Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134093
Seyedehniloufar Mousavi , Tristan Brown , Robert W. Malmsheimer , Deepak Kumar , Paul Crovella
The rapid decarbonization of energy grid is shifting the climate mitigation burden in built environment from operational to embodied emissions. This paper evaluates the potential of bioplastics, polylactic acid (PLA; degradable), polyethylene furanoate (PEF; non-degradable), and polypropylene (PP; non-degradable) as carbon storing construction materials. Using a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment for the New York State determined that bioplastics assemblies reduce operational energy demand by 5–10% and lower net life cycle emissions by 110 kg CO2-eq/m2 for PEF and 210 kg CO2-eq/m2 for PP. These savings are driven by biogenic carbon storage, effectively transforming building envelopes into carbon sinks. Remarkably, as grid carbon intensity declines, the embodied-to-operational emissions ratio quadruples (0.5 to 2), isolating material selection as the critical variables. Therefore, integrating non-degradable bioplastics into building infrastructure offers scalable, robust strategy for long-duration carbon storage necessary to meet net zero targets.
{"title":"Operational and embodied emissions in life cycle analysis of Biopolymers in Northeastern United States buildings","authors":"Seyedehniloufar Mousavi , Tristan Brown , Robert W. Malmsheimer , Deepak Kumar , Paul Crovella","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134093","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134093","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid decarbonization of energy grid is shifting the climate mitigation burden in built environment from operational to embodied emissions. This paper evaluates the potential of bioplastics, polylactic acid (PLA; degradable), polyethylene furanoate (PEF; non-degradable), and polypropylene (PP; non-degradable) as carbon storing construction materials. Using a cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment for the New York State determined that bioplastics assemblies reduce operational energy demand by 5–10% and lower net life cycle emissions by 110 kg CO<sub>2</sub>-eq/m<sup>2</sup> for PEF and 210 kg CO<sub>2</sub>-eq/m<sup>2</sup> for PP. These savings are driven by biogenic carbon storage, effectively transforming building envelopes into carbon sinks. Remarkably, as grid carbon intensity declines, the embodied-to-operational emissions ratio quadruples (0.5 to 2), isolating material selection as the critical variables. Therefore, integrating non-degradable bioplastics into building infrastructure offers scalable, robust strategy for long-duration carbon storage necessary to meet net zero targets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"445 ","pages":"Article 134093"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134078
Ian Levett , Xue Bai , Paul Lant , Bronwyn Laycock , Manuel Brunner , Steven Pratt
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of biodegradable polyesters that are well placed to replace conventional plastics – however, their adoption has been slow due to their cost. This study assessed the technoeconomics of PHA production using halophilic biotechnology to determine if prices could be lowered to within twice that of commodity plastics, with a target price of US$2.60 kg−1. Haloferax mediterranei is an extreme halophile which can naturally accumulate high levels of PHA without the need for substrate sterilisation, while offering potential for simplified water-based extraction. Here, sucrose was selected as a relatively low cost, consistent and abundant carbon feedstock. A detailed process flow diagram was developed and a mass and energy balance conducted to achieve a PHA production rate of 10,000 t.p.a. Results indicated that halophilic PHA production could achieve a minimum PHA selling price of US$3.50 kg−1 with a solvent-free extraction process. Optimisation of the fermentation conditions could reduce this further to US$2.90 kg−1. However, to achieve the target price, a lower cost feedstock would be required, estimated at US$270 tonne−1. In conclusion, achieving a PHA price of US$2.60 kg−1 is challenging, but possible, with low-cost carbon feedstock and optimised halophilic bioprocessing.
