Biochar is a sustainable option for managing agricultural biowastes, and its performance depends on effective activation. This study investigates how ball milling and hydrogen peroxide treatments (30–120 min), with and without washing, modify the physicochemical properties of wheat straw biochar. Ball milling for 120 min followed by washing enhanced structural specific surface area (32.86-fold), pore volume (9.31-fold), and conductivity (3.34%), while 30 min milling followed by washing improved carbon stability, increasing fixed carbon by 42.30%. Hydrogen peroxide treatment primarily improved surface functional properties, boosting cation exchange capacity 6.6-fold at 120 min and, with washing, increasing O/C ratio and carboxylic groups while reducing ash content. Optimization of the two activation methods, with and without post-washing, identified optimal times of 89.3–93.4 min (desirability >0.8). At this optimum, ball-milled biochar offered the highest conductivity and surface area, while hydrogen peroxide-activated biochar achieved the greatest chemical functionality, supporting diverse agricultural and environmental applications.
{"title":"Characterization and optimization of activated biochars from wheat straw pellets: Effects of treatment durations and post-washing","authors":"Marzieh Ghorbani, Parisa Ghofrani-Isfahani, Irini Angelidaki","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102559","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102559","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biochar is a sustainable option for managing agricultural biowastes, and its performance depends on effective activation. This study investigates how ball milling and hydrogen peroxide treatments (30–120 min), with and without washing, modify the physicochemical properties of wheat straw biochar. Ball milling for 120 min followed by washing enhanced structural specific surface area (32.86-fold), pore volume (9.31-fold), and conductivity (3.34%), while 30 min milling followed by washing improved carbon stability, increasing fixed carbon by 42.30%. Hydrogen peroxide treatment primarily improved surface functional properties, boosting cation exchange capacity 6.6-fold at 120 min and, with washing, increasing O/C ratio and carboxylic groups while reducing ash content. Optimization of the two activation methods, with and without post-washing, identified optimal times of 89.3–93.4 min (desirability >0.8). At this optimum, ball-milled biochar offered the highest conductivity and surface area, while hydrogen peroxide-activated biochar achieved the greatest chemical functionality, supporting diverse agricultural and environmental applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102559"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034480","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102524
Gerald Enos Shija
Soil contamination by heavy metals and organic pollutants threatens food security and ecosystem health worldwide. Conventional analytical techniques (AAS, GC–MS, HPLC) are accurate but expensive, laboratory-confined, and generate considerable waste. This review highlights plant-derived probes (e.g., flavonoids, phytochelatins from hyperaccumulators) and soil enzyme inhibition assays as sustainable alternatives capable of sub-ppb detection directly in the field. Paper-based strips, microfluidic devices, and hybrid plant enzyme systems deliver rapid (≤15 min), reagent-free, biodegradable sensing with detection limits below regulatory thresholds. These approaches uniquely bridge analytical chemistry and ecotoxicology by correlating contaminant levels with biological responses (microbial inhibition, plant stress). Current bottlenecks, field validation data, and alignment with UN SDGs and the EU Soil Mission are critically discussed. Future perspectives include AI-integrated arrays and CRISPR-based living sensors for scalable, predictive soil monitoring.
