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Makeup water constitutes a key component in the water management of microalgal cultivation systems. However, the effect of makeup water addition on microalgal growth remains largely unexplored. This study compared two deionized water addition intervals (1 day and 4 days) for their effect on the growth of Scenedesmus dimorphus (S. dimorphus hereafter) in 2000 mL Pyrex bottles under controlled conditions. Cell counts and dry algal biomass (DAB) were measured to characterize the microalgal growth rate. Water addition intervals impacted algal cell counts but had little effect on DAB. Adding makeup water every day resulted in a higher growth rate (8.80 ± 1.46 × 105 cells mL−1 day−1; p = 0.22, though) and an earlier occurrence of the peak cell count (day 9) than adding it every 4 days (6.95 ± 1.68 × 105 cells mL−1 day−1 and day 12, respectively). It is speculated that water loss over an extended period and the following makeup water addition posed stress on S. dimorphus. Surpassing the peak cell count, S. dimorphus continued to grow in DAB, resulting in an increased cell weight as a response to nutrient starvation. Optical density at 670 nm (OD670) was also measured. Its correlation with DAB was found to be affected by water addition intervals (R2 = 0.955 for 1 day and 0.794 for 4 days), possibly due to a water loss-induced change in chlorophyll a content. This study is expected to facilitate the makeup water management of photobioreactor and open pond cultivation systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For its small square footage, a vertical bed biofilter was developed for odor emission mitigation for livestock facilities with limited area available for biofilter installation. However, a concern about the design is that airflow and moisture may be poorly distributed across the biofilter due to the effects of gravity. Relevant data are sporadic in the literature. To fill the knowledge gap, two vertical bed biofilters were constructed at a university swine facility and monitored for two months. The monitoring was taken at 27 grid points on each biofilter per field visit. Results revealed that both the airflow and medium moisture content were unevenly distributed. The sun-facing side of the biofilters had significantly lower medium moisture content (p < 0.01) due to solar-induced water evaporation. The side directly facing the barn exhaust had the highest airflow. Airflows varied along the height of the biofilters, but no significant difference was noted. The uniformity of airflow and moisture content, characterized by coefficient of variance (CV) and distribution uniformity (DU) respectively, were examined over the monitoring campaign. Possible reasons for uneven distribution were explored and recommendations are made to address the uniformity issue. The findings from the study are expected to further the development and implementation of biofiltration technology for livestock odor control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Solids and nutrients in raw swine wastewater were removed with 3-step pretreatment. • Better S. dimorphus growth was achieved in pretreated than raw swine wastewater. • Algal reactors showed no consistent wastewater treatment boost versus control. • Algae-rich solids harvested from pretreated wastewater contained 5.7% nitrogen. • S. dimorphus is unlikely a suitable microalgal species for phosphorus recovery. Scenedesmus dimorphus was cultivated in raw and pretreated swine wastewater (SW) with 6-L photobioreactors (PBRs) to investigate the effect of solid–liquid separation on algal growth. The same aerated PBRs containing no algae were used as control. Moderate COD and nitrogen removal from the SW was achieved with the algal PBRs. However, compared to the control reactors, they offered no consistent treatment boost. Improved algal growth occurred in the pretreated SW, as measured by maximum algal cell count (3202 ± 275 × 106 versus 2286 ± 589 × 106 cells L−1) and cell size. The enhanced algal growth in the pretreated SW resulted in relatively high nitrogen (5.7 %) and organic matter contents in the solids harvested at the end of cultivation experiments, with ∼25.6 % of nitrogen in the SW retained in the solids and ∼9.1 % absorbed by algae. The pretreatment also resulted in elevated phosphorus removal. This study is anticipated to foster the development of microalgae-based SW treatment processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential for soil seed banks to contribute to effective habitat restoration is not well understood, but seed bank activation could offer a cost-effective solution for vegetation establishment of degraded sites. Our study site had been affected by deforestation and aeolian contamination from copper smelting, resulting in significant erosion and large unvegetated patches. To evaluate the potential value of soil seed bank activation for restoring intermountain grasslands and mountain forests, we set up a greenhouse-scale seed bank experiment to test the effect of nutrient amendments previously utilized in field trials in the study area. We also tested the effect of native seed augmentation on diversity. Our results showed that the tested soils had a significant seed bank as 16 volunteer plant species emerged, of which ten were native and six were non-native. Nutrient amendments did not affect grass seedling numbers, but one treatment (the addition of biofertilizer) increased forb numbers. All treatments, except synthetic fertilizer increased the total aboveground biomass of the emerging seedlings. Native seed augmentation increased grass and forb seedling numbers, but, the impact of nutrient amendments changed with seed augmentation, and certain nutrient treatments even reduced seedling emergence. While biofertilizer