聚羟基烷酸酯（PHAs）是一类可生物降解的聚酯，可以很好地取代传统塑料，然而，由于其成本问题，采用它的速度很慢。这项研究评估了使用嗜盐生物技术生产PHA的技术经济学，以确定价格是否可以降低到商品塑料的两倍以内，目标价格为2.60美元 kg - 1。地中海Haloferax mediterranei是一种极端的亲盐菌，它可以自然积累高水平的PHA，而无需对底物进行灭菌，同时提供了简化水基提取的潜力。在这里，选择蔗糖作为成本相对较低，稳定和丰富的碳原料。制定了详细的工艺流程图，并进行了质量和能量平衡，以实现PHA的年产量为10,000吨。结果表明，在无溶剂提取工艺下，嗜盐性PHA的最低销售价格为3.50美元 kg−1。发酵条件的优化可以进一步降低到US$2.90 kg−1。然而，为了达到目标价格，将需要成本较低的原料，估计为270吨- 1美元。总之，通过低成本的碳原料和优化的亲盐生物处理，实现2.60美元 kg - 1的PHA价格是具有挑战性的，但也是可能的。
{"title":"Technoeconomic analysis of extreme halophilic manufacture of polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics from sugar: Understanding cost sensitivity to feedstock price, fermentation performance and the extraction method","authors":"Ian Levett , Xue Bai , Paul Lant , Bronwyn Laycock , Manuel Brunner , Steven Pratt","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a family of biodegradable polyesters that are well placed to replace conventional plastics – however, their adoption has been slow due to their cost. This study assessed the technoeconomics of PHA production using halophilic biotechnology to determine if prices could be lowered to within twice that of commodity plastics, with a target price of US$2.60 kg<sup>−1</sup>. <em>Haloferax mediterranei</em> is an extreme halophile which can naturally accumulate high levels of PHA without the need for substrate sterilisation, while offering potential for simplified water-based extraction. Here, sucrose was selected as a relatively low cost, consistent and abundant carbon feedstock. A detailed process flow diagram was developed and a mass and energy balance conducted to achieve a PHA production rate of 10,000 t.p.a. Results indicated that halophilic PHA production could achieve a minimum PHA selling price of US$3.50 kg<sup>−1</sup> with a solvent-free extraction process. Optimisation of the fermentation conditions could reduce this further to US$2.90 kg<sup>−1</sup>. However, to achieve the target price, a lower cost feedstock would be required, estimated at US$270<!--> <!-->tonne<sup>−1</sup>. In conclusion, achieving a PHA price of US$2.60 kg<sup>−1</sup> is challenging, but possible, with low-cost carbon feedstock and optimised halophilic bioprocessing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"445 ","pages":"Article 134078"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134087
Yanbo Liu , Zhaohan Zhang , Xinyi Chen , Guohong Liu , Da Li , Jiannan Li , Yanfang Song , Jinhao Duan , Kuokai Sun , Yujie Feng
This study integrated life cycle assessment (LCA), machine learning (ML), and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to optimize wastewater treatment technology selection in the upper Yellow River Basin—a region constrained by limited carrying capacity and ecological fragility. LCA results from a representative city in Gansu Province identified anaerobic-anoxic–oxic combined with sequencing batch reactor (AAO + SBR) as the configuration with the lowest environmental footprint. Monte Carlo simulations were employed to augment the dataset, ensuring statistical reliability. In a comparative analysis, the XGBoost outperformed random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM), reducing mean squared error (MSE) by 1.4–3.1%. Ultimately, the integrated AHP-ML model confirmed AAO + SBR and AAO with membrane bioreactor (AAO + MBR) as the optimal technologies under current condition. The data-driven intelligent model constructed in this study, reconciling treatment efficiency with ecological sustainability, provided precise guidance for low-carbon wastewater governance in the Yellow River Basin and similar ecologically fragile regions.