{"title":"Plant-derived probes and enzymatic methods: Revolutionizing trace-level contaminant detection in soils for sustainable ecotoxicology","authors":"Gerald Enos Shija","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102524","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2025.102524","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil contamination by heavy metals and organic pollutants threatens food security and ecosystem health worldwide. Conventional analytical techniques (AAS, GC–MS, HPLC) are accurate but expensive, laboratory-confined, and generate considerable waste. This review highlights plant-derived probes (e.g., flavonoids, phytochelatins from hyperaccumulators) and soil enzyme inhibition assays as sustainable alternatives capable of sub-ppb detection directly in the field. Paper-based strips, microfluidic devices, and hybrid plant enzyme systems deliver rapid (≤15 min), reagent-free, biodegradable sensing with detection limits below regulatory thresholds. These approaches uniquely bridge analytical chemistry and ecotoxicology by correlating contaminant levels with biological responses (microbial inhibition, plant stress). Current bottlenecks, field validation data, and alignment with UN SDGs and the EU Soil Mission are critically discussed. Future perspectives include AI-integrated arrays and CRISPR-based living sensors for scalable, predictive soil monitoring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102524"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102558
Maya S. Nair , Sivasubramanian Velmurugan , V.V. Shermila Sharin
Replacement of artificial dyes by natural food additives is a significant topic of interest, due to the increasing awareness among the consumers towards health. C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a natural, water-soluble blue pigment found in cyanobacteria spirulina, that possess antioxidant activity and has application as a natural food colorant. However, the lack of colour stability reduces its use as a natural pigment. This study investigates the extraction and stabilization of food grade C-PC obtained from cyanobacterium, Phormidium valderianum. Sugar syrup was selected as the stabilizing agent in this research work. Additionally, the study also evaluated the antioxidant potential and degradation kinetics of the stabilized pigment. The C-PC extract exhibited a DPPH radical scavenging efficiency of 74% and an IC₅₀ of 0.0427 mg/ml, closely comparable to standard-grade C-PC. The thermo kinetic analysis confirmed that the sugar syrup-stabilized formulation exhibited maximum pigment stability at pH 5–6, where degradation rates were lowest and half-life exceeded 150 min. Furthermore, microbiological tests and ICP-MS studies were performed to confirm the microbial safety of the pigment in food applications. Thus, these findings establish C-PC from Phormidium valderianum as a stable, antioxidant-rich, and microbiologically safe pigment suitable for commercial use in the food industry.
{"title":"Sustainable valorization of marine cyanobacterium Phormidium valderianum BDU10121 for the production of food-grade C-Phycocyanin as a natural food additive","authors":"Maya S. Nair , Sivasubramanian Velmurugan , V.V. Shermila Sharin","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102558","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102558","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Replacement of artificial dyes by natural food additives is a significant topic of interest, due to the increasing awareness among the consumers towards health. C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a natural, water-soluble blue pigment found in cyanobacteria spirulina, that possess antioxidant activity and has application as a natural food colorant. However, the lack of colour stability reduces its use as a natural pigment. This study investigates the extraction and stabilization of food grade C-PC obtained from cyanobacterium, <em>Phormidium valderianum</em>. Sugar syrup was selected as the stabilizing agent in this research work. Additionally, the study also evaluated the antioxidant potential and degradation kinetics of the stabilized pigment. The C-PC extract exhibited a DPPH radical scavenging efficiency of 74% and an IC₅₀ of 0.0427 mg/ml, closely comparable to standard-grade C-PC. The thermo kinetic analysis confirmed that the sugar syrup-stabilized formulation exhibited maximum pigment stability at pH 5–6, where degradation rates were lowest and half-life exceeded 150 min. Furthermore, microbiological tests and ICP-MS studies were performed to confirm the microbial safety of the pigment in food applications. Thus, these findings establish C-PC from <em>Phormidium valderianum</em> as a stable, antioxidant-rich, and microbiologically safe pigment suitable for commercial use in the food industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102558"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145973014","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Fe3O4 nanoparticles can modulate algal physiology by enhancing nutrient bioavailability and intracellular electron transfer. This study investigated their effect on Chlorella variabilis, focusing on biomass and metabolite production. Controlled supplementation improved iron assimilation and surface functionalization, as confirmed by Fe 2p XPS signals and shifts in CO and CO bonding, supported by FTIR and SEM analyses. At 20 mg/L, biomass increased to 6.5 g/L (26% increase) and lutein content enhanced to 18.9 mg/g (24% increase) compared to the control, which may be attributed to iron-mediated activation of carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes and enhanced photosynthetic electron flow as a working hypothesis. Protein and carbohydrate contents increased by 30.6% and 24.4%, respectively. Higher exposure (60 mg/L) induced ROS generation, redirecting carbon flux towards lipid accumulation (29.6% DW). The bioenergy potential of biomass ranged from 620 to 805 kJ/g DW, whereas the residual biomass also exhibited a bioenergy potential of 817 kJ/g DW, due to the redistribution of energy-dense components without a substantial loss of bioenergy potential. These results demonstrate that Fe3O4 nanoparticles act as micronutrient enhancers and metabolic modulators, providing a sustainable strategy for high-value metabolite production that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals: Industry innovation (SDG 9), and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).
