by the cell, not only under osmotic stress at high salinity, but also under other extreme environmental conditions such as low temperature, freezing, heat, starvation, dryness, recalcitrant compounds and solvent stresses. The accumulation of these solutes from the environment has energetically a lower cost than de novo synthesis. Based on this cell mechanism several studies in the field of environmental biotechnology (most of them on biological wastewater treatment) employed this strategy by exogenously adding compatible solutes to the wastewater or medium in order to alleviate environmental stress. This current paper critically reviews and evaluates these studies, and examines the future potential of this approach. In addition to this, a strategy for the successful implementation of compatible solutes in biological systems is proposed.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2004
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2003.09.031
Abstract: Anaerobic chemostats fed on glucose (approximately 10 g chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L) were used to investigate the effects of toxicity on soluble microbial product (SMP) formation. Addition of the toxic compounds chloroform and chromium increased the net accumulation of SMP, despite reducing the percentage of SMP in the effluent due to the overwhelming production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs). In the reactor spiked with chloroform the normalized accumulation of SMP (SMP/So) increased from 2% to 8%, whereas in the reactor spiked with Cr (VI) the SMP/So ratio reached as high as 20% after the spike, and in both cases SMP net accumulation was proportional to the concentration of toxicant. After the chloroform and chromium spikes biomass seemed to produce more extra cellular polymeric substances (EPS) suggesting that this might have helped them to cope with the stress. Chromatography results indicate that some of the high MW compounds present in the SMP might have been due to EPS release into the bulk solution, and that other compounds, probably released as a result of cell lysis, were also present. Hydrolysis of EPS did not seem to contribute to SMP accumulation in the presence of toxic compounds, and DNA analysis suggested that cell lysis products was an important contribution to SMP accumulation, in the presence of chromium.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2000
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 1993
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.COLSURFB.2016.02.054
Abstract: Refractive index matching was used to create optically transparent polyaphrons to enable proteins adsorbed to the aphron surface to be characterized. Due to the significant light scattering created by polyaphrons, refractive index matching allowed for representative circular dichroism (CD) spectra and acceptable structural characterization. The method utilized n-hexane as the solvent phase, a mixture of glycerol and phosphate buffer (30% [w/v]) as the aqueous phase, and the non-ionic surfactants, Laureth-4 and Kolliphor P-188. Deconvolution of CD spectra revealed that the immobilized protein adapted its native conformation, showing that the adsorbed protein interacted only with the bound water layer ("soapy shell") of the aphron. Isothermal calorimetry further demonstrated that non-ionic surfactant interactions were virtually non-existent, even at the high concentrations used (5% [w/v]), proving that non-ionic surfactants can preserve protein conformation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2001
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-2000
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2006
DOI: 10.1007/S00253-005-0025-7
Abstract: In this work the biotransformation of alpha-pinene oxide to isonovalal using resting cells of Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 11671 was evaluated in a membrane bioreactor for biotransformations (MBB). Since the membrane area required to obtain optimum productivities was calculated to be very large (1,000 m2 m(-3)), and not possible to fit into the laboratory reactor used, we initially evaluated performance with lower membrane areas (71 m2 m(-3)) in a batch system with both the substrate and product in the organic phase. This resulted in low productivities due to mass transfer limitations, so an optimum feeding rate of 0.1 g alpha-pinene oxide h(-1) g(cells) (-1) added directly to the reactor contents was determined in batch culture to minimise inhibition. The MBB was then operated continuously for the production of isonovalal, and a final concentration of 108 g l(-1) was obtained in the organic reservoir after nearly 400 h of operation (0.32 g-isonovalal l(-1) h(-1)), and the reaction was found not to be mass transfer limited. Finally, the relative viability of the cells was measured using fluorescent probes, and their half-life was found to be almost 2 months, confirming the ability of the MBB to facilitate biotransformations with inhibitory substrates and products.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.COLSURFB.2015.09.033
Abstract: The use of non-ionic colloidal liquid aphrons (CLAs) as a support for enzyme immobilisation was investigated. Formulation required the mixing of an aqueous-surfactant solution with a relatively non-polar solvent-surfactant solution, forming a solvent droplet surrounded by a thin stabilised aqueous film (soapy shell). Studies utilising anionic surfactants have showed increased retention, however, very little have been understood about the forces governing immobilisation. This study seeks to determine the effects of enzyme properties on CLA immobilisation by examining a non-ionic/non-polar solvent system comprised of two non-ionic surfactants, Tween 20 and 80, mineral oil and the enzymes lipase, aprotinin and α-chymotrypsin. From these results it was deduced that hydrophobic interactions strongly governed immobilisation. Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM) revealed that immobilisation was predominantly achieved by surface adsorption attributed to hydrophobic interactions between the enzyme and the CLA surface. Enzyme surface affinity was found to increase when added directly to the formulation (pre-manufacture addition), as opposed to the bulk continuous phase (post-manufacture addition), with α-chymotrypsin and aprotinin being the most perturbed, while lipase was relatively unaffected. The effect of zeta potential on immobilisation showed that enzymes adsorbed better closer to their pI, indicating that charge minimisation was necessary for immobilisation. Finally, the effect of increasing enzyme concentration in the aqueous phase resulted in an increase in adsorption for all enzymes due to cooperativity between protein molecules, with saturation occurring faster at higher adsorption rates.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-11-2014