{"title":"Multi-objective decision model for wastewater treatment technology selection based on machine learning","authors":"Yanbo Liu , Zhaohan Zhang , Xinyi Chen , Guohong Liu , Da Li , Jiannan Li , Yanfang Song , Jinhao Duan , Kuokai Sun , Yujie Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134087","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134087","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study integrated life cycle assessment (LCA), machine learning (ML), and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to optimize wastewater treatment technology selection in the upper Yellow River Basin—a region constrained by limited carrying capacity and ecological fragility. LCA results from a representative city in Gansu Province identified anaerobic-anoxic–oxic combined with sequencing batch reactor (AAO + SBR) as the configuration with the lowest environmental footprint. Monte Carlo simulations were employed to augment the dataset, ensuring statistical reliability. In a comparative analysis, the XGBoost outperformed random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM), reducing mean squared error (MSE) by 1.4–3.1%. Ultimately, the integrated AHP-ML model confirmed AAO + SBR and AAO with membrane bioreactor (AAO + MBR) as the optimal technologies under current condition. The data-driven intelligent model constructed in this study, reconciling treatment efficiency with ecological sustainability, provided precise guidance for low-carbon wastewater governance in the Yellow River Basin and similar ecologically fragile regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"446 ","pages":"Article 134087"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048177","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134094
Chandan Mahata , Somesh Mishra , Vijay Singh
This study develops and validates a simplified, fully solvent-free downstream processing (DSP) strategy for high-purity recovery of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) from real fermentation broth containing 62.3 g/L of 3-HP. Optimized activated carbon treatment achieved 98% color removal, while Amberlite IRA-67 was operated at pH 4.5 and 30 °C to minimize product loss. This is the first integrated demonstration of a fully solvent-free DSP enabling recovery of bio-based 3-HP as both a solid sodium salt and a concentrated aqueous solution, supported by techno-economic analysis. At lab scale, the process achieved 77.3% recovery of sodium 3-HP with 83.2% (w/w) purity and produced a 30% (w/v) aqueous solution. Techno-economic analysis yielded minimum selling prices of $0.551/kg for the solution and $0.892/kg for the salt, both below target thresholds for cost-competitive bio-acrylic acid production. Overall, these results demonstrate an efficient, scalable, and economically viable industrial pathway for 3-HP recovery.
{"title":"3-Hydroxypropionic acid recovery from fermentation broth through novel downstream processing: Technoeconomic analysis","authors":"Chandan Mahata , Somesh Mishra , Vijay Singh","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134094","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134094","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study develops and validates a simplified, fully solvent-free downstream processing (DSP) strategy for high-purity recovery of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) from real fermentation broth containing 62.3 g/L of 3-HP. Optimized activated carbon treatment achieved 98% color removal, while Amberlite IRA-67 was operated at pH 4.5 and 30 °C to minimize product loss. This is the first integrated demonstration of a fully solvent-free DSP enabling recovery of bio-based 3-HP as both a solid sodium salt and a concentrated aqueous solution, supported by techno-economic analysis. At lab scale, the process achieved 77.3% recovery of sodium 3-HP with 83.2% (w/w) purity and produced a 30% (w/v) aqueous solution. Techno-economic analysis yielded minimum selling prices of $0.551/kg for the solution and $0.892/kg for the salt, both below target thresholds for cost-competitive bio-acrylic acid production. Overall, these results demonstrate an efficient, scalable, and economically viable industrial pathway for 3-HP recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"445 ","pages":"Article 134094"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048171","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134118
Antonio J. Aragón-Barroso , Alejandro González-Martínez , Jesús González-López , Francisco Osorio
Expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors have emerged as promising high-rate anaerobic treatment systems for industrial wastewater (WW) with increasing organic loads and complex compositions. This review provides a systematic overview of the main operational parameters, including organic loading rate (OLR), volatile fatty acids (VFA), pH, temperature, influent solids, upflow velocity (Vup), extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production and solids retention time (SRT), focusing on their effects on granule formation and process performance. EGSB stability is governed by defined operational limits, with optimal performance at OLRs of 10–30 kg COD m−3 d−1, VFAs below 500–1000 mg L−1, and moderate Vup (3–6 m h−1). Exceeding critical thresholds in VFA, Vup, or influent solids (>5000 mg L−1) induces washout and granulation failure, while protein-rich EPS enhance the cohesion and shear resistance of granular biomass under high hydraulic and organic loads. Special attention is paid to microbial community dynamics, emphasizing how substrate characteristics, operational conditions, height-to-diameter ratio, and microbial kinetics jointly shape community shifts, syntrophic interactions, and overall process stability in EGSB reactors. Furthermore, the insights derived from these analyses are used to provide a more robust explanation of anaerobic granulation mechanisms, integrating conceptual models, key physicochemical drivers, and the role of quorum sensing (QS). Based on this integrated framework, this review identifies existing knowledge gaps and proposes future directions to support the development of robust and efficient EGSB systems for the sustainable treatment of complex industrial WW.
