Publications by authors named "P N L Lens"

The present study proposes a biorefinery of the macroalgae Ulva, focusing on evaluating two different morphologies of the species (foliose and tubular) during acidogenic fermentation in fed-batch reactors. Stage 1 of the study evaluates lyophilised foliose and tubular Ulva, whilst Stage 2 analyses the impact of ulvan extraction on volatile fatty acids yield and changes in carbohydrate availability. Acetic, propionic, and butyric acids were produced from each substrate, with peak concentrations of total VFAs recorded at 2179.

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Horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HFCWs) are capable of eliminating organic matter and nitrogen while emitting less methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO) than free water surface flow wetlands. However, the simultaneous removal of pollutants and reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from high-strength wastewater containing high levels of organic matter and ammonium nitrogen (NH-N) has not get been investigated. The influent COD concentration affected the efficiency of nitrogen removal, GHG emissions and the presence of iron from iron ore, but the COD and TP removal efficiencies remained unaffected.

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Butyrate accumulation significantly affects the efficiency and stability of anaerobic digestion, while its specific impact on methane yield and butyrate degradation remains unclear. This study investigated how butyrate concentrations (2.0, 5.

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Article Synopsis
  • Coffee grounds (SCG) are a waste product rich in valuable biomolecules, which can be used to generate biofuels and other products.
  • The study examined different pretreatment methods (alkaline, ultrasound, and magnetic field) to enhance the conversion of SCG into useful compounds, focusing on hydrogen (H) production and volatile fatty acid (VFA) generation.
  • Results showed that alkaline pretreatment at a lower concentration yielded the highest H production, while higher concentrations inhibited H production but boosted VFA accumulation, particularly acetic acid.
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Article Synopsis
  • High fluoride concentrations in groundwater, exceeding the WHO's safe level of 1.5 mg/L, pose serious health risks to communities, leading to conditions like dental and skeletal fluorosis, and other serious health issues.
  • The presence of fluoride is primarily linked to geological factors, particularly rocks that contain fluorine, which release fluoride into the water supply.
  • Adsorption is highlighted as a cost-effective and efficient method for fluoride removal, especially in developing countries where conventional methods are often too expensive or complex, thus providing a promising solution for safe drinking water access.
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