DOI: 10.1002/JCTB.4586
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2009.07.005
Abstract: This study evaluated the biological treatability of produced water (PW), the water separated from oil at the wellhead which contains both dispersed oil and low levels of heavy metals, using waste stabilisation ponds (WSPs). We examined both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and oil and grease (O&G) removal using different process configurations (hydraulic retention time (HRT), aerobic and anaerobic conditions, oil skimming, effluent recycle) in a small (10 L) reactor being fed a synthetic PW (COD=1050-1350 mg L(-1), O&G=400-500 microL L(-1), 6 g NaCl/L). The reactor was operated for 6 months, and at a HRT of 6 days (8 with evaporation) COD removals were greater than 85%, and improved over time to >90%, while O&G removals (measured with a newly developed method) were greater than 82% and also improved with time. Operating with an anaerobic section, oil skimming and 300% recycling were all found to enhance COD removal.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 08-02-2017
Abstract: Effluents from wastewater treatment systems contain a variety of organic compounds, including end products from the degradation of influent substrates, nonbiodegradable feed compounds, and soluble microbial products (SMPs) produced by microbial metabolism. It is important to identify the major components of these SMPs to understand what is in wastewater effluents. In this study, physical pretreatments to extract and concentrate low molecular weight SMPs (MW< 580 Da) from effluents were optimized. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) of a 200 mL effluent s le showed the best performance using a mixture of n-hexane, chloroform, and dichloromethane (70 mL) for extraction. For solid phase extraction (SPE), two OasisHLB cartridges were connected in-line to optimize recovery, and the eluted s les from each cartridge were analyzed separately to avoid overlapping peaks. Four solvents varying from polar to nonpolar (methanol, acetone, dichloromethane, and n-hexane) were selected to maximize the number of compound peaks eluted. A combination of SPE (OasisHLB) followed by LLE was shown to maximize compound identification and quantification. However, the compounds identified accounted for only 2.1 mg of chemical oxygen demand (COD)/L (16% of total SMP as COD) because many SMPs have considerably higher MWs. Finally, the method was validated by analyzing a variety of different reactor effluents and feeds.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2009.09.075
Abstract: A novel three-stage bioprocess achieved 75% volatile solids (VS) removal at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 4g VSL(-1)day, a solids retention time (SRT) of 66days, a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20days, at a temperature of 35 degrees C. The bioprocess consisted of an anaerobic hydrolytic reactor (HR) where the solids and liquid fractions of the Organic Fraction of the Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW) were separated with a mesh. The leachate was pumped to a Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor (SAMBR) and the treated permeate was polished in an Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AMBR). Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) and DNA sequencing analyses indicated that the increase in methane content in the HR caused by the excess sludge recycle from the SAMBR was associated with an increase in the number of hydrogenotrophic species, mainly Methanobrevibacter sp., Methanobacterium formicicum and Methanosarcina sp. At 20 degrees C VS removal dropped to 50% in the HR and some DGGE bands disappeared when compared to 35 degrees C s les, while some bands such as the one corresponding to Ruminococcus flavefaciens were reduced in intensity. The species associated with the COD-polishing properties of the AMBR correspond to the genera Pseudomonas, Hyphomonas and Hyphomicrobiaceae. These results highlight the positive effect of recycling the excess sludge from the SAMBR to re-inoculate the HR with hydrogenotrophic species.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2000
Abstract: The liquid-liquid extraction of protein from buffered aqueous phases using reverse micelles (RM) has been extensively researched from a fundamental point of view. However, very little effort has been expended at scaling up this process for the extraction of real fermentation broth. When real broths are used with reverse micellar phases there are major problems with emulsion formation. In this study the effect of a variety of demulsifiers on lysozyme extraction was evaluated in terms of their influence on the separating properties of the emulsion, water content (Wo), and, extraction yield and kinetics from both buffer and hen egg white. In addition, the use of a low shear contactor (a Graesser or 'raining bucket') was assessed in terms of its suitability as a RM contactor. It was found that most of the demulsifiers reduced the settling time of the emulsion, and enhanced the yield and kinetics of lysozyme extraction from hen egg white. It was hypothesised that this was due to the demulsifier displacing the lysozyme from the interface and preventing the protein unfolding and precipitating. This effect was found to depend on both the generic type of demulsifier, and its concentration.