膨胀颗粒污泥床（EGSB）反应器已成为一种有前途的高速率厌氧处理系统，用于处理有机负荷增加和复杂成分的工业废水。本文综述了主要操作参数，包括有机负载率（OLR）、挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）、pH、温度、进水固体、上升流速（Vup）、细胞外聚合物（EPS）的产生和固体保留时间（SRT），重点介绍了它们对颗粒形成和工艺性能的影响。EGSB的稳定性受确定的操作限制，在olr为10-30 kg COD m−3 d−1，VFAs低于500-1000 mg L−1，Vup适中（3 - 6 m h−1）时具有最佳性能。超过临界阈值的VFA、Vup或进水固体（> 5000mg L−1）会导致冲洗和颗粒失败，而富含蛋白质的EPS增强颗粒生物质在高水力和有机负荷下的凝聚力和抗剪切性。特别关注微生物群落动态，强调底物特性、操作条件、高径比和微生物动力学如何共同影响EGSB反应器中的群落变化、共生相互作用和整体过程稳定性。此外，从这些分析中获得的见解用于提供厌氧造粒机制的更可靠的解释，整合了概念模型，关键的物理化学驱动因素和群体感应（QS）的作用。基于这一综合框架，本文确定了现有的知识差距，并提出了未来的发展方向，以支持开发强大而高效的EGSB系统，以可持续地处理复杂的工业废水。
{"title":"Impact of operational conditions and microbial dynamics on expanded granular sludge bed reactor performance: A comprehensive review","authors":"Antonio J. Aragón-Barroso , Alejandro González-Martínez , Jesús González-López , Francisco Osorio","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134118","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134118","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors have emerged as promising high-rate anaerobic treatment systems for industrial wastewater (WW) with increasing organic loads and complex compositions. This review provides a systematic overview of the main operational parameters, including organic loading rate (OLR), volatile fatty acids (VFA), pH, temperature, influent solids, upflow velocity (V<sub>up</sub>), extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) production and solids retention time (SRT), focusing on their effects on granule formation and process performance. EGSB stability is governed by defined operational limits, with optimal performance at OLRs of 10–30 kg COD m<sup>−3</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>, VFAs below 500–1000 mg L<sup>−1</sup>, and moderate V<sub>up</sub> (3–6 m h<sup>−1</sup>). Exceeding critical thresholds in VFA, V<sub>up</sub>, or influent solids (>5000 mg L<sup>−1</sup>) induces washout and granulation failure, while protein-rich EPS enhance the cohesion and shear resistance of granular biomass under high hydraulic and organic loads. Special attention is paid to microbial community dynamics, emphasizing how substrate characteristics, operational conditions, height-to-diameter ratio, and microbial kinetics jointly shape community shifts, syntrophic interactions, and overall process stability in EGSB reactors. Furthermore, the insights derived from these analyses are used to provide a more robust explanation of anaerobic granulation mechanisms, integrating conceptual models, key physicochemical drivers, and the role of quorum sensing (QS). Based on this integrated framework, this review identifies existing knowledge gaps and proposes future directions to support the development of robust and efficient EGSB systems for the sustainable treatment of complex industrial WW.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"445 ","pages":"Article 134118"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146089370","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pyrite-driven autotrophic denitrification (PAD) is a promising strategy for nitrogen removal in bioretention systems, yet nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions remain a critical concern. Here, simulated saturated-zone reactors were used to evaluate the effects of biochars pyrolyzed at 300, 500, and 700 °C (B300, B500, B700) on PAD performance and N2O mitigation. Biochar addition significantly reduced N2O emissions, with B300 showing the best performance, achieving a total nitrogen removal efficiency of 98.4 ± 0.9% and reducing cumulative N2O emissions by 83.2 ± 6.4% relative to the control. Mechanistic analyses revealed that B300 enhanced PAD by coordinating electron generation, transfer, and consumption through stimulated sulfur oxidation, strengthened intra- and extracellular electron transfer, and promoted electron utilization to ensure complete denitrification. This study provides mechanistic insight into targeted N2O mitigation and highlights the potential of biochar-enhanced PAD for low-nitrate treatment processes such as bioretention facilities.
