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Bioelectroremediation of a Real Industrial Wastewater: The Role of Electroactive Biofilm and Planktonic Cells through Enzymatic Activities
No full textBioelectrochemical processes are emerging as one of the most efficient and sustainable technologies for wastewater treatment. Their application for industrial wastewater treatment is still low due to the high toxicity and difficulty of biological treatment for industrial effluents. This is especially relevant in pharmaceutical industries, where different solvents, active pharma ingredients (APIs), extreme pH, and salinity usually form a lethal cocktail for the bacterial community in bioreactors. This work evaluates the impact of the anode architecture on the detoxification performance and analyzes, for the first time, the profile of some key bioremediation enzymes (catalase and esterase) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the operation of microbial electrochemical cells treating real pharmaceutical wastewater. Our results show the existence of oxidative stress and loss of cell viability in planktonic cells, while the electrogenic bacteria that form the biofilm maintain their biochemical machinery intact, as observed in the bioelectrochemical response. Monitorization of electrical current flowing in the bioelectrochemical system showed how electroactive biofilm, after a short adaptation period, started to degrade the pharma effluent. The electroactive biofilms are responsible for the detoxification of this type of industrial wastewater
Source-Specific Probabilistic Risk Assessment of Microplastics in Soils applying Quality Criteria and Data Alignment Methods
No full textThe risk characterization of microplastics (MP) in soil is challenging due to the non-alignment of existing exposure and effect data. Therefore, we applied data alignment methods to assess the risks of MP in soils subject to different sources of MP pollution. Our findings reveal variations in MP characteristics among sources, emphasizing the need for source-specific alignments. To assess the reliability of the data, we applied Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) screening tools. Risk assessment was carried out probabilistically, considering uncertainties in data alignments and effect thresholds. The Hazardous Concentrations for 5% (HC5) of the species were significantly higher compared to earlier studies and ranged between 4.0×107 and 2.3×108 particles (1-5000 µm)/kg of dry soil for different MP sources and ecologically relevant metrics. The highest risk was calculated for soils with MP entering via diffuse and unspecified local sources, i.e., “background pollution”. However, the source with the highest proportion of high-risk values was sewage, followed by background pollution and mulching. Notably, locations exceeding the risk threshold obtained low scores in the QA/QC assessment. No risks were observed for soils with compost. To improve future risk assessments, we advise to primarily test environmentally relevant MP mixtures and adhere to strict quality criteria
White Paper: Addressing the challenges of global warming for polar freshwater resources
No full textThe polar regions are undergoing rapid transformations due to global warming, resulting in temperature increases far surpassing the global average and significantly impacting ecosystems, especially freshwater systems. Understanding the implications of climate change on Arctic and Antarctic freshwater systems is crucial, as vital ecosystem services essential for sustaining human and environmental well-being may be disrupted. Shifts in freshwater availability due to changes in precipitation patterns, ice melt, and permafrost thaw pose significant challenges for local communities, exacerbating their vulnerabilities. Additionally, climate warming can affect water quality, e. g. by releasing pollutants and potential hazardous microorganisms, further jeopardizing human and natural ecosystem health. Arctic communities face multiple challenges in adapting to these changes, including limited resources and infrastructure that may not be resilient to environmental change. Urgent action is needed to mitigate these impacts and safeguard freshwater resources through evidence-based approaches, scientific research, policy involvement, and community engagement to ensure a sustainable future in the polar regions.
In the pursuit of understanding freshwater dynamics in the Arctic and Antarctic, international collaboration across disciplines stands as a cornerstone, essential for addressing the impacts of climate change on polar freshwater resources. Initiatives aiming to understand the dynamics of transboundary water resources underscore the pivotal role of collaboration across institutions and nations, allowing for collective efforts in providing effective solutions to advance the current knowledge of polar ecosystems. Such collaboration not only benefits the polar regions but also carries implications for the global community, aligning with the UN’s SDGs. Therefore, funding mechanisms to bridge the knowledge-to-action gap and support international cooperation should be set high in the research agenda.
The scientific and funding roadmap presented here should be implemented urgently, to maximise, in a 10-year term, the benefits to be gained through synergies with the next International Polar Year (2032-33). It will leverage existing transnational initiatives and frameworks, including the Antarctic governance framework, to guide future research initiatives towards sustainable management of freshwater resources. Overall, a comprehensive approach integrating pole-to-pole collaboration, strategic funding, and adherence to governance frameworks is paramount, ensuring collective efforts contribute to the well-being of polar communities and the broader global understanding of climate change implications
D4.12. OUTLOOK OF EXISTING FINANCIAL/ DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES (Fifth release, November 2024) Technical Report. Water4All (Water security for the planet) European Partnership (Horizon Europe Programme, Grant Agreement 101060874).