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Date: 07-2006
DOI: 10.2166/WST.2006.505
Abstract: This paper presents results on the quantification and chromatographic characterization of soluble microbial products (SMP) accumulated in two laboratory-scale reactors: a submerged anaerobic membrane reactor (SAMBR or MBR), and an anaerobic CSTR. The results obtained under steady-state conditions show that 2.1% of the substrate was channelled into the production of SMP in the CSTR, whilst in the SAMBR this was estimated to be 25%. Chromatographic characterization showed that more hydrophobic and high MW organics that absorb at 254 nm were detected in the SAMBR supernatant than in the CSTR. A comparison of chromatograms suggest that the release of extracellular polymers (ECP) and cell lysis may be important sources of SMP in the SAMBR. Electrophoresis results confirmed that there was more soluble protein inside the SAMBR, and showed that the release of ECP by shear or hydrolysis seemed to have contributed to the production of protein-like SMP in both systems.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2001
DOI: 10.1016/S0043-1354(00)00441-3
Abstract: In this article the role of hydrogen as a process monitoring tool in methanogenic systems was studied by considering the influence of several key system parameters. Hydrogen production was found to be influenced mainly by the inocula's source pH, and varied only slightly with external pH and HCO3- levels. When an inoculum adapted to above neutral conditions (pH > 7) was shocked, reducing equivalents were selectively channelled through formate, while high hydrogen production was noticed with acidically (pH < 6.5) adapted inocula. The results also revealed that the production of hydrogen or formate during shock loads was not strongly associated with microbial morphology (granules or flocs) as high electron fluxes were possible through either during acidogenesis. Shock load experiments in continuous reactors revealed that neither hydrogen nor formate accumulated to any significant degree, nevertheless digester recovery took a long time due to the slow kinetics of volatile fatty acid degradation. Selective formate production under neutral pH environments, coupled with high hydrogenotrophic activity, was found to be responsible for the d ened hydrogen response during the early phases of gradually shocked systems (step change). Based on these results it appears that the role of hydrogen as a process monitoring tool has been overemphasised in the literature.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2012.05.138
Abstract: Anaerobic membrane reactors (AnMBRs) have recently evolved from aerobic MBRs, with the membrane either external or submerged within the reactor, and can achieve high COD removals (~98%) at hydraulic retention times (HRTs) as low as 3 h. Since membranes stop biomass being washed out, they can enhance performance with inhibitory substrates, at psychrophilic/thermophilic temperatures, and enable nitrogen removal via Anammox. Fouling is important, but addition of activated carbon or resins recipitants can remove soluble microbial products (SMPs)/colloids and enhance flux. Due to their low energy use and solids production, and solids free effluent, they can enhance nutrient and water recycling. Nevertheless, more work is needed to: compare fouling between aerobic and anaerobic systems determine how reactor operation influences fouling evaluate the effect of different additives on membrane fouling determine whether nitrogen removal can be incorporated into AnMBRs recover methane solubility from low temperatures effluents and, establish sound mass and energy balances.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2000
DOI: 10.1016/S0141-0229(99)00186-6
Abstract: The novel technique of immobilization of beta-galactosidase on colloidal liquid aphrons (CLAs) was investigated. CLAs are oil-in-water macroemulsions stabilised by a mixture of ionic and nonionic surfactants. Enzyme retention was found to be unaffected by changes in bulk phase pH and ionic strength, indicating that beta-galactosidase immobilization was due primarily to hydrophobic interactions. However, by varying the polarity of the internal solvent core, and the charge of the surfactants used in the formation of the CLAs, it was found that immobilization could be improved to almost 100% under certain conditions indicating that electrostatic interactions also affected immobilization to a lesser degree. Upon immobilization, it was found that there was a shift in the pH optimum of the enzyme, with the immobilized enzyme showing a broader range, and a maximal activity at higher pH. The immobilized beta-galactosidase displayed normal Michaelis-Menten dependence on substrate concentration, whilst also exhibiting superactivity for increased substrate concentrations. Activation energy was determined for the CLA immobilized enzyme, and it was found to decrease indicating that a conformational change had occurred that may account for the observed increase in activity. Finally, although the temperature profile of the immobilized enzyme was similar to the free enzyme, it was very stable, with a potential half-life of 3.6 years at 30 degrees C.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-05-2017
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-09-2006
DOI: 10.1002/JCTB.1596
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2016.03.064
Abstract: The driver for waste-based economic growth is long-term strategic design, and a paradigm-shift from waste treatment to resource recovery. This study aims to use an integrated modelling approach to evaluate the holistic economic and environmental profiles of three alternative nitrogen removal and recovery methods integrated into wastewater treatment systems, including conventional nitrification-denitrification, Anammox, and the anaerobic ion exchange route, to provide insights into N recovery system designs which are key elements in building a sustainable circular economy. Our results suggest that ion exchange is a promising technology showing high N removal-recovery efficiency from municipal wastewater and delivering competitive sustainability scores. In comparison with the well-developed conventional route, ion exchange and Anammox are undergoing significant research and development as highlighted in sensitivity analyses, there is considerable room for process design and optimisation of ion exchange systems to achieve economically and environmentally optimal performance.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 12-06-2017
Abstract: Six 5.0-L fill-and-draw batch reactors were used with different feed compositions containing a range of carbohydrates (glucose, sucrose, fructose) and nitrogen sources (urea, NH
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2000
Publisher: No publisher found
Date: 2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2016.03.008
Abstract: Four laboratory preparations and three commercially available assay kits were tested on the same carbohydrate s les with the addition of 14 different interfering solutes typically found in wastewater treatment plants. This work shows that a wide variety of solutes can interfere with these assays. In addition, a comparative study on the use of these assays with different carbohydrate s les was also carried out, and the metachromatic response was clearly influenced by variation in s le composition. The carbohydrate content in the supernatant of a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAMBR) was also measured using these assays, and the amount in the different supernatant s les, with and without a standard addition of glucose to the s les, showed substantial differences. We concluded that the carbohydrates present in wastewater measured using these colorimetric methods could be seriously under- or over-estimated. A new analytical method needs to be developed in order to better understand the biological transformations occurring in anaerobic digestion that leads to the production of soluble microbial products (SMPs) and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS).