{"title":"Mechanism exploration of biochar-mitigated nitrous oxide emission in pyrite-driven autotrophic denitrification system: Generation–transfer–consumption of electrons","authors":"Wenlin Zhao , Cheng Cheng , Huan Xiao , Hao Zheng , Tengzhi Zhou , Yuhao Ding , Hongxiang Chai","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pyrite-driven autotrophic denitrification (PAD) is a promising strategy for nitrogen removal in bioretention systems, yet nitrous oxide (N<sub>2</sub>O) emissions remain a critical concern. Here, simulated saturated-zone reactors were used to evaluate the effects of biochars pyrolyzed at 300, 500, and 700 °C (B300, B500, B700) on PAD performance and N<sub>2</sub>O mitigation. Biochar addition significantly reduced N<sub>2</sub>O emissions, with B300 showing the best performance, achieving a total nitrogen removal efficiency of 98.4 ± 0.9% and reducing cumulative N<sub>2</sub>O emissions by 83.2 ± 6.4% relative to the control. Mechanistic analyses revealed that B300 enhanced PAD by coordinating electron generation, transfer, and consumption through stimulated sulfur oxidation, strengthened intra- and extracellular electron transfer, and promoted electron utilization to ensure complete denitrification. This study provides mechanistic insight into targeted N<sub>2</sub>O mitigation and highlights the potential of biochar-enhanced PAD for low-nitrate treatment processes such as bioretention facilities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"445 ","pages":"Article 134072"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146025888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-20DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134048
Jiawei Fan , Bing Zhang , Yuchen An , Peng Yan , Piet N.L. Lens , Wenxin Shi
Filamentous cyanobacteria are recognized as the primary architects of hydrostatically formed photogranules (HSP), an emerging nature–based technology for sustainable wastewater treatment. However, the underlying mechanism of cyanobacteria–driven photogranulation regulated by environmental factors remains poorly understood. Given the dual effects of light and iron on cyanobacterial physiology, this study elucidated the cause–and–effect relationship between light–induced iron bioavailability and HSP development. Results revealed that light intensity governed iron bioavailability through photochemical and biological pathways. Compared to low light intensity (65 µmol/m2·s), high light intensity (260 µmol/m2·s) promoted iron redistribution from mineral phases to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), thereby increasing the pool of bioavailable iron. EPS–bound iron (FeEPS) exhibited strong positive correlations with cyanobacterial proliferation (R > 0.93) and EPS secretion (R > 0.88) at high irradiance, accompanied by accelerated photogranulation. Multi–omics profiling uncovered that high light intensity activated siderophore–mediated iron acquisition and iron–dependent metabolic pathways, including photosynthetic electron transport, energy metabolism, and EPS biosynthesis. Moreover, the metabolic complementarity between cyanobacteria and Pseudomonas-affiliated bacteria via cross–species exchange of siderophores and vitamins, further facilitated intracellular iron accumulation and photogranulation under high light intensity. Collectively, this study reveals that high light intensity not only selectively promoted cyanobacteria growth but also reshaped iron bioavailability, which functioned as a critical “switch” controlling microbial metabolism and cross–species cooperation for photogranulation.
{"title":"Iron bioavailability as a critical “switch” governing microbial metabolic function and cross–species cooperation for hydrostatic photogranulation","authors":"Jiawei Fan , Bing Zhang , Yuchen An , Peng Yan , Piet N.L. Lens , Wenxin Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134048","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134048","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Filamentous cyanobacteria are recognized as the primary architects of hydrostatically formed photogranules (HSP), an emerging nature–based technology for sustainable wastewater treatment. However, the underlying mechanism of cyanobacteria–driven photogranulation regulated by environmental factors remains poorly understood. Given the dual effects of light and iron on cyanobacterial physiology, this study elucidated the cause–and–effect relationship between light–induced iron bioavailability and HSP development. Results revealed that light intensity governed iron bioavailability through photochemical and biological pathways. Compared to low light intensity (65 µmol/m<sup>2</sup>·s), high light intensity (260 µmol/m<sup>2</sup>·s) promoted iron redistribution from mineral phases to extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), thereby increasing the pool of bioavailable iron. EPS–bound iron (Fe<sub>EPS</sub>) exhibited strong positive correlations with cyanobacterial proliferation (<em>R</em> > 0.93) and EPS secretion (<em>R</em> > 0.88) at high irradiance, accompanied by accelerated photogranulation. Multi–omics