Lignin valorization is crucial for sustainable biorefineries, yet its complex structure challenges efficient conversion. Here, we report an alkali-halophilic laccase (Lacc) from Halomonas sp. Y3 that enables highly efficient lignin-to-polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) conversion. Lacc exhibits exceptional properties: optimal activity at pH 9.0 and 200 mM NaCl, >75 % activity retention at 70 °C, and 230 % activity

CD complexation solubilization and enzymatic glycosylation synergistically enhance the utilization of polyphenols in biomass. In this study, a comprehensive strategy was proposed, to regulate the rate-limiting step where the efficiency of β-CD ring-opening (k1) exceeded the daidzein glycosylation (k2) catalyzed by CGTase in the efficient glycosylation system based on cyclodextrin (CD) dynamic complexation

This study compared impact of benthic fauna on nitrogen (N) cycling processes in two type plants surface flow constructed wetlands (SFCWs) by field experiment in one year. Results determined that bioturbation altered proportion of N removal pathways in two type plants SFCWs. In winter, proportion of microbial processes in snail SFCWs increased, compared with non-snail SFCWs, were more 75%. In both

Sludge foaming can promote sludge drying efficiency. In the foaming process, sludge protein plays a critical role due to its amphiphilic properties. However, the existing alkaline hydrolysis can generate sufficient solubilized proteins but unable to adjust their properties suitable for subsequent foaming. In response to this issue, acid pretreatment, thermal pretreatment, and enzymes of α-amylase,

An algal-bacterial symbiosis (ABS) system was constructed in a sequencing batch biofilm reactor for mariculture wastewater treatment, and its performance, microbial community and metabolic pathway were analyzed under different light intensities. The ammonia oxidation rate and nitrate reduction rate under 7000 Lux light intensity were higher than other light intensities. Functional microorganisms including

This study examines lignocellulosic by-products from agriculture and food industry for methane production. Banana peels, cacao bean shells, rice straw, tomato plant residues, and wheat straw underwent steam explosion treatment (SE) at 160 °C and 10 min followed by solid–liquid separation. Specific methane yield increased between 8.6 % to 19.6 % for rice and wheat straw and cacao bean shells after SE

Biomass, a widely used renewable energy source, requires characterization to optimize biofuel and bioproduct processes, customize feedstocks, and ensure economic and environmental sustainability. Conventional wet-chemistry methods for biomass analysis are slow, expensive, and require significant reagents and skilled personnel. In contrast, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy, a faster, cost-effective

Conventional acid pretreatment at high temperatures (>100 °C) and low solid–liquid ratios, often leads to excessive inhibitor formation. In this study, a high-solid, normal-temperature acid (HSNTA) pretreatment was developed to enhance digestibility while minimizing inhibitor generation. Corn stover was pretreated at 50 °C for 14 days with a solid–liquid ratio of 1.30 (56.5 % w/w solid loading), resulting

Glutamicibacter halophytocola MD1, a novel heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification and phosphate removal bacterium was isolated. MD1 exhibited high nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency across different nitrogen sources. Under optimal conditions, it achieved 100.0 % removal of NO3−-N and PO43−-P. Multi-omics and nitrogen balance analyses revealed that ammonia assimilation was the main

Food waste is a major source of environmental pollution, as its landfills attribute to greenhouse gas emissions. This study developed a robust upcycling bioprocess that converts food waste into lactic acid through autochthonous fermentation and further produces biodegradable polymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Food can be stored without affecting its bioconversion to lactic acid, making it feasible

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) utilizes electrical current to convert CO2 into various products via electroactive microbial activity at the cathode. Methane production in MES relies on methanogens within the cathode biofilm and is influenced by various factors including the type of ion exchange membrane, which plays a critical role but remains underexplored, particularly regarding ion transport mechanisms

The anaerobic granular sludge bed reactors treating calcium-rich wastewater are fundamentally constrained by uncontrolled biomineralization process, particularly through spontaneous CaCO3 precipitation. While phosphate supplementation demonstrates partial deceleration of precipitation kinetics (50% reduction of reaction rate), its efficacy seems substrate-selective, achieving merely 15.6% calcium interception

The synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by mixed microbial culture (MMC) using thermal hydrolyzed sludge is a promising strategy. However, the thermal hydrolysis by-product melanoidins may disturb PHA synthesis. In this study, transient-cycle experiments revealed bidirectional effects of melanoidins on PHA production: low concentrations (≤400 mg/L) promoted, high concentrations (≥800 mg/L) inhibited

Triacylglycerol (TAG), a universal energy reserve and biodiesel feedstock, accumulates under stress in microalgae. However, the regulatory mechanisms linking stress signals to TAG synthesis remain unclear. In this study, we identified ApGRX1724, a novel glutaredoxin 1 family member found in Auxenochlorella protothecoides, that could translocate to the nucleus and interact with the transcription factor

The anammox process offers low-carbon, cost-effective solution for municipal wastewater treatment but faces challenges in non-tropical regions due to temperature sensitivity. This study investigated the nitrogen removal performance, microbial dynamics, and functional gene responses of an integrated partial denitrification-anammox (PDA) system using flocculent sludge under gradual and sudden temperature

Gas fermentation offers a promising approach for converting waste and greenhouse gases into valuable products. Hydrogen-oxidizing microbes like Cupriavidus necator can fix CO2 into single-cell protein (SCP) using H2 under aerobic conditions, but low gas solubility in aqueous media limits productivity. To address this, a hollow fiber membrane bioreactor (HFMB) was integrated with Cupriavidus necator

In this study, a series of hollow-structured DSx/HZSM-5 zeolites were synthesized through a method of alkaline treatment with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. The size of cavities and amount of acid sites in hollow zeolite can be exactly controlled by adjusting the NaOH concentration. The hollow HZSM-5 zeolites were employed for catalytic deoxygenation of bio-oils from fast pyrolysis of Giant Miscanthus

As a promising marine bioresource, Amphidinium carterae represents a significant source of peridinin, a light-harvesting carotenoid exclusive to dinoflagellates. However, its low cultivation density has hindered its exploitation, particularly for efficient peridinin production. This study initially screened the optimal light intensity of 55 μmol/m2/s and a mixotrophic culture condition supplemented

In this study, trace metals were used to enhance the efficiency of anaerobic digestion and promote complete denitrification, thereby reducing nitrous oxide (N2O) production. The potential for greenhouse gas production during anaerobic digestion was evaluated. The effects of supplementation of Cu, Al, Mo, Fe, KI, Co, and Ni on greenhouse gas emissions were investigated through the anaerobic digestion

With the world population continuously increasing, the protein demand will double by 2050. Single cell protein (SCP) derived from lignocellulosic biomass offers a sustainable solution. Many inhibitors are produced during the pretreatment process of lignocellulosic biomass. Inhibitor-rich hydrolysates limit microorganisms cell growth and SCP yields. In this work, we report a co-culture consortium of

Achieving a high nitrogen removal rate (NRR) in partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) systems under low-ammonium conditions remains challenging due to conflicting oxygen requirements and substrate competition among functional microbes. To overcome these limitations, a novel spatial segregation strategy driven by sludge settling was proposed to establish niche separation between ammonia-oxidizing bacteria

For decades, the photosynthetic bacteria (PSB)-based nitrogen treatment and valorization from wastewater have been explored. However, balancing nitrogen removal performance and resource recovery potential in PSB has remained a key unresolved issue for a long time. This study employed generative deep learning algorithms to achieve high-quality data generation, supporting multi-objective optimization

The importance of sustainable solutions for restoring soil health amidst increasing soil degradation and organic waste accumulation has gained significant attention. Black soldier fly larval (BSFL) bioconversion offers a promising solution by converting organic wastes into value-added products, such as larval biomass and frass. BSFL frass, the main output of the bioconversion, is increasingly recognized

Filamentous fungi are widely utilized in industrial fermentation processes due to their high productivity, with mycelial morphology directly influencing fermentation broth viscosity and target product yield, which is a critical parameter for process optimization. Aspergillus niger, an FDA-approved safe filamentous fungus, typically forms tightly packed mycelial pellets in submerged cultures, which