combined with mycorrhizae did not affect grass or forb seedling numbers, it did increase plant biomass. Activating soil seed banks with nutrient additions may be a feasible approach for ecological restoration. However, there are significant differences among treatments. Further studies would be necessary to reveal the specific effects of nutrient addition on soil seed bank activation, especially in field settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter (PM) represents an air quality management challenge for confined swine production systems. Due to the limited space and ventilation rate, PM can reach relatively high concentrations in swine barns. PM in swine barns possesses different physical, chemical, and biological characteristics than that in the atmosphere and other indoor environments. As a result, it exerts different environmental and health effects and creates some unique challenges regarding PM measurement and mitigation. Numerous research efforts have been made, generating massive data and information. However, relevant review reports are sporadic. This study aims to provide an updated comprehensive review of swine barn PM, focusing on publications since 1990. It covers various topics including PM characteristics, sources, measurement methods, and in-barn mitigation technologies. As PM in swine barns is primarily of biological origins, bioaerosols are reviewed in great detail. Relevant topics include bacterial/fungal counts, viruses, microbial community composition, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, antibiotic resistance genes, endotoxins, and (1→3)-β-D-glucans. For each topic, existing knowledge is summarized and discussed and knowledge gaps are identified. Overall, PM in swine barns is complicated in chemical and biological composition and highly variable in mass concentrations, size, and microbial abundance. Feed, feces, and skins constitute the major PM sources. Regarding in-barn PM mitigation, four technologies (oil/water sprinkling, ionization, alternation of feed and feeders, and recirculating air filtration) are dominant. However, none of them have been widely used in commercial barns. A collective discussion of major knowledge gaps and future research needs is offered at the end of the report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A comprehensive review of electro-driven technologies for phosphorus enrichment was provided. • Enrichment rate and energy consumption were important indicators for phosphorus enrichment. • Phosphorus enrichment promoted p recovery efficiency and vivianite formation. • Prospect and directions of electro-driven technologies for phosphorus enrichment and recovery were presented. The recovery of phosphorus from wastewater is a critical step in addressing the scarcity of phosphorus resources. Electro-driven technologies for phosphorus enrichment have gathered significant attention due to their inherent advantages, such as mild operating conditions, absence of secondary pollution, and potential integration with other technologies. This study presents a comprehensive review of recent advancements in the field of phosphorus enrichment, with a specific focus on capacitive deionization and electrodialysis technologies. It highlights the underlying principles and effectiveness of electro-driven techniques for phosphorus enrichment while systematically comparing energy consumption, enrichment rate, and concentration factor among different technologies. Furthermore, the study provides a thorough analysis of the capacity of various technologies to selectively enrich phosphorus and proposes several methods and strategies to enhance selectivity. These insights offer valuable guidance for advancing the future development of electrochemical techniques with enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in phosphorus enrichment from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continual consolidation and concentration of animal feeding operations (AFOs) raises various environmental challenges, including air pollutant emission. Cost-effective mitigation technologies are pursued to protect the health and wellbeing of animals and farmers as well as the environment. Previous lab studies utilized ammonia (NH 3) and carbon dioxide (CO 2), two major air pollutants in AFOs, for microalgal cultivation. However, the field performance of this algae-based mitigation approach has yet to be investigated. In this study, two photobioreactors (PBRs) were tested in a nursery pig barn to mitigate NH 3 and CO 2 while growing Scenedesmus dimorphus (S. dimorphus). Pit air was fed into the PBRs where the two pollutants were adsorbed by S. dimorphus as nutrients to produce algal biomass and oxygen gas (O 2). The cleaned air then recirculated back to the room space. S. dimorphus reached its maximum cell count on the 17th day of the experiment when NH 3 and CO 2 concentrations in the pit air were 25.6 ppm and 3150 ppm, respectively. The maximum biomass concentration occurred on the 11th day when the NH 3 and CO 2 concentrations were 14.6 and 2250 ppm, respectively. The average mitigation efficiency was 31–50% for NH 3 and 1–1.7% for CO 2. The costs for removing 1 g NH 3 and CO 2 were estimated to be $3.77 and $0.20, respectively. This study shows that an integrated PBR system is technically feasible for reducing pig barn air pollutant emission while producing microalgae as a valuable product. [Display omitted] • Scenedesmus Dimorphus was cultivated with the pit air in a pig barn. • ∼31–50% NH 3 and 1–1.7% CO 2 were captured and converted into algal biomass. • Even with incoming NH 3 , the medium pH stayed 6.8–7.0 requiring minor adjustment. • The highest cell count and algal biomass were 14.9 x 106 cells mL−1 and 0.892 g L−1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]