Influence of environmental conditions on accumulated polyhydroxybutyrate in municipal activated sludge

Pei, Ruizhe; Bahgat, Nouran T.; Loosdrecht, M.C.M. van; Kleerebezem, Robbert; Werker, Alan

doi:10.1016/j.watres.2023.119653

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In conclusion, current research − suggests that the abiotic hydrolysis of PHB under environmentally relevant conditions (typically not exceeding 30 °C in temperature) to be an extremely slow process, takes several months. Given these insights, the authors assume that the microbial degradation process of PHB represents the primary mechanism of PHB degradation within soil environments, as it occurs significantly more rapidly than simple hydrolytic degradation.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Given these insights, the authors assume that the microbial degradation process of PHB represents the primary mechanism of PHB degradation within soil environments, as it occurs significantly more rapidly than simple hydrolytic degradation. Consequently, this abiotic process can be overlooked when evaluating the kinetics of PHB biodegradation under environmentally representative conditions. − …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Comprehensive Biodegradation Analysis of Chemically Modified Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Materials with Different Crystal Structures

Julinová,

Šašinková,

Minařík

et al. 2023

Biomacromolecules

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This work presents a comprehensive analysis of the biodegradation of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) and chemically modified PHB with different chemical and crystal structures in a soil environment. A polymer modification reaction was performed during preparation of the chemically modified PHB films, utilizing 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-di(tert-butylperoxy)-hexane as a free-radical initiator and maleic anhydride. Films of neat PHB and chemically modified PHB were prepared by extrusion and thermocompression. The biological agent employed was natural mixed microflora in the form of garden soil. The course and extent of biodegradation of the films was investigated by applying various techniques, as follows: a respirometry test to determine the production of carbon dioxide through microbial degradation; scanning electron microscopy (SEM); optical microscopy; fluorescence microscopy; differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Next-generation sequencing was carried out to study the microbial community involved in biodegradation of the films. Findings from the respirometry test indicated that biodegradation of the extruded and chemically modified PHB followed a multistage (2–3) course, which varied according to the spatial distribution of amorphous and crystalline regions and their spherulitic morphology. SEM and polarized optical microscopy (POM) confirmed that the rate of biodegradation depended on the availability of the amorphous phase in the interspherulitic region and the width of the interlamellar region in the first stage, while dependence on the size of spherulites and thickness of spherulitic lamellae was evident in the second stage. X-ray diffraction revealed that orthorhombic α-form crystals with helical chain conformation degraded concurrently with β-form crystals with planar zigzag conformation. The nucleation of PHB crystals after 90 days of biodegradation was identified by DSC and POM, a phenomenon which impeded biodegradation. Fluorescence microscopy evidenced that the crystal structure of PHB affected the physiological behavior of soil microorganisms in contact with the surfaces of the films.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Biodegradation Analysis of Chemically Modified Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Materials with Different Crystal Structures

Julinová,

Šašinková,

Minařík

et al. 2023

Biomacromolecules

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The quantitative aspect of the staining method was discussed, and the staining method was applied to PHA-rich biomass procured from different sources of activated sludge. , Similar methods could also be applied for comparing the PHA production using enrichment accumulation to monitor and better understand process and production methods in general. Further, such staining may be applied as a diagnostic tool to confirm or understand the fate of PHA granules and biomass fractions during downstream processing …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, such staining may be applied as a diagnostic tool to confirm or understand the fate of PHA granules and biomass fractions during downstream processing. 50 …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, such staining may be applied as a diagnostic tool to confirm or understand the fate of PHA granules and biomass fractions during downstream processing. 50 PHA is not only a product of interest for resource recovery from waste. It is also a central metabolic intermediate as a storage polymer in wastewater treatment using activated sludge or aerobic granular sludge.…”

Section: Application Of Selective Staining In An Activatedmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Visualization of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Accumulated in Waste Activated Sludge

Pei

Vicente-Venegas²,

Tomaszewska-Porada³

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) can be produced with municipal waste activated sludge from biological wastewater treatment processes. Methods of selective fluorescent staining with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were developed and optimized to evaluate the distribution of PHA storage activity in this mixed culture activated sludge microbial communities. Selective staining methods were applied to a municipal activated sludge during pilot scale PHA accumulation in replicate experiments. Visualization of stained flocs revealed that a significant but limited fraction of the biomass was engaged with PHA accumulation. Accumulated PHA granules were furthermore heterogeneously distributed within and between flocs. These observations suggested that the PHA content for the bacteria storing PHAs was significantly higher than the average PHA content measured for the biomass as a whole. Optimized staining methods provided high acuity for imaging of PHA distribution when compared to other methods reported in the literature. Selective staining methods were sufficient to resolve and distinguish between distinctly different morphotypes in the biomass, and these observations of distinctions have interpreted implications for PHA recovery methods. Visualization tools facilitate meaningful insights for advancements of activated sludge processes where systematic observations, as applied in the present work, can reveal underlying details of structure–function relationships.

show abstract

Improved agro-industrial waste utilization in biogas and fertilizer production ensuring CO2 sequestration

Ivanchenko,

Yelatontsev

2024

Environmental Challenges

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Influence of environmental conditions on accumulated polyhydroxybutyrate in municipal activated sludge

Cited by 7 publications

References 36 publications

Comprehensive Biodegradation Analysis of Chemically Modified Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Materials with Different Crystal Structures

Comprehensive Biodegradation Analysis of Chemically Modified Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Materials with Different Crystal Structures

Visualization of Polyhydroxyalkanoate Accumulated in Waste Activated Sludge

Improved agro-industrial waste utilization in biogas and fertilizer production ensuring CO2 sequestration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About