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-1999
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-1991
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-1999
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2008.06.038
Abstract: This study proposes a modification to the standard method for the determination of the chemical oxygen demand of s les with a salinity up to 40 g NaCl/L and low organic concentrations (20-230 mg COD/L). The masking of chloride by the use of a HgSO(4):Cl ratio of 20:1 prior to digestion, and the use of 3g K(2)Cr(2)O(7)/L in the digestion solution resulted in an error of less than 10% and 12% for s les containing 40 g NaCl/L at 20-190 mg COD/L and 230 mg COD/L, respectively. Comparison of the standard method with the new proposed method using a synthetic sewage highlights the large errors (50-85%) of the standard method in contrast to an error of less than 10% for the proposed modified method.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.JENVMAN.2015.11.055
Abstract: This paper focuses on the treatment of leachate from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) in a submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactor (SAMBR). Operation of the SAMBR for this type of high strength wastewater was shown to be feasible at 5 days hydraulic retention time (HRT), 10 L min(-1) (LPM) biogas sparging rate and membrane fluxes in the range of 3-7 L m(-2) hr(-1) (LMH). Under these conditions, more than 90% COD removal was achieved during 4 months of operation without chemical cleaning the membrane. When the sparging rate was reduced to 2 LPM, the transmembrane pressure increased dramatically and the bulk soluble COD concentration increased due to a thicker fouling layer, while permeate soluble COD remained constant. Permeate soluble COD concentration increased by 20% when the sparging rate increased to 10 LPM.
Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
Date: 03-2000
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2015.03.016
Abstract: Acetic acid was used in abiotic experiments to adjust the solution pH and investigate its influence on the chemical hydrolysis of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW). Soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) was used to measure the hydrolysis under oxidative conditions (positive oxidation-reduction potential values), and pH 4 allowed for 20% (±2%) of the COD added to be solubilized, whereas only 12% (±1%) was solubilized at pH7. Under reducing conditions (negative oxidation-reduction potential values) and pH 4, 32.3% (±3%) of the OFMSW was solubilized which shows that acidogenesis at pH 4 during the anaerobic digestion of solid waste can result in chemical hydrolysis. In comparison, bacterial hydrolysis resulted in 54% (±6%) solubilization.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 15-10-2000
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 1998
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-2000
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-2003
DOI: 10.1007/S00253-002-1175-5
Abstract: Thermoanaerobacter ethanolicus JW200 Fe(7) was grown in continuous culture, using xylose as the primary carbon source, with progressively lower concentrations of supplementary yeast extract. This enabled the comparison of metabolic flux to fermentation end-products under carbon-limited and carbon-sufficient (yeast extract-limited) conditions and the determination of process data under fully mass-balanced conditions. Under carbon-limitation, the specific ethanol-formation rate was described by q (p)=40.34 micro +3.74, the specific rate of substrate utilisation for maintenance was 0.31+/-0.02 g x g(-1) x h(-1) and the maximum cell yield on xylose, corrected for maintenance requirements, was 0.15+/-0.04 g x g(-1). Based on the product profiles, these corresponded to a maintenance coefficient of m(ATP)=4.1+/-0.5 mmol x g(-1) x h(-1) and a maximum cell yield of = 14.7+/-0.8 x g x mol(-1). Limitation by a component in yeast extract resulted in incomplete xylose utilisation, increased catabolic flux rates (primarily resulting in increased lactate production, due to limitations in the flux through the phosphoroclastic reaction), a reduction in cell yield = 10.0+/-1.0 g x mol(-1) and an increase in maintenance energy requirements of m(ATP)=7.95+/-0.7 mmol x g(-1). The latter was also reflected in a shift from ethanol to acetate production at lower growth rates. An analysis of ethanol and acetate tolerance indicated that any high-intensity process employing this strain would require a bioreactor design which incorporated continuous ethanol stripping.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-02-1991
Abstract: The anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) contains a granulated, mixed anaerobic culture segregated into compartments. Operation of four reactors under a range of hydraulic retention times showed that this novel reactor design offers highly efficient performance in the conversion of carbon in the feed stream to methane and carbon dioxide. The design parameter varied was the number of compartments. COD removal at 20 h retention time was routinely over 95% in all reactors, with low washout of biomass. Very high specific reaction rates were achievable (although with a loss of efficiency) at low biomass concentrations and high loading rates. In order to optimize volumetric reaction rates, a tradeoff has to be made between high biomass concentration, granule size, and the resulting mass transfer limitations. Formate is shown to be an important intermediate in the process under conditions of high loading.
