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Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising device for energy generation and organic waste treatment simultaneously by electrochemically active bacteria (EAB). In this study, an integrated aerobic-anaerobic strategy was developed to improve the performance of P. aeruginosa -inoculated MFC. With an aerobic start-up and following an anaerobic discharge process, the current density of MFC reached a maximum of 99.80 µA/cm 2 , which was 91.6% higher than the MFC with conventional constant-anaerobic operation. Cyclic voltammetry and HPLC analysis showed that aerobic start-up significantly increased electron shuttle (pyocyanin) production (76% higher than the constant-anaerobic MFC). Additionally, enhanced anode biofilm formation was also observed in the integrated aerobic-anaerobic MFC. The increased pyocyanin production and biofilm formation promoted extracellular electron transfer from EAB to the anode and were the underlying mechanism for the MFC performance enhancement. This work demonstrated the integrated aerobic-anaerobic strategy would be a practical strategy to enhance the electricity generation of MFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evolution of the bacterial population during formation of denitrifying phosphorus removal granular sludge was investigated using high-throughput pyrosequencing. As a result, mature granules with a compact structure were obtained in an anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic (A/O/A) sequencing batch reactor under an organic loading rate as low as 0.3 kg COD/(m 3 ·d). Rod-shaped microbes were observed to cover with the outer surface of granules. Besides, reliable COD and simultaneous nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies were achieved over the whole operation period. MiSeq pyrosequencing analysis illustrated that both the microbial diversity and richness increased sharply during the granulation process, whereas they stayed stable after the presence of granules. Some microorganisms seemed to contribute to the formation of granules, and some were identified as functional bacterial groups responsible for constructing the biological reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pretreatment of activated sludge with sulfuric acid and bioleaching using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans along with addition of Fe 2+ on sludge dewaterability was investigated. The sludge dewatering efficiency in terms of capillary suction time (CST) and specific resistant to filtration (SRF) was increased with a decrease in sludge pH. A pH of 2.67 was found to be optimum for dewatering, at which 81% and 63% reduction of CST and SRF were achieved, respectively. The dewaterability of sludge was enhanced after the addition of Fe 2+ and A. ferrooxidans . Ideal concentration of Fe 2+ was 2 g/L for sludge dewaterability, which showed 96% and 88% reduction in CST and SRF, respectively. In the control sludge, maximum part of the biopolymeric macromolecules was contributing by the tightly bound extracellular polymeric substances (TB-EPS). At optimum Fe 2+ concentration, total EPS was reduced by 73%, enhancing sludge dewaterability. Bioleaching conducted by A. ferrooxidans could solubilized 88% Cu and 99% Zn within 120 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This study sought to elucidate the effect and mechanism of Galactomyces sp. Z3 in improving the bioleaching of heavy metals from sludge. Results showed that co-inoculation of Galactomyces sp. Z3 and two Acidithiobacillus strains (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans LX5 and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans TS6) reduced the period required for sludge bioleaching by 4.5days compared to Acidithiobacillus alone. Further, removal efficiencies of Cu, Zn and oxidation rate of Fe2+ and S0 were higher in co-inoculation system than the Acidithiobacillus alone. Galactomyces sp. Z3 consumed the acetate, propionate, iso-butyrate, butyrate, and iso-valerate in sludge from the initial concentrations of 109.50, 28.80, 7.70, 34.30, and 18.40mg/L to 10.20, 0.61, 0.63, 19.40 and 1.30mg/L, respectively, after 12h in the co-inoculation system, significantly lower than the concentrations observed in the Acidithiobacillus alone. Meanwhile, the surfactant properties of the extracellular polymeric substances produced by the Galactomyces accelerated the rate of sulfur oxidization by A. thiooxidans. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]