No full textUptake of cyclic C6O4 in maize and tomato: Results from a greenhouse study
No full textCyclic C6O4 (cC6O4, CAS number 1190931-27-1) is a perfluoralkyl ether used as a polymerization aid in the synthesis of fluoropolymers and produced since 2011 as substitute of PFOA. This work reports the first data on bioaccumulation of cC6O4 on terrestrial plants (maize and tomato). In general, the observed accumulation and translocation of cC6O4 in plants is low or negligible. For maize a bioconcentration factor (BCFdw/dw) of about 39 was observed in the root compartment and much lower (BCFdw/dw = 12) in the aboveground tissues. In tomato the observed BCFs are substantially lower, with a maximum of 2.5 in leaves. The differences observed between the uptake and distribution of cC6O4 in maize and tomato plants are probably due to differences in plant physiology (but also in the experimental design of the tests). Maize plants grown at different concentrations in this study did not show relevant differences in term of biomass and growth, while tomato plants exposed to cC6O4 were subject to a delay in the ripening of the fruits (and relative biomass). The overall results are discussed in comparison with literature data available for legacy PFASs but the comparison is difficult due to differences in the experimental design. It is relevant to note that the concentrations tested in this study are significantly higher than expected environmental concentrations
Novel electrochemical strategies for the microbial conversion of CO2 into biomass and volatile fatty acids using a fluid-like bed electrode in a three-phase reacto
No full textMicrobial electrosynthesis (MES) constitutes a bioelectrochemical process where bacteria uptake electrons extracellularly from a polarized electrode to incorporate them into their anabolic metabolism. However, the efficiency of current MES reactor designs can be lower than expected due to limita-tions regarding electron transfer and mass transport. One of the most promis-ing bioreactor configurations to overcome these bottlenecks is the Microbial Electrochemical Fluidized Bed Reactor (ME-FBR). In this study, microbial CO2 fixation is investigated for the first time in a ME-FBR operated as a 3- phase reactor (solid–liquid–gas). An electroconductive carbon bed, acting as a working electrode, was fluidized with gas and polarized at different poten-tials (−0.6, −0.8 and −1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) so it could act as an electron donor (biocathode). Under these potentials, CO2 fixation and electron transfer were evaluated. Autotrophic electroactive microorganisms from anaerobic waste-water were enriched in a ME-FBR in the presence of 2-bromoethanosulfonic acid (BES) to inhibit the growth of methanogens. Cyclic voltammetry anal-ysis revealed interaction between the microorganisms and the cathode. Furthermore, volatile fatty acids like propionate, formate and acetate were detected in the culture supernatant. Acetate production had a maximum rate of ca. 1 g L−1 day−1. Planktonic cell biomass was produced under continu-ous culture at values as high as ca. 0.7 g L−1 dry weight. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of employing a fluidized electrode with gaseous substrates and electricity as the energy source for generating biomass and carboxylic acids
Resilience of anodic biofilm in microbial fuel cell biosensor for BOD monitoring of urban wastewater
No full textEfficient wastewater treatment monitoring is vital for addressing water scarcity. Microbial fuel cells(MFCs) have emerged as real-time biosensors for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in urbanwastewater. Discrepancies in signal generation may arise due to changes in the composition andmetabolism of mixed-culture electroactive biofilms stemming from different wastewatercompositions. In this study, 3D-printed MFC-based biosensors were employed to assess the BOD ofsterile complex artificial wastewater and untreated urban wastewater. Alterations in the microbialcomposition of the anode were evaluated using 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics analysis. Results show that MFC-based biosensors can be effectively recalibrated for diverse types ofwastewater, maintaining consistent sensitivity (0.64 ± 0.10 mA L mg−1m−2with synthetic wastewaterand 0.78 ± 0.13 mA L mg−1m−2with urban wastewater) and limit of detection (49 ± 8 mg L−1forsynthetic wastewater and 44 ± 7 mg L−1for urban wastewater). Crucially, pre-sterilization,conductivity adjustments, and nitrogen purging of wastewater are not required before its introductioninto the biosensor. However, the presence of native aerobic microorganisms in the wastewater mightaffect the current output. Metagenomics and taxonomic analyses revealed that the alterations inbiofilm composition are predominantly in response to the varied chemical and microbiologicalcompositions of different substrates. Despite variations in anodic biofilm composition, the MFC-based biosensor maintains a relative error comparable to the standard BOD test. This highlights theresilience andflexibility of the biosensor when directly used with a variety of wastewater types beforefull biofilm adjustment