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens exhibits significant efficacy in the production of alkaline protease. Identifying the factors that trigger alkaline protease overproduction during the fermentation process provides valuable insights for enhancing the performance of alkaline protease-producing strains. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that quorum sensing (QS) plays a crucial role in regulating alkaline protease

This study investigates how varying medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) ratios in substrates (caproate-rich [C6], heptanoate-rich [C7], octanoate-rich [C8], and Control) affect medium-chain-length PHA (mcl-PHA) synthesis in mixed microbial cultures, assessing their impacts on PHA yield and PHA monomer composition. Results demonstrate that increasing MCFA concentrations enhanced total PHA accumulation. Maximum

Finding vehicles for biosynthesis of metal clusters with advantageous magnetic and catalytic properties is an important industrial and environmental task. We have found previously that green microalga Chlorella sorokiniana produces a multivalent Mn-O cluster with structure that is similar to photosynthetic oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). Here we reported magnetic and redox properties and the site of

This study developed and optimized a cascade process to derive different types of sugars from food waste and assessed the process’s economic and environmental viability. From 1 metric ton (MT) of wet food waste, the process recovered 42.9 kg of soluble sugars (including glucose, sucrose, fructose with extraction efficiency of 81.4 %), 55.3 kg of starch hydrolyzed sugars (extraction efficiency of 88

To investigate the feasibility of a novel Nitritation and Denitrification for Simultaneous Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal system, a 133-day experiment was conducted. The results showed that combining aerobic phosphorus release capacity with denitrification phosphorus uptake capacity was feasible to achieve N and P removal. The removal efficiencies of TN and TP in ND-SNPR system were 98.16 ± 1.75 %

The application of biochar in the remediation of heavy metal-contaminated soil shows great potential, but its comprehensive impacts on metal dynamics and the soil ecosystem have not been quantified. This study conducted a meta − analysis of 496 observations from 41 studies. The results indicated that biochar can significantly decrease the bioavailability of cationic metals, but has limited effect on

Vermicomposting is an eco-friendly technology for treating sewage sludge, however its efficiency in transforming biological material is often constrained. This study investigates the potential of bacteriophages to enhance the transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) during sludge vermicomposting. Fresh dewatered sludge treated with bacteriophages (VP) were compared to untreated controls (CK)

Purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) have strong potential for applications such as protein-rich animal feed, with carotenoids providing added immune-nutritional value. This study investigated carotenoid profiles in PPB mixed cultures under varying light conditions, focusing on individual carotenoid quantification using advanced analytical techniques, rather than relying on total carotenoid estimates

Anaerobic ammonia oxidation (Anammox) has attracted widespread attention as an advanced biological nitrogen removal technology. CuO nanoparticles (CuO NPs) is one of the most common nanomaterials widely used in industrial production. In this study, microbial network construction, metagenomics and binning analysis were integrated to elucidate the impact of CuO NPs on anammox system. Nitrogen removal

The fight against climate change requires consideration of carbon as a critical parameter in production systems, with the ultimate aim of creating a truly sustainable circular carbon economy. In this context, microbial bioproduction systems are a promising route to renewably generate value-added chemicals and fuels. Methanol and formate have recently gained interest as microbial one-carbon feedstocks

Fatty acid photodecarboxylase (FAP) catalyzes the decarboxylation of carboxylic acids and their derivatives with broad substrate specificity, making it a promising biocatalyst for green biofuel production. However, its limited enzymatic stability and the low solubility of fatty acids in aqueous solutions present significant challenges for industrial applications. Moreover, the requirement for organic

Codon expansion has become a powerful tool for overcoming the limitations of the standard genetic code system, which restricts the building block of proteins to canonical amino acids. The incorporation of non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into proteins presents a significant opportunity to expand their functional diversity. The precise incorporation of ncAAs in vivo requires an orthogonal tRNA/aminoacyl-tRNA

The sulfide-based autotrophic denitrification (SAD) has become one of the hotspots in the wastewater treatment due to the urgent requirement for carbon emission reduction. However, it faces a great challenge from the high salinity of nitrogenous wastewaters. In this study, a SAD system was investigated to treat the nitrogenous wastewater under high salinity stress, achieving 99.82 % nitrogen removal