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 1996
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date: 07-2001
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.67.7.3226-3235.2001
Abstract: Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using 16S and 23S rRNA-targeted probes together with construction of an archaeal 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) clone library was used to characterize the microbial populations of an anaerobic baffled reactor successfully treating industrial dye waste. Wastewater produced during the manufacture of food dyes containing several different azo and other dye compounds was decolorized and degraded under sulfidogenic and methanogenic conditions. Use of molecular methods to describe microbial populations showed that a erse group of Bacteria and Archaea was involved in this treatment process. FISH enumeration showed that members of the gamma subclass of the class Proteobacteria and bacteria in the Cytophaga-Flexibacter-Bacteroides phylum, together with sulfate-reducing bacteria, were prominent members of a mixed bacterial population. A combination of FISH probing and analysis of 98 archaeal 16S rDNA clone inserts revealed that together with the bacterial population, a methanogenic population dominated by Methanosaeta species and containing species of Methanobacterium and Methanospirillum and a relatively unstudied methanogen, Methanomethylovorans hollandica , contributed to successful anaerobic treatment of the industrial waste. We suggest that sulfate reducers, or more accurately sulfidogenic bacteria, together with M. hollandica contribute considerably to the treatment process through metabolism of dye-associated sulfonate groups and subsequent conversion of sulfur compounds to carbon dioxide and methane.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 1998
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2000
DOI: 10.1002/1097-0290(20000920)69:6<618::AID-BIT5>3.0.CO;2-8
Abstract: The gentle mixing characteristics of a Graesser contactor can help to avoid the formation of stable emulsions, which is one advantage of this type of contactor when used with reversed micellar extraction. In this study, the performance of the Graesser contactor in lysozyme extraction from hen egg white is investigated. The concentration profile of lysozyme in the aqueous and organic phases indicated that, while substantial axial mixing occurred in the contactor, the extraction yield was in the range of 97% to 99%. The number of mass transfer units (N(ox)) was determined using a diffusion model, and the influence of aqueous-to-organic phase flow ratio, rotor speed, and total throughput on contactor performance was studied. It was found that the diffusion model could describe quite well the extraction of lysozyme from hen egg white using reversed micelles. The optimal conditions for the extraction at steady state were found to be a rotor speed of 5 rpm, an aqueous-to-organic phase flow ratio of 60:20 mL/min, and a total throughput of 80 mL/min. In addition, back-extraction was also performed using the conventional method (1.5 M KBr at pH 11.5) in the contactor. It was found that this mass transfer was not well described by a diffusion model, although 85% of the lysozyme could be recovered with the operating conditions used: a rotor speed of 10 rpm, and an aqueous-to-organic flow rate of 10:10 mL/min.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2019.04.050
Abstract: Sub-visible particles, an often-overlooked fine particle (0.45-10 μm) with a size between sludge solids and soluble microbial products (SMP), have recently been identified as a critical foulant in anaerobic membrane bioreactors (AnMBRs), and our recent new insights into the size-fractionation and composition of sub-visible particles in AnMBRs have enabled fouling to be understood in more depth. Here, we investigated the microbial ersity of the sub-visible particles in three size fractions (i.e., 5-10, 1-5, and 0.45-1 μm) from bulk and cake solutions in a lab-scale AnMBR, and their fouling potential was further explored based on their filtration behavior and biofilm formation. Results show that with decreasing particle size, a significant shift in microbial communities was observed for the sub-visible particles in both bulk and cake solutions (a) with notable decreases in filamentous microbes in the order SJA-15, GCA004, and Anaerolineales of phylum Chloroflexi, and, (b) with substantial increases in sulfate-reducing bacteria (i.e., the family Syntrophobacteraceae, genus DCE29 of family Thermodesulfovibrionaceae, Desulfovibrio, and Geobacter). More importantly, the filamentous microbes associated with micro-particles (5-10 μm) led to higher cake fouling resistances while free living cells in the form of colloidal particles (0.45-1 μm) induced severer pore blocking. Moreover, the micro-particles had an enhanced capacity to favor biofilm formation (OD595 = 1.0-2.5, categorized as highly positive), thus potentially aggravating biofouling. This work advances our knowledge on the effect of particle size on communities and underlying fouling behavior of microbes associated with fine particles in AnMBRs.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 15-06-2000
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-05-2010
DOI: 10.1002/BTPR.453