{"title":"Iron nanoparticle-driven modulation of photosynthetic metabolisms for lutein and biofuel precursors enhancement in Chlorella variabilis","authors":"Yamini Sumathi , Anil Kumar Patel , Prashant Kumar , Cheng-Di Dong , Reeta Rani Singhania","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102564","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102564","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles can modulate algal physiology by enhancing nutrient bioavailability and intracellular electron transfer. This study investigated their effect on <em>Chlorella variabilis</em>, focusing on biomass and metabolite production. Controlled supplementation improved iron assimilation and surface functionalization, as confirmed by Fe 2p XPS signals and shifts in C<img>O and C<img>O bonding, supported by FTIR and SEM analyses. At 20 mg/L, biomass increased to 6.5 g/L (26% increase) and lutein content enhanced to 18.9 mg/g (24% increase) compared to the control, which may be attributed to iron-mediated activation of carotenoid biosynthetic enzymes and enhanced photosynthetic electron flow as a working hypothesis. Protein and carbohydrate contents increased by 30.6% and 24.4%, respectively. Higher exposure (60 mg/L) induced ROS generation, redirecting carbon flux towards lipid accumulation (29.6% DW). The bioenergy potential of biomass ranged from 620 to 805 kJ/g DW, whereas the residual biomass also exhibited a bioenergy potential of 817 kJ/g DW, due to the redistribution of energy-dense components without a substantial loss of bioenergy potential. These results demonstrate that Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> nanoparticles act as micronutrient enhancers and metabolic modulators, providing a sustainable strategy for high-value metabolite production that aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals: Industry innovation (SDG 9), and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102564"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102562
Sayan Roy , Supratim Ghosh , Shantonu Roy
In the present study, a two-stage cultivation strategy using Micractinium sp. was developed, wherein Stage 1 (pre-stress cultivation) integrated NPK (20:20:20) fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium) glycerol supplementation, and red-light illumination, yielding a maximum biomass concentration of 3.53 g L−1 and biomass productivity of 0.48 g L−1 d−1. Upon transition to Stage 2 (BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene-induced oxidative stress), a reduction of biomass concentration (2.09 g L−1) and biomass productivity (0.30 g L−1 d−1) was observed. During Stage 2, the lipid content reached 39.45% w/w, while the concentrations of astaxanthin and β-carotene exhibited marked enhancements of 4.54-fold and 2.16-fold, respectively, compared to Stage 1. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) confirmed primary pigments, ensuring accurate pigment profiling. A novel multivariate analysis coupled with Chernoff face visualization was used to understand antioxidant dynamics, revealing distinct metabolic responses under stress conditions. The highest global antioxidant score (5.27) was achieved under NPK+ glycerol + BHT + red-light treatment, emphasizing the synergistic impact of carbon source, oxidative stress, and light modulation. This study uniquely integrates strategic cultivation with advanced multivariate profiling, maximizing microalgal bioresource potential for nutraceuticals and antioxidants.