profiling uncovered that high light intensity activated siderophore–mediated iron acquisition and iron–dependent metabolic pathways, including photosynthetic electron transport, energy metabolism, and EPS biosynthesis. Moreover, the metabolic complementarity between cyanobacteria and Pseudomonas-affiliated bacteria via cross–species exchange of siderophores and vitamins, further facilitated intracellular iron accumulation and photogranulation under high light intensity. Collectively, this study reveals that high light intensity not only selectively promoted cyanobacteria growth but also reshaped iron bioavailability, which functioned as a critical “switch” controlling microbial metabolism and cross–species cooperation for photogranulation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"445 ","pages":"Article 134048"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146014671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134158
Jingyu Liu , Huize Guan , Sheng Hu , Huifeng Lu , Xi Tang , Chong-Jian Tang
Sulfur autotrophic denitrification (SAD) is a low-carbon nitrogen removal process using reduced sulfur compounds as electron donors. However, dissolved oxygen (DO) disrupts SAD by promoting unproductive sulfur oxidation and electron loss. Here, dialysis membranes (1000 and 100 Da) were applied to regulate thiosulfate release and establish controlled substrate gradients under engineering-relevant inhibitory DO conditions (0.5–3.5 mg L−1). Compared with direct dosing (Rck), the 100 Da reactor (R100) achieved 19% higher nitrate removal efficiency and greater fraction of electrons allocated to denitrification (EDUden ≈ 76%), accompanied by pronounced zero-valent sulfur accumulation, indicating pathway-level reallocation. Microbial analyzes revealed enrichment of Thiobacillus-like sulfur-oxidizing denitrifiers and increased prevalence of oxygen tolerant nitrate reductase (napA), confirmed by metagenomic and qPCR. These results demonstrate that controlled sulfur release creates an electron-buffered microenvironment that enhances SAD resilience to DO, offering a donor-efficient strategy for nitrogen removal in oxygen-fluctuating wastewater systems.
{"title":"Dialysis-controlled sulfur substrate delivery enhances Sulfur-Autotrophic denitrification under oxygen stress","authors":"Jingyu Liu , Huize Guan , Sheng Hu , Huifeng Lu , Xi Tang , Chong-Jian Tang","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134158","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134158","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sulfur autotrophic denitrification (SAD) is a low-carbon nitrogen removal process using reduced sulfur compounds as electron donors. However, dissolved oxygen (DO) disrupts SAD by promoting unproductive sulfur oxidation and electron loss. Here, dialysis membranes (1000 and 100 Da) were applied to regulate thiosulfate release and establish controlled substrate gradients under engineering-relevant inhibitory DO conditions (0.5–3.5 mg L<sup>−1</sup>). Compared with direct dosing (R<sub>ck</sub>), the 100 Da reactor (R<sub>100</sub>) achieved 19% higher nitrate removal efficiency and greater fraction of electrons allocated to denitrification (EDU<sub>den</sub> ≈ 76%), accompanied by pronounced zero-valent sulfur accumulation, indicating pathway-level reallocation. Microbial analyzes revealed enrichment of <em>Thiobacillus</em>-like sulfur-oxidizing denitrifiers and increased prevalence of oxygen tolerant nitrate reductase (<em>napA</em>), confirmed by metagenomic and qPCR. These results demonstrate that controlled sulfur release creates an electron-buffered microenvironment that enhances SAD resilience to DO, offering a donor-efficient strategy for nitrogen removal in oxygen-fluctuating wastewater systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"446 ","pages":"Article 134158"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138836","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a sustainable biomaterial with excellent mechanical properties and broad application potential. Controlling BC structure and properties is important for its expanding applications and advancing industrial translation. Here, we establish a high-efficiency, seamless genome-editing system for Komagataeibacter xylinus based on mutant pheS gene and apply it to systematically evaluate the roles of bacterial cellulose synthesis (bcs) operon genes in BC production and properties. We found deletion of bcsCⅡ gene markedly enhances BC mechanical properties in K. xylinus P1: tensile strength and Young’s modulus reach 3.56-fold and 2.36-fold improvement, respectively. Multiscale structural analyses indicate that the enhancements arise from more uniform nanofibril assembly and a denser hierarchical network of BC. We further demonstrate that co-culture strategy or inducible expression of bcsCⅡ enable programmable control of BC mechanical properties. Collectively, this work provides an efficient genetic toolkit for K. xylinus, systematically reveals functional roles of bcs operon genes in BC assembly, and offers a rational route to engineer programmable high-performance BC materials.