Abstract: Purification schemes for antibody production based on affinity chromatography are trying to keep pace with increases in cell culture expression levels and many current research initiatives are focused on finding alternatives to chromatography for the purification of Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). In this article, we have investigated an alternative separation technique based on liquid-liquid extraction called the reverse micellar extraction. We extracted MAb (IgG1) using reverse micelles of an anionic surfactant, sodium bis 2-ethyl-hexyl sulfosuccinate (AOT) and a combination of anionic (AOT) and nonionic surfactants (Brij-30, Tween-85, Span-85) using isooctane as the solvent system. The extraction efficiency of IgG1 was studied by varying parameters, such as pH of the aqueous phase, cation concentration, and type and surfactant concentration. Using the AOT/Isooctane reverse micellar system, we could achieve good overall extraction of IgG1 (between 80 and 90%), but only 30% of the bioactivity of IgG1 could be recovered at the end of the extraction by using its binding to affinity chromatography columns as a surrogate measure of activity. As anionic surfactants were suspected as being one of the reasons for the reduced activity, we decided to combine a nonionic surfactant with an anionic surfactant and then study its effect on the extraction efficiency and bioactivity. The best results were obtained using an AOT/Brij-30/Isooctane reverse micellar system, which gave an overall extraction above 90 and 59% overall activity recovery. An AOT/Tween-85/Isooctane reverse micellar system gave an overall extraction of between 75 and 80% and overall activity recovery of around 40-45%. The results showed that the activity recovery of IgG1 can be significantly enhanced using different surfactant combination systems, and if the recovery of IgG1 can be further enhanced, the technique shows considerable promise for the downstream purification of MAbs.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2022
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 1995
DOI: 10.1007/BF00872199
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-1998
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2000
DOI: 10.1002/1097-4660(200008)75:8<738::AID-JCTB271>3.0.CO;2-E
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-1999
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2019.121683
Abstract: This study examined the removal of varying concentrations of the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin (CIP) over the long-term (120 days) in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR). The results showed that 50-76% CIP was removed with 0.5-1.5 mg CIP/L in the feed, although at 4.7 mg/L its removal efficiency decreased to <20%. It was found that biological degradation was the main mechanism for removing CIP, while adsorption onto the sludge only contributed a small fraction, and an even smaller fraction was due to the waste sludge discharged. CIP was biodegraded to some degree in the AnMBR, with some intermediate compounds detected using LC-MS/MS and GC-MS. This work showed the effectiveness of an AnMBR in removing CIP at low concentrations of <1.5 mg/L, and hence may be an effective treatment for removing other antibiotics from wastewater.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 1999
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 1984
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2011
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-07-1998
DOI: 10.1016/S0014-5793(98)00771-6
Abstract: The erse substrate specificity of the cytochrome P450 (P450 CYP) enzyme superfamily offers the opportunity to develop enzymatic systems for environmental detoxification and biotransformations of drugs, pesticides and fine chemicals. Here we report on the immobilisation of a fusion protein between plant cytochrome P450-71B1 (CYP71B1) and its electron donor, plant NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase using an oil-in-water macro-emulsion, termed polyaphron, which contains a proportion of internal organic phase (phi) greater than 0.74. Efficiency of P450 immobilisation was greater than 85%, and in this state enzymatic activity could be measured for more than 24 h at 15 degrees C. Chlortoluron, a recalcitrant herbicide pollutant in the environment, was shown to be metabolised, with the major metabolite (N-monodemethylated chlortoluron) being separated from the substrate due to partitioning into the aqueous phase. The turnovers exhibited superactivity compared with those obtained using free enzyme located in membranes prepared following heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli. The potential to exploit the unprecedented catalytic ersity of the P450 superfamily in biocatalysis is discussed.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2009.03.030
Abstract: The stability and performance of a two-stage anaerobic membrane process was investigated at different organic loading rates (OLRs) and Hydraulic Retention Times (HRTs) over 200 days. The Hydrolytic Reactor (HR) was fed with the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW), while the leachate from the HR was fed continuously to two Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors (SAMBR1 and 2). The Total COD (TCOD) of the leachate varied over a wide range, typically between 4000 and 26,000 mg/L while the Soluble COD (SCOD) in the permeate was in the range 400-600 mg/L, achieving a COD removal greater than 90% at a HRT of 1.6-2.3 days in SAMBR1. The operation was not sustainable below this HRT due to a membrane flux limitation at 0.5-0.8L/m(2) h (LMH), which was linked to the increasing MLTSS. SCOD in the recycled permeate did not build up indicating a slow degradation of recalcitrants over time. SAMBR2 was run in parallel with SAMBR1 but its permeate was treated aerobically in an Aerobic Membrane Bioreactor (AMBR). The AMBR acted as a COD-polishing and ammonia removal step. About 26% of the recalcitrant SCOD from SAMBR2 could be aerobically degraded in the AMBR. In addition, 97.7 % of the ammonia-nitrogen was converted to nitrate in the AMBR at a maximum nitrogen-loading rate of 0.18 kg NH(4)(+)-N/m(3) day. GC-MS analysis was performed on the reactor effluents to determine their composition and what compounds were recalcitrant.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIORTECH.2017.07.040
Abstract: This study investigated the effect of changes in pH (7, 6.5 and 6), hydraulic retention time (HRT) (6h, 4h, and 2h), solids retention time (SRT) (100d and 25d) on the speciation of trace metals (TMs) in submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAMBRs). The results showed that the metal retention capacity of SAMBRs reduced when the pH, HRT and SRT were reduced i.e. up to 21.9%, 39.1%, and 17.1%, respectively, but it was also found that the speciation of these TMs generally shifted towards highly bioavailable fractions i.e. Soluble and Exchangeable. The degree of shifting in speciation depended on the affinity of the TMs for anaerobic sludge and their sensitivity to the changes. TMs with the most and the least significant changes in speciation were Fe and Mn, respectively.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-09-2019