在本研究中，研究人员开发了一种利用micractininium的两阶段培养策略，其中第一阶段（胁迫培养）结合氮磷钾（20:20:20）肥料（氮、磷、钾）甘油补充和红光照明，最大生物量浓度为3.53 g L−1，生物量生产力为0.48 g L−1 d−1。在过渡到第二阶段(BHT（丁基羟基甲苯诱导的氧化应激）时，观察到生物量浓度（2.09 g L−1）和生物量生产力（0.30 g L−1 d−1）的降低。第2阶段，脂肪含量达到39.45% w/w，虾青素和β-胡萝卜素浓度分别较第1阶段显著提高4.54倍和2.16倍。高分辨率质谱（HR-MS）确认主要颜料，确保准确的颜料分析。一种新颖的多变量分析结合Chernoff面部可视化来了解抗氧化动力学，揭示应激条件下不同的代谢反应。NPK+甘油+ BHT +红光处理的整体抗氧化评分最高（5.27），强调碳源、氧化应激和光调制的协同作用。这项研究独特地将战略培养与先进的多元分析相结合，最大限度地提高了微藻在营养药品和抗氧化剂方面的生物资源潜力。
{"title":"Study of pigment profile and antioxidant dynamics in stress-induced microalgae using integrated graphical and scoring techniques","authors":"Sayan Roy , Supratim Ghosh , Shantonu Roy","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102562","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102562","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the present study, a two-stage cultivation strategy using <em>Micractinium</em> sp. was developed, wherein Stage 1 (pre-stress cultivation) integrated NPK (20:20:20) fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium) glycerol supplementation, and red-light illumination, yielding a maximum biomass concentration of 3.53 g L<sup>−1</sup> and biomass productivity of 0.48 g L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>. Upon transition to Stage 2 (BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene-induced oxidative stress), a reduction of biomass concentration (2.09 g L<sup>−1</sup>) and biomass productivity (0.30 g L<sup>−1</sup> d<sup>−1</sup>) was observed. During Stage 2, the lipid content reached 39.45% <em>w</em>/w, while the concentrations of astaxanthin and β-carotene exhibited marked enhancements of 4.54-fold and 2.16-fold, respectively, compared to Stage 1. High-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) confirmed primary pigments, ensuring accurate pigment profiling. A novel multivariate analysis coupled with Chernoff face visualization was used to understand antioxidant dynamics, revealing distinct metabolic responses under stress conditions. The highest global antioxidant score (5.27) was achieved under NPK+ glycerol + BHT + red-light treatment, emphasizing the synergistic impact of carbon source, oxidative stress, and light modulation. This study uniquely integrates strategic cultivation with advanced multivariate profiling, maximizing microalgal bioresource potential for nutraceuticals and antioxidants.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102562"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102560
Jiale Hu , Bin Luo , Yongfei Gao , Hugang Li
Sustainable phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge is increasingly important, yet in-situ catalytic synthesis of multifunctional adsorbent-fertilizer materials via integrated HTC pretreatment and biomass-assisted pyrolysis remains insufficiently explored. In this study, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) followed by biomass-assisted pyrolysis was employed to synthesize Fe-containing carbon materials with enhanced adsorption performance. The Fe2O3-enriched biochar exhibited high phosphorus adsorption efficiencies of up to 89.9% for KH2PO4 solution and 95.7% for sludge-derived hydrothermal liquid, with adsorption behavior well described by Langmuir and Freundlich models (R2 = 0.993), indicating nano-Fe2O3-mediated surface complexation and ion exchange mechanisms. Phosphorus adsorption capacity increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature, highlighting the role of iron species activation and carbon structure evolution. Plant growth experiments using setaria viridis showed that 125 °C hydrochar and 500 °C biochar after phosphorus loading produced plant responses comparable to phosphate-treated controls, without observable phytotoxic effects, although no significant enhancement over the blank control was observed. The highest germination rate (85.0%) was observed with 125 °C hydrochar. These results suggest that sludge-derived hydrochar and Fe-containing biochar are effective phosphorus adsorbents and exhibit potential for controlled phosphorus retention and release. This work provides a feasible strategy for coupling phosphorus recovery with sludge valorization, while emphasizing the need for long-term and field-scale studies to validate agronomic benefits.
