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Tuci GA, Valentino F, Pavan P, Gottardo M. Tannery sludge valorization through zeolite-assisted anaerobic process for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:118046. [PMID: 38160968 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.118046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Tannery sludge, a challenging waste, was utilized as a substrate for the production of Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs) through a series of six thermophilic Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor runs. The sludge was subjected to a mild thermal pre-treatment and incorporated zeolites (chabazite in run II, and clinoptilolite in run III) in the acidification process. Results highlighted zeolites' impact on chromium concentration and the SCFAs/CODSOL ratio. Ammonia release remained consistent at around 47 % and 51 % for run I and II, respectively, but surpassed 60% in run III, suggesting limited zeolite effectiveness in NH4 absorption. Chromium release in the liquid fraction, due to thermal pretreatment, reached 335 mg/L. While in tests without zeolite, complete removal proved challenging, in zeolite-amended runs, complete removal was achieved, showcasing the materials' heavy metal absorption capacity. SCFA concentrations reached 20260 mgCOD/L, with acidification efficiency varying; runs I and III had ratios around 0.70 COD/COD, while run II showed substantial improvement (0.92) with chabazite. Anaerobic fermentation-digestion mass balance indicated a 41% reduction in landfill sludge mass, reducing its environmental footprint while yielding valuable byproducts like biogas and SCFAs. These findings underscore zeolites' potential in heavy metal absorption and acidification process enhancement, paving the way for applications with tannery sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Adele Tuci
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, Mestre 30172, Venice, Italy.
| | - Francesco Valentino
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, Mestre 30172, Venice, Italy
| | - Paolo Pavan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, Mestre 30172, Venice, Italy
| | - Marco Gottardo
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, Mestre 30172, Venice, Italy
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Sriram S, Wong JWC, Pradhan N. Recent advances in electro-fermentation technology: A novel approach towards balanced fermentation. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 360:127637. [PMID: 35853590 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biotransformation of organic substrates via acidogenic fermentation (AF) to high-value products such as C1-C6 carboxylic acids and alcohol serves as platform chemicals for various industrial applications. However, the AF technology suffers from low product titers due to thermodynamic constraints. Recent studies suggest that augmenting AF redox potential can regulate the metabolic pathway and provide seamless electron flow by lowering the activation energy barrier, thus positively influencing the substrate utilization rate, product yield, and speciation. Hence, the augmented AF system with an exogenous electricity supply is termed as electro-fermentation (EF), which has enormous potential to strengthen the fermentation technology domain. Therefore, this critical review systematically discusses the current understanding of EF with a special focus on the extracellular electron transfer mechanism of electroactive bacteria and provides perspectives and research gaps to further improve the technology for green chemical synthesis, sustainable waste management, and circular bio-economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saranya Sriram
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR
| | - Jonathan W C Wong
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR; Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR.
| | - Nirakar Pradhan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, SAR; Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, SAR.
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Intensification of Acidogenic Fermentation for the Production of Biohydrogen and Volatile Fatty Acids—A Perspective. FERMENTATION-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation8070325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Utilising ‘wastes’ as ‘resources’ is key to a circular economy. While there are multiple routes to waste valorisation, anaerobic digestion (AD)—a biochemical means to breakdown organic wastes in the absence of oxygen—is favoured due to its capacity to handle a variety of feedstocks. Traditional AD focuses on the production of biogas and fertiliser as products; however, such low-value products combined with longer residence times and slow kinetics have paved the way to explore alternative product platforms. The intermediate steps in conventional AD—acidogenesis and acetogenesis—have the capability to produce biohydrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFA) which are gaining increased attention due to the higher energy density (than biogas) and higher market value, respectively. This review hence focusses specifically on the production of biohydrogen and VFAs from organic wastes. With the revived interest in these products, a critical analysis of recent literature is needed to establish the current status. Therefore, intensification strategies in this area involving three main streams: substrate pre-treatment, digestion parameters and product recovery are discussed in detail based on literature reported in the last decade. The techno-economic aspects and future pointers are clearly highlighted to drive research forward in relevant areas.
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Tratzi P, Ta DT, Zhang Z, Torre M, Battistelli F, Manzo E, Paolini V, Zhang Q, Chu C, Petracchini F. Sustainable additives for the regulation of NH 3 concentration and emissions during the production of biomethane and biohydrogen: A review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 346:126596. [PMID: 34953990 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
This study reviews the recent advances and innovations in the application of additives to improve biomethane and biohydrogen production. Biochar, nanostructured materials, novel biopolymers, zeolites, and clays are described in terms of chemical composition, properties and impact on anaerobic digestion, dark fermentation, and photofermentation. These additives can have both a simple physical effect of microbial adhesion and growth, and a more complex biochemical impact on the regulation of key parameters for CH4 and H2 production: in this study, these effects in different experimental conditions are reviewed and described. The considered parameters include pH, volatile fatty acids (VFA), C:N ratio, and NH3; additionally, the global impact on the total production yield of biogas and bioH2 is reviewed. A special focus is given to NH3, due to its strong inhibition effect towards methanogens, and its contribution to digestate quality, leaching, and emissions into the atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizio Tratzi
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria 29300, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Doan Thanh Ta
- Institute of Green Products, Feng Chia University, No. 100, Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung 40724, Taiwan
| | - Zhiping Zhang
- Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy (MOA of China), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - Marco Torre
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria 29300, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Francesca Battistelli
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria 29300, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Eros Manzo
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria 29300, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Valerio Paolini
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria 29300, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy.
| | - Quanguo Zhang
- Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy (MOA of China), Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chenyeon Chu
- Institute of Green Products, Feng Chia University, No. 100, Wenhwa Rd., Seatwen, Taichung 40724, Taiwan
| | - Francesco Petracchini
- National Research Council of Italy, Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research (CNR-IIA), Via Salaria 29300, 00015 Monterotondo, Italy
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