DOI: 10.1002/BIT.27153
Abstract: Research within the field of colloidal liquid aphrons (CLAs) for enzyme immobilization has often used ionic surfactants for the retention of enzymes. Although these charged interactions allow for enhanced immobilization, they can often lead to denaturation of enzyme activity, and even release of the protein. Sodium alginate has been used in drug delivery applications due to its low toxicity and charged interactions that allow for encapsulation. Hence, alginate systems can be used as an alternative to ionic surfactants in CLA immobilization. This paper presents, for the first time, the use of sodium alginate as potential ligand for enhanced CLA immobilization. The use of five model proteins lysozyme, bovine serum albumin, ovalbumin, insulin, and α-chymotrypsin, of various pIs and hydrophobicities, showed the relevance of electrostatic interactions in promoting binding with sodium alginate when the pH 80% protein recovery was observed, with activity and conformation comparable to their native counterparts. Finally, the use of proteolysis showed that as the degree of ionic bonding increased between the protein and sodium alginate, the degree of protease resistance decreased due to conformational changes experienced during binding.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2008
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1039/C2GC36546D
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-03-1999
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0290(19990305)62:5<593::AID-BIT11>3.0.CO;2-Z
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2000
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 31-03-2001
DOI: 10.1081/SS-100102952
Publisher: IWA Publishing
Date: 06-2007
DOI: 10.2166/WST.2007.366
Abstract: Produced water (PW) from oil wells can serve as an alternative water resource for agriculture if the main pollutants (hydrocarbons and heavy metals) can be removed to below irrigation standards. Waste stabilization ponds seem like a promising solution for PW treatment, especially in the Middle East where solar radiation is high and land is available. In this work, hydrocarbon removal from PW in a biological waste stabilization pond was examined at lab-scale followed by an intermittent slow sand filter. The system was run for 300 days and removed around 90% of the oil in the pond, and 95% after the sand filter. COD removal was about 80% in the pond effluent, and 85% after the filter. The system was tested under various operational modes and found to be stable to shock loads. Installation of oil booms and decantation of surface oil seem to be important in order to maintain good system performance over time.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.FOODCHEM.2017.03.102
Abstract: Bacteriocin is an important peptide which can be used as an anti-microbial agent in food. However, simpler and more cost-effective purification methods need to be developed compared to chromatography to enhance its commercial viability. Surfactant precipitation was employed for the first time to purify bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS) from a fermentation broth of Pediococcus acidilactici Kp10, and the amount precipitated was investigated as a function of anionic surfactant (AOT) concentration, and pH. Protein recovery from the precipitate was accomplished using solvent extraction, and solvent type, NaCl concentration, and ionic strength of the final solution were optimised. Optimal conditions were 1.05mM of AOT at pH 4 for precipitation, and acetone extraction (with 1mM NaCl), which resulted in an 86.3% yield, and 53.8 purification factor. This study highlighted the fact that surfactant precipitation can be used as a primary recovery method for BLIS from a complex fermentation broth.
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 12-2000
DOI: 10.1021/BP000070+
Abstract: A variety of contactor types have been assessed for the liquid-liquid extraction of proteins using reversed micelles however, many of these contactors suffer from drawbacks such as emulsion formation and poor mass transfer performance. In this study, a small (1.25 L) Graesser "raining bucket" contactor was assessed for use with this system since it has the potential to ameliorate many of these problems. The aim of the work was to evaluate the hydrodynamics of the contactor in order to use this information for future work on mass transfer performance. Hydrodynamic characteristics such as the axial mixing coefficient were determined by residence time distribution studies using a tracer injection method. The effect of rotor speed and flow rate of each phase on axial mixing was investigated, and as a result of its unusual structure, i.e., falling/rising sheet, the interfacial mass transfer area in the Graesser was determined by image analysis. It was found that rotor speed had more influence on the axial mixing coefficient in the aqueous phase than in the reverse micellar phase. The axial mixing coefficient in each phase increased by increasing the flow rate of the same phase. The images obtained in a dropping cell showed that under the conditions of this study (3 rpm, 22 degrees C), the bucket pours one phase through the other in the form of a curtain or sheet. A new image technique was developed to determine the interfacial area of both phases, and it was found that the specific area was 8.6 m(2)/m(3), which was higher than in a spray column but considerably lower than in a RDC or a Graesser run at high rotational speed (50 rpm) without the addition of a surfactant.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2009
DOI: 10.1002/JCTB.2307
Publisher: Trans Tech Publications, Ltd.