{"title":"Synergistic Co-pyrolysis of corn straw and hydrothermally-treated sludge: Designing biochar with enhanced phosphorus adsorption and fertilizer potential","authors":"Jiale Hu , Bin Luo , Yongfei Gao , Hugang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102560","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102560","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sustainable phosphorus recovery from sewage sludge is increasingly important, yet in-situ catalytic synthesis of multifunctional adsorbent-fertilizer materials via integrated HTC pretreatment and biomass-assisted pyrolysis remains insufficiently explored. In this study, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) followed by biomass-assisted pyrolysis was employed to synthesize Fe-containing carbon materials with enhanced adsorption performance. The Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-enriched biochar exhibited high phosphorus adsorption efficiencies of up to 89.9% for KH<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>4</sub> solution and 95.7% for sludge-derived hydrothermal liquid, with adsorption behavior well described by Langmuir and Freundlich models (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.993), indicating nano-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-mediated surface complexation and ion exchange mechanisms. Phosphorus adsorption capacity increased with increasing pyrolysis temperature, highlighting the role of iron species activation and carbon structure evolution. Plant growth experiments using <em>setaria viridis</em> showed that 125 °C hydrochar and 500 °C biochar after phosphorus loading produced plant responses comparable to phosphate-treated controls, without observable phytotoxic effects, although no significant enhancement over the blank control was observed. The highest germination rate (85.0%) was observed with 125 °C hydrochar. These results suggest that sludge-derived hydrochar and Fe-containing biochar are effective phosphorus adsorbents and exhibit potential for controlled phosphorus retention and release. This work provides a feasible strategy for coupling phosphorus recovery with sludge valorization, while emphasizing the need for long-term and field-scale studies to validate agronomic benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102560"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972863","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rural water bodies are increasingly threatened by pollution from uncontrolled domestic sewage and agricultural runoff in developing countries, and there are few affordable treatments available. This study evaluated the potential of Effective Microorganisms (EM), a microbial consortium, to restore the water quality of a contaminated river in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The main physico-chemical characteristics were compared to BIS and CPCB guidelines for inland surface water after EM was applied for 12 days at 1 mL/L and 2 mL/L. Both dosages reduced pollution, however, the results using 2 mL/L were outstanding, with reductions of 80.5% turbidity, 74% COD, 64% TOC, and 76% BOD. The pH was still within admissible limits, while hardness and TDS levels were also reduced. The higher rate had more color reduction, as confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy. The reductions observed were due to microbial mechanisms that included enzymatic degradation, phototrophic CO₂ fixation, EPS-induced flocculation, and ion chelation. For agriculture, the results of the phytotoxicity assessment indicated that the treated water was non-phytotoxic to seed germination. Environmentally, this treatment could be used in a decentralized manner in rural areas, as it is feasible, cost-effective, and low-tech as it does not require energy, infrastructure, or specialized labour. River restoration program using EM technology is an affordable biotechnology that can assist in achieving sustainable water management goals.