{"title":"Targeted gene editing of bacterial cellulose biosynthesis-related genes enables programmable mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose","authors":"Aitian Tian , Hongliang Gao , Shuangqi An, Jingxuan Liu, Yiming Zhao, Yuqing Chang, Yanning Niu, Caifeng Jia, Zhongyi Chang, Jing Huang, Qiang Zhang, Deming Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134170","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134170","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a sustainable biomaterial with excellent mechanical properties and broad application potential. Controlling BC structure and properties is important for its expanding applications and advancing industrial translation. Here, we establish a high-efficiency, seamless genome-editing system for <em>Komagataeibacter xylinus</em> based on mutant <em>pheS</em> gene and apply it to systematically evaluate the roles of bacterial cellulose synthesis (<em>bcs</em>) operon genes in BC production and properties. We found deletion of <em>bcsCⅡ</em> gene markedly enhances BC mechanical properties in <em>K. xylinus</em> P1: tensile strength and Young’s modulus reach 3.56-fold and 2.36-fold improvement, respectively. Multiscale structural analyses indicate that the enhancements arise from more uniform nanofibril assembly and a denser hierarchical network of BC. We further demonstrate that co-culture strategy or inducible expression of <em>bcsCⅡ</em> enable programmable control of BC mechanical properties. Collectively, this work provides an efficient genetic toolkit for <em>K. xylinus</em>, systematically reveals functional roles of <em>bcs</em> operon genes in BC assembly, and offers a rational route to engineer programmable high-performance BC materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"446 ","pages":"Article 134170"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-29DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134102
Emmanuel Nwanegbo , Samaneh Mollashahi , Erik Ferchau , Hartmut Krause , Sven Eckart
This study investigated the energy and environment trade-offs of anaerobic digestion (AD) using invasive giant hogweed, agricultural residue canola straw, and cow manure by combining mesophilic batch tests with a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA). Seven scenarios, comprising both mono-digestion and co-digestions were evaluated. Mono-digestion of Giant Hogweed achieved the highest specific biogas yield (671 LN/kg VS) and methane content (74.7%), with no detectable hydrogen sulphide (H2S), while co-digestion introduced mix-dependent trade-offs between gas yield and emissions. The LCA identified the combined emissions from manure and digestate storage as the primary hotspot for Global Warming Potential (GWP), contributing 53–67% of total emissions. Crop-based mono-digestion scenarios exhibited higher GWP per tonne but lower emissions per kWh due to superior energy recovery; the same pattern held for abiotic depletion (fossil and elements). Sensitivity analysis showed that a 50% cut in storage emissions reduced GWP by 27–34% across all scenarios. Scenarios with higher net electricity output achieved lower impact intensities per kWh. The study concludes that optimizing feedstock ratios and implementing advanced storage practices is critical for maximizing both energy recovery and environmental performance of AD systems.
{"title":"Energy and environmental trade-offs in anaerobic digestion: Batch tests and LCA investigations of giant hogweed, canola straw, and manure","authors":"Emmanuel Nwanegbo , Samaneh Mollashahi , Erik Ferchau , Hartmut Krause , Sven Eckart","doi":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134102","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134102","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigated the energy and environment trade-offs of anaerobic digestion (AD) using invasive giant hogweed, agricultural residue canola straw, and cow manure by combining mesophilic batch tests with a gate-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA). Seven scenarios, comprising both mono-digestion and co-digestions were evaluated. Mono-digestion of Giant Hogweed achieved the highest specific biogas yield (671 L<sub>N</sub>/kg VS) and methane content (74.7%), with no detectable hydrogen sulphide (H<sub>2</sub>S), while co-digestion introduced mix-dependent trade-offs between gas yield and emissions. The LCA identified the combined emissions from manure and digestate storage as the primary hotspot for Global Warming Potential (GWP), contributing 53–67% of total emissions. Crop-based mono-digestion scenarios exhibited higher GWP per tonne but lower emissions per kWh due to superior energy recovery; the same pattern held for abiotic depletion (fossil and elements). Sensitivity analysis showed that a 50% cut in storage emissions reduced GWP by 27–34% across all scenarios. Scenarios with higher net electricity output achieved lower impact intensities per kWh. The study concludes that optimizing feedstock ratios and implementing advanced storage practices is critical for maximizing both energy recovery and environmental performance of AD systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":258,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology","volume":"445 ","pages":"Article 134102"},"PeriodicalIF":9.0,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146072744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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