Pyrolysis is the process whereby carbonaceous materials, such as biosolids, are heated between 400°C and 900°C in the absence of oxygen. Three main products are generated: a solid product called biochar, a py-liquid that consists of aqueous phase and non-aqueous phase liquid, and py-gas. The biochar holds value as a beneficial soil amendment and sequesters carbon.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActivated sludge is a conventional treatment process for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) removal at water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs). Foaming events are a common operational issue in activated sludge and can lead to decreased treatment efficiency, maintenance issues, and potential environmental health risks. Stable foaming events are caused by biological and chemical drivers (i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWater Environ Res
August 2021
Sewers can become hydraulically overburdened during high-intensity precipitation resulting in untreated water entering receiving streams. Combined (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) cause adverse public health and environmental impacts as well as management challenges for many wastewater utilities. This novel review presents information regarding wet weather flow regulation, impacts, and current management methods, and offers ideas for future approaches in the United States.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBuildup of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in anaerobic digesters (ADs) often results in acidification and process failure. Understanding the dynamics of microbial communities involved in VFA degradation under stable and overload conditions may help optimize anaerobic digestion processes. In this study, five triplicate mesophilic completely mixed AD sets were operated at different organic loading rates (OLRs; 1-6 g chemical oxygen demand [COD] Lday), and changes in the composition and abundance of VFA-degrading microbial communities were monitored using amplicon sequencing and taxon-specific quantitative PCRs, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnaerobic digestion is an important biotechnology treatment process for conversion of waste to energy. In this study, a comparative core microbiome approach, i.e.
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