{"title":"Rejuvenation of a river using effective microorganisms (EM): Physico-chemical reduction and phytotoxicity assessment","authors":"C. Saran , B.V. Ramanan , P.S. Vijayanand , Karthick Srinivasan","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102561","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102561","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rural water bodies are increasingly threatened by pollution from uncontrolled domestic sewage and agricultural runoff in developing countries, and there are few affordable treatments available. This study evaluated the potential of Effective Microorganisms (EM), a microbial consortium, to restore the water quality of a contaminated river in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The main physico-chemical characteristics were compared to BIS and CPCB guidelines for inland surface water after EM was applied for 12 days at 1 mL/L and 2 mL/L. Both dosages reduced pollution, however, the results using 2 mL/L were outstanding, with reductions of 80.5% turbidity, 74% COD, 64% TOC, and 76% BOD. The pH was still within admissible limits, while hardness and TDS levels were also reduced. The higher rate had more color reduction, as confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy. The reductions observed were due to microbial mechanisms that included enzymatic degradation, phototrophic CO₂ fixation, EPS-induced flocculation, and ion chelation. For agriculture, the results of the phytotoxicity assessment indicated that the treated water was non-phytotoxic to seed germination. Environmentally, this treatment could be used in a decentralized manner in rural areas, as it is feasible, cost-effective, and low-tech as it does not require energy, infrastructure, or specialized labour. River restoration program using EM technology is an affordable biotechnology that can assist in achieving sustainable water management goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102561"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102565
Yajie Chang , Huan He , Yuxiang Zhong , Weiting Zhang , Zaixing Huang , Michael Urynowicz , Hongguang Guo , Fang-Jing Liu , Asif Jamal , Muhammad Ishtiaq Ali , Rizwan Haider
Microbial enhancement of biogenic coalbed methane (CBM) with biomass amendment offers a promising pathway for clean energy and carbon management. In this study, cyanobacteria were used as biological organic matter to enhance methane yield by anaerobic co-digestion with lignite. The effects of nitrogen source (NH4Cl, NaNO3, and CO(NH2)2) and carbon-to‑nitrogen (C/N) ratio (15, 25, 35), previously underexplored in such systems, were systematically investigated under simulated conditions. Over a 122-day incubation, methane production dynamics, pH, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), coenzyme F420 activity, lignite structure (FT-IR, ultimate analysis), and microbial community succession were comprehensively monitored. CO(NH2)2 emerged as the superior nitrogen source, particularly at a low C/N ratio (15) with lignite, yielding 3282.8 μmol/g biomass, significantly outperforming inorganic nitrogen sources. This optimal condition (CO(NH2)2_15 with lignite) extended the productive methanogenic phase, minimized VFA accumulation (reduced to 25.6 mmol from 192.8 mmol), and enhanced microbial metabolic activity (evidenced by elevated F420). Lignite played a critical role as a physicochemical modulator in effectively buffering pH decline caused by acidogenesis and actively promoting methanogenesis. FT-IR and ultimate analyses revealed modifications in lignite's aliphatic and oxygen-containing functional groups, indicating microbial interactions. Microbial community analysis under optimal conditions revealed that urea enrichment promoted key bacterial diversity and favored methanogens like Methanosarcina. These findings show that optimizing nitrogen source and C/N ratio in cyanobacteria-lignite co-fermentation offers a practical way to valorize cyanobacterial waste and boost sustainable methane recovery.