This study investigated the integration of hydrothermal carbonisation (HTC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) of waste-activated sludge (WAS) for sustainable sludge management. HTC were performed at 180 °C, 210 °C, and 260 °C for 30, 60, and 120 min. Hydrochar and aqueous hydrothermal liquor (AHL) were tested for biochemical methane potential. Increasing HTC severity reduced solids and carbon content, altered

To improve the quality and sensory characteristics of meat analogues from soya protein isolate (SPI), the golden algal powder (AP) containing 43.8 % protein through auto-controlled fermentation of Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa mutant (A4-1 strain) was incorporated with SPI at various mass ratios in high-moisture-extrusion (HME) process. The optimal texture, flavor and digestibility were achieved by mixing

Highly enriched plastic debris leads to an increase in dissolved organic matter derived from the degradation of plastics (PDOM), which potentially influences the stability of methane (CH4) emissions of microorganisms in mangrove sediments. Here, microcosm incubation was conducted to reveal the impacts of two PDOM on CH4 emissions from mangrove sediments. CH4 emissions from PDOM treated sediments were

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production using cellulosic biomass is a promising way for sustainable manufacturing of bioplastics. Priestia megaterium is an ideal choice as it can use glucose and xylose for PHA production. To further improve the strain for PHA production from cellobiose, we integrate exogenous β-glucosidase (Bgl) from Bacillus sp. GL1 (Bsbgl) in the PHA depolymerase (phaZ1) deletion

Bioleaching is an eco-friendly and sustainable method for extracting rare earth elements (REEs) through microbial metabolic activities. In this study, simulated lixiviants were systematically evaluated for REEs recovery from bastnaesite, with lactic acid identified as the optimal lixiviant. The functional bacterium with 99.97 % similarity to Lactobacillus rhamnosus was subsequently isolated for REEs

Peanut meal (PM) is rich in proteins and fatty acids, which enables it to be a valuable substrate for microbial growth. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PM on the growth and erythritol production of Yarrowia lipolytica CA20 and to establish a procedure for low-cost erythritol production using PM. We found that PM could be used as the only medium component, except for glucose, to support

The co-occurrence of nitrogen (N) and heavy metals (HMs) in industrial wastewater has emerged as a critical environmental challenge. Feammox-mediated N removal remains constrained by limited iron (Fe(III)) bioavailability and microbial susceptibility to HMs toxicity. This study developed a multifunctional composite through strategic integration of sludge-based biochar (SBC), pellet ore (PO), and kelp

Utilizing the fermentation liquor of excess sludge (ES) for the denitrification process represents an effective strategy for the valorization of ES and achieving environmentally friendly denitrification. However, ES fermentation technologies require significant energy or chemical product inputs. The present study proposes a novel method utilizing sulfide-containing wastewater to pretreat ES for generating

A novel method that combined in-situ hydrogenation-liquefaction and intensified heat and mass transfer was proposed for efficient catalytic hydrothermal liquefaction of enzymatic hydrolysis lignin. The strategy enhanced heat and mass transfer, significantly accelerating lignin conversion from 79.30 wt% to 89.22 wt%, with the deoxidation rate rising from 1.27% to 68.53% and bio-oil HHV reaching 33.51 MJ/kg

The storage of mature algal-bacterial granular sludge (ABGS) offers a sustainable solution for its large-scale wastewater applications. This study investigates the post-effects of co-existing polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene microplastics (MPs) on the reactivation of frozen ABGS, focusing on structural integrity, nutrient removal, and microbial dynamics. Results demonstrated

Bacterioruberin is a red-pigmented C50 carotenoid commonly found in halophilic archaea, known for its strong antioxidant properties. In this study, we demonstrate the complete biosynthesis of bacterioruberin in metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum overproducing lycopene. To investigate the function of the encoded enzymes, we genetically modified C. glutamicum to produce lycopene and

This studyachievedthe metabolic transition from anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) to Fe(III)-mediated ammonium oxidation (Feammox)usingiron-carbon micro-electrolytic spheres as a slow-release iron sourcethrougha stepwise reductionin influent NO2−-N concentration. The results demonstrated that sustained Feammox activitywas governed bynitrate-dependent ferrous oxidation (NDFO) metabolismcombined