Date: 07-2012
DOI: 10.4028/WWW.SCIENTIFIC.NET/AMR.550-553.3004
Abstract: The composite polydimethylsiloxane PERVAPTM 4060 was used for separation of methanol/water solutions by using pervaporation technique. The effect of feed concentration, feed temperature, and feed flow rate were investigated for the separation performance. The experimental data showed that increasing of the feed methanol concentration from 0.5 to 10 wt% resulted in an increase in total permeation flux up for to 35 % whilst the separation factor (α) decreased by 85%. The results also showed that increasing operating temperature from 40 to 60 °C caused an increases in methanol permeance up to 130%.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-1992
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 09-2012
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2005
DOI: 10.1021/BP0501827
Abstract: Terpenoids are important compounds for the fragrance industry, and recently, biocatalytic methods have been developed to produce them from cheap monoterpenes, such as alpha-pinene oxide. The biotransformation of alpha-pinene oxide using resting cells of Pseudomonas fluorescens NCIMB 11671 produces isonovalal (cis-2-methyl-5-isopropylhexa-2,5-dienal), which is a fragrance. However, this biotransformation has technical problems including the following: alpha-pinene oxide undergoes autoxidation in water and light it is hydrophobic and relatively toxic to the biocatalyst and it suffers from product inhibition. Therefore, removal of isonovalal as it is formed should reduce its toxicity and increase volumetric productivity and production yield. Aqueous-organic two-phase (AOTP) systems can be used in the biotransformation of hydrophobic substrates and can protect biocatalysts from toxic substrates and products. However, the formation of stable emulsions makes further downstream processing and continuous operation difficult. One solution to these problems is to use a solid-phase membrane between the aqueous and organic phases in a Membrane Bioreactor for Biotransformation (MBB). Since there are no data in the literature on the behavior of terpenes and terpenoids with solid-phase membranes, or their mass transfer behavior, the objective of this work was to measure these parameters for a wide range of compounds so as to be able to design an MBB, and to gain a greater understanding of their behavior in these types of systems. Organic/aqueous (P (org) (aq)) and membrane/aqueous (P (mem) (aq)) partition coefficients were measured first, and subsequently used to quantify the overall mass transfer coefficients (k(ov)). The overall mass transfer coefficient (k(ov)) of alpha-pinene oxide through the membrane was found to be 2.5 x 10(-5) m x s(-1) using thicknesses of both 250 and 1,000 microm. Extraction kinetics were successfully described using a resistance-in-series model and were controlled by the aqueous boundary layer and/or membrane resistance (k(mem)), while organic film resistance played an insignificant role. Aqueous film resistance (k(aq)) was found to be the limiting step for mono- and diterpenes, and the effect of the hydrodynamics on k(ov) was successfully predicted using a Wilson plot. However, the extraction kinetics of larger terpenes, such as steroids, were influenced solely by the k(mem), suggesting that membrane diffusivity also depended on the size of the permeating molecule. Finally, the influence of other terpene byproducts on the flux of alpha-pinene oxide was investigated and found to decrease the flux into the organic phase by up to 10%.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.WATRES.2016.06.059
Abstract: This study investigated the behaviour and characteristics of soluble microbial products (SMP) in two anoxic-aerobic membrane bioreactors (MBRs): MBRcontrol and MBRpharma, for treating municipal wastewater. Both protein and polysaccharides measured exhibited higher concentrations in the MBRpharma than the MBRcontrol. Molecular weight (MW) distribution analysis revealed that the presence of pharmaceuticals enhanced the accumulation of SMPs with macro- (13,091 kDa and 1587 kDa) and intermediate-MW (189 kDa) compounds in the anoxic MBRpharma, while a substantial decrease was observed in both MBR effluents. Excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence contours indicated that the exposure to pharmaceuticals seemed to stimulate the production of aromatic proteins containing tyrosine (10.1-32.6%) and tryptophan (14.7-43.1%), compared to MBRcontrol (9.9-29.1% for tyrosine 11.8-42.5% for tryptophan). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed aromatics, long-chain alkanes and esters were the predominant SMPs in the MBRs. More peaks were present in the aerobic MBRpharma (196) than anoxic MBRpharma (133). The SMPs identified exhibited both biodegradability and recalcitrance in the MBR treatment processes. Only 8 compounds in the MBRpharma were the same as in the MBRcontrol. Alkanes were the most dominant SMPs (51%) in the MBRcontrol, while aromatics were dominant (40%) in the MBRpharma. A significant decrease in aromatics (from 16 to 7) in the MBRpharma permeate was observed, compared to the aerobic MBRpharma. Approximately 21% of compounds in the aerobic MBRcontrol were rejected by membrane filtration, while this increased to 28% in the MBRpharma.
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for David Stuckey.