{"title":"Effects of nitrogen source and C/N ratio on methane production by anaerobic co-digestion of water bloom cyanobacteria and lignite","authors":"Yajie Chang , Huan He , Yuxiang Zhong , Weiting Zhang , Zaixing Huang , Michael Urynowicz , Hongguang Guo , Fang-Jing Liu , Asif Jamal , Muhammad Ishtiaq Ali , Rizwan Haider","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microbial enhancement of biogenic coalbed methane (CBM) with biomass amendment offers a promising pathway for clean energy and carbon management. In this study, cyanobacteria were used as biological organic matter to enhance methane yield by anaerobic co-digestion with lignite. The effects of nitrogen source (NH<sub>4</sub>Cl, NaNO<sub>3</sub>, and CO(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>) and carbon-to‑nitrogen (C/N) ratio (15, 25, 35), previously underexplored in such systems, were systematically investigated under simulated conditions. Over a 122-day incubation, methane production dynamics, pH, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), coenzyme F<sub>420</sub> activity, lignite structure (FT-IR, ultimate analysis), and microbial community succession were comprehensively monitored. CO(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub> emerged as the superior nitrogen source, particularly at a low C/N ratio (15) with lignite, yielding 3282.8 μmol/g biomass, significantly outperforming inorganic nitrogen sources. This optimal condition (CO(NH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>2</sub>_15 with lignite) extended the productive methanogenic phase, minimized VFA accumulation (reduced to 25.6 mmol from 192.8 mmol), and enhanced microbial metabolic activity (evidenced by elevated F<sub>420</sub>). Lignite played a critical role as a physicochemical modulator in effectively buffering pH decline caused by acidogenesis and actively promoting methanogenesis. FT-IR and ultimate analyses revealed modifications in lignite's aliphatic and oxygen-containing functional groups, indicating microbial interactions. Microbial community analysis under optimal conditions revealed that urea enrichment promoted key bacterial diversity and favored methanogens like <em>Methanosarcina</em>. These findings show that optimizing nitrogen source and C/N ratio in cyanobacteria-lignite co-fermentation offers a practical way to valorize cyanobacterial waste and boost sustainable methane recovery.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102565"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This work highlights the promise of hard carbon derived from Chlorella sp. as an environmentally sustainable electrode material for next-generation energy storage systems. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed a three-stage thermal decomposition process, corresponding to the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. The calculated activation energies using Model-free kinetic methods yielded in the range 71.46–135.04 kJ/mol, reflecting complex degradation mechanisms. Evolved gas analysis identified the release of light volatiles, hydrocarbons, nitrogen–sulfur species, and aromatics during pyrolysis. The resulting hard carbon (HC) and its chemically activated form (AHC) were characterised by SEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and BET surface area analysis. AHC exhibited a porous microstructure, high surface area (231 m2/g), and increased structural disorder. Electrochemical tests confirmed that AHC outperformed HC, achieving a specific capacitance of 232.5 F/g (0.5 A g−1) in supercapacitors and a reversible capacity of 336 mAh g−1 in sodium-ion batteries. These enhancements are attributed to the optimized porosity, high surface area, and disordered carbon structure, which collectively facilitate rapid ion transport and efficient charge storage. This work highlights microalgae-derived hard carbon as a viable, eco-friendly alternative for high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices.
这项工作强调了来自小球藻的硬碳作为下一代储能系统的环境可持续电极材料的前景。热重分析揭示了一个三个阶段的热分解过程，对应于蛋白质、碳水化合物和脂类的分解。利用无模型动力学方法计算得到的活化能在71.46 ~ 135.04 kJ/mol之间，反映了复杂的降解机制。演化气体分析确定了热解过程中释放的轻挥发物、碳氢化合物、氮硫物质和芳烃。采用SEM、XRD、Raman光谱、BET表面积分析等方法对所得硬碳（HC）及其化学活化形态（AHC）进行了表征。AHC表现出多孔结构，高表面积（231 m2/g），结构无序性增加。电化学测试证实，AHC优于HC，在超级电容器中实现了232.5 F/g （0.5 a g−1）的比电容，在钠离子电池中实现了336 mAh g−1的可逆容量。这些增强归功于优化的孔隙度、高表面积和无序的碳结构，它们共同促进了快速离子传输和有效的电荷存储。这项工作强调了微藻衍生的硬碳作为一种可行的、环保的高性能电化学储能装置替代品。
{"title":"Sustainable hard carbon from Chlorella sp. for high-performance supercapacitors and sodium-ion batteries","authors":"Saisrinu Yarramsetti , Shmuel Hayun , Maheshwaran Girirajan , Khushal Mehta , Ranjith Krishna Pai , Imran Pancha , Halkarni Surfarazhussain S , Varadaraju U.V. , Pardha Saradhi Maram","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102554","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102554","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work highlights the promise of hard carbon derived from <em>Chlorella</em> sp. as an environmentally sustainable electrode material for next-generation energy storage systems. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed a three-stage thermal decomposition process, corresponding to the breakdown of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. The calculated activation energies using Model-free kinetic methods yielded in the range 71.46–135.04 kJ/mol, reflecting complex degradation mechanisms. Evolved gas analysis identified the release of light volatiles, hydrocarbons, nitrogen–sulfur species, and aromatics during pyrolysis. The resulting hard carbon (HC) and its chemically activated form (AHC) were characterised by SEM, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and BET surface area analysis. AHC exhibited a porous microstructure, high surface area (231 m<sup>2</sup>/g), and increased structural disorder. Electrochemical tests confirmed that AHC outperformed HC, achieving a specific capacitance of 232.5 F/g (0.5 A g<sup>−1</sup>) in supercapacitors and a reversible capacity of 336 mAh g<sup>−1</sup> in sodium-ion batteries. These enhancements are attributed to the optimized porosity, high surface area, and disordered carbon structure, which collectively facilitate rapid ion transport and efficient charge storage. This work highlights microalgae-derived hard carbon as a viable, eco-friendly alternative for high-performance electrochemical energy storage devices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102554"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972925","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-09DOI: 10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102545
Inrikynti Mary Kharmawphlang , Anuska Saha , Grace Beirapawngia , Saibal Ghosh , Deepom Deori , Nazneen Hussain
Stocking density emerged as the key ecological lever governing how Eisenia fetida and Eudrilus eugeniae transformed municipal solid waste. At lower density (7 worms kg−1), E. fetida achieved maximal carbon stabilization, N mineralization, P and K solubilization through strong humification and a bacteria-dominant microbiome, whereas overcrowding suppressed its efficiency. E. eugeniae performed optimally at moderate densities (10–15 worms kg−1); rapidly depleting labile carbon, increasing humic acids, and sustaining diverse aerobic microbial consortia. Detoxification pathways diverged such that E. fetida primarily immobilized metals via chelation and humic binding, while E. eugeniae stimulated microbial redox transformations that substantially reduced toxic heavy metals. PLFA profiles reinforced species-specific patterns, showing bacterial enrichment under E. fetida and higher fungal-actinomycete abundance under E. eugeniae. Integrating ANN and Sobol sensitivity analysis identified T2 (E. fetida, 7 worms kg−1) and T6 (E. eugeniae, 10 worms kg−1) as optimal regimes, providing robust predictive validation for vermicomposting optimization.
{"title":"Does earthworm stocking density act as an ecological lever to modulate microbial communities, phospho-lipid fatty acid signatures, and mineralization-humification dynamics?","authors":"Inrikynti Mary Kharmawphlang , Anuska Saha , Grace Beirapawngia , Saibal Ghosh , Deepom Deori , Nazneen Hussain","doi":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102545","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.biteb.2026.102545","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stocking density emerged as the key ecological lever governing how <em>Eisenia fetida</em> and <em>Eudrilus eugeniae</em> transformed municipal solid waste. At lower density (7 worms kg<sup>−1</sup>), <em>E. fetida</em> achieved maximal carbon stabilization, N mineralization, P and K solubilization through strong humification and a bacteria-dominant microbiome, whereas overcrowding suppressed its efficiency. <em>E. eugeniae</em> performed optimally at moderate densities (10–15 worms kg<sup>−1</sup>); rapidly depleting labile carbon, increasing humic acids, and sustaining diverse aerobic microbial consortia. Detoxification pathways diverged such that <em>E. fetida</em> primarily immobilized metals via chelation and humic binding, while <em>E. eugeniae</em> stimulated microbial redox transformations that substantially reduced toxic heavy metals. PLFA profiles reinforced species-specific patterns, showing bacterial enrichment under <em>E. fetida</em> and higher fungal-actinomycete abundance under <em>E. eugeniae</em>. Integrating ANN and Sobol sensitivity analysis identified T2 (<em>E. fetida</em>, 7 worms kg<sup>−1</sup>) and T6 (<em>E. eugeniae</em>, 10 worms kg<sup>−1</sup>) as optimal regimes, providing robust predictive validation for vermicomposting optimization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8947,"journal":{"name":"Bioresource Technology Reports","volume":"33 ","pages":"Article 102545"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145972856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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