Electron acceptor limitation restricts ammonium removal in constructed wetlands (CWs). This study hypothesized that integrating carbon fiber filaments (CFs) within manganese-rich substrates (CF-CM) could enhance electron transfer and nitrogen transformation. Five lab-scale CWs were established. Results showed that CF-CM significantly improved NH4+-N and total nitrogen removal rates, reaching 8.1 and

Synergy of autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification can achieve low-carbon and high-efficient nitrogen removal. However, it remains unclear how microcurrent-driven hydrogen autotrophic denitrification regulates carbon flux distribution (nitrogen reduction, poly-β-hydroxyalkanoate (PHA) storage, and cell growth) in heterotrophic denitrification. This work compared biofilm reactor with biofilm electrode

Photo-fermentative hydrogen production by Rhodobacter sphaeroides (R. sphaeroides) is an energy-consuming process. In this study, a proton-pumping channel (Proteorhodopsin (PR) or Gloeobacter rhodopsin (GR)) was introduced into R. sphaeroides HY01. The results indicated that PR could enhance the biomass of the strain during periods of resource scarcity. The cumulative hydrogen yield of mutant strains

Two-stage partial nitritation/anammox (PNA) system is a promising technology for treating food waste digestate (FWD). Maintaining a stable NO2−-N/NH4+-N ratio in partial nitritation (PN) is essential for the successful implementation of two-stage PNA. Although the aeration coefficient (AC) is a key regulatory parameter, its stability is challenged by fluctuations in chemical oxygen demand (COD). In

In this study, the impact of sulfadiazine (SDZ) at environmental and elevated levels on the integrated anaerobic digestion of pig manure with food waste was explored. Results showed that SDZ concentrations ranging from 50 and 450 mg/kg of total solids inhibited methane production by 3.3 % to 50.8 %. Moreover, SDZ hindered the acidification and methanogenesis processes but had minimal impact on the

This study developed a two-stage aerobic process using sequential batch bioreactors (Stage I and II) to remove carbon and nitrogen from dimethylacetamide (DMAc) wastewater. Among, Stage I used DMAc (1,000 mg/L) as substrate, yielding NH4+ as residue. Stage II further removed residual TN with an external carbon source. Results showed Stage I achieved 99 % DMAc and 95 % COD removal, but TN removal was

Shale oil and gas wastewater (SOGW), rich in pollutants, poses an environmental threat. A novel microbial fuel cell (MFC) resembling an anoxic/oxic-membrane bioreactor (A/O-MBR), called AOMM, was developed to treat SOGW and recover energy. AOMM required no expensive ion-exchange membrane and incorporated a custom suspended-rotating biocathode, reducing the reliance on high-cost and hard-to-scale components

Polyhydroxyalkanoates are fully biodegradable biopolymers and represent a sustainable alternative to conventional, fossil-derived plastics. To improve their economic feasibility, this study investigates the microbial production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) from low-quality waste animal fats using the recombinant strain Cupriavidus necator Re2058/pCB113. A series of high-cell-density

In the anaerobic digestion (AD) process, high concentration of long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) can inhibit the metabolic activities of microorganisms and even cause reactor collapse. The present study showed hydrochar enhanced the methane production from LCFA-inhibited food waste by 37.2 % in a semi-continuous flow anaerobic reactor. Hydrochar not only enhanced the degradation of LCFA, but also promoted

Efficient xylose-utilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae, straightforward pretreatment, elimination of detoxification steps, reduced cellulase dosage, and cost-effective nutrients are critical for the commercialization of lignocellulosic ethanol production. In this study, three highly efficient xylose-utilizing S. cerevisiae, which were capable of consuming 40 g/L xylose within 14 h and consuming a mixture

High inorganic content poses a significant challenge to the anaerobic digestion of sludge. This study elucidates the impact of sludge inorganics on anaerobic digestion by correlating the binding mechanisms with the biodegradability of organics. The results show that sludge inorganics (SiO2, FeCl2, Fe2O3, Al2O3, Al2SiO5, and metal carbonates) have good acid-base buffering capacity and can provide a