Search Results (1,120)

Greywater reuse has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce pressure on freshwater resources, but little is known about the impact that emerging contaminants may have on its safe application. This study evaluated the performance of hollow fiber membrane bioreactors (HFMBs) for synthetic greywater treatment under control conditions and exposure to two widely used pharmaceutical compounds: ibuprofen and diclofenac. Nine HFMBs were operated for 11 days using synthetic greywater without pharmaceuticals (control), ibuprofen-amended greywater, or diclofenac-amended greywater. Reactor performance was assessed through physicochemical parameters and microbial community analysis. Turbidity and soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) decreased in all reactors and were adequately described by an empirical temporal stabilization model. Turbidity removal was comparable among treatments, whereas final sCOD removal differed among reactor conditions. Anionic surfactants were markedly reduced, with removal efficiencies above 98% in all systems. In contrast, ibuprofen and diclofenac showed small and variable decrease in measured concentrations, but no statistically significant differences were detected between initial and final concentrations. Microbial community analysis revealed that Pseudomonadota was the dominant phylum in the HFMB reactors. Functional prediction further indicated an enrichment of pathways associated with aromatic compound degradation and biofilm-related processes across the reactor configuration and operating conditions. Moreover, the diclofenac treatment exhibited an additional enrichment of functions related to environmental stress resistance and an enhanced potential for aromatic compound degradation compared with the control treatment. Full article

Myrtus communis L. is an aromatic and medicinal plant commonly used in the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries for its bioactive compounds. Temporary immersion systems (TISs) are an efficient and cost-effective in vitro propagation method for enhancing biomass and secondary metabolite production under controlled conditions. This study aimed to compare the effect of three different TIS bioreactors (SETIS™, Plantform™, and ElecTIS) and a conventional semisolid culture on relative growth rate (RGR), photosynthetic pigments, stomatal function and terpene content. The results showed that all bioreactors increased biomass production, with the highest RGR achieved in ElecTIS (7.1) after 28 days of culture. SETIS^TM induced 80% rooting and better stomatal density and functionality, resulting in a 98% survival rate of plants in acclimatization. Moreover, chlorophylls and carotenoids were significantly enhanced during rooting, particularly in SETIS™ and Plantform™. GC-MS analysis identified 14 volatile compounds, with myrtenyl acetate, linalool, and α-pinene as the dominant constituents. Rooted shoots cultured in Plantform™ and SETIS™ accumulated the highest terpene concentrations (341.5 and 326.4 μg g⁻¹ FW, respectively), which exceeded those of semisolid cultures. These findings demonstrate that TIS bioreactors, particularly SETIS™, represent a promising tool for the efficient production of biomass and terpenes, depending on the selection of the appropriate culture conditions, bioreactor type, and plant development stage. Full article

Microalgae biomanufacturing is a promising technology that converts carbon dioxide into valuable products. However, it faces limitations in scaling, online monitoring, and controlling biological variables. In photobioreactors, light intensity influences growth and operational efficiency. This study presents Alg-flex, a low-cost, open-source monitoring and control platform based on a Raspberry Pi 4. Alg-flex integrates sensors for light intensity regulation and real-time monitoring of pH, temperature, and dissolved oxygen, enabling data visualization and logging, while providing full portability without hardware modifications. These features offer broader applicability than conventional single-variable loggers. The hardware was obtained for under $1834 USD, approximately 4% of the average cost of similar commercial units. Its performance was evaluated during the cultivation of Haematococcus lacustris in a bubble column photobioreactor. The pH and temperature sensors were validated against certified benchtop probes over the operating range used in this study, yielding median errors below 1.5%. Under the tested conditions, bioreactor cultures showed approximately two-fold higher final optical density that was significantly different than flask cultures (p = 0.0333). These results confirm that growth dynamics in small-volume microalgal cultures may differ substantially from controlled photobioreactor systems. The affordability, reliability, and multi-reactor compatibility of Alg-flex support broader biomanufacturing applications beyond microalgae cultivation. Full article

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from Gram-positive bacteria are gaining more interest as potential biotechnological systems for vaccines and drug delivery. However, scalable production protocols remain poorly defined. Here, we evaluated upstream and downstream processes for the controlled production of extracellular vesicles from Staphylococcus epidermidis. Bacterial growth and vesicle release were compared between shake-flask cultures and a controlled stirred-tank bioreactor (STBR), and vesicles were isolated using either ultracentrifugation (UC) or ultrafiltration (UF). STBR cultivation significantly increased biomass accumulation during the exponential phase while preserving the same growth observed in shake flasks. Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) showed time-dependent particle accumulation in both systems, with UF consistently yielding higher particle recovery than UC. Despite differences in yield, vesicles isolated by both methods displayed comparable size distributions and TEM imaging confirmed the spherical morphology. Protein quantification revealed greater protein recovery in UF preparations, whereas particle-to-protein ratios indicated similar sample composition between isolation methods. Together, these results suggest that controlled STBR fermentation combined with UF enables a reproducible, scalable production of S. epidermidis EVs without compromising vesicle integrity. This work provides an integrated framework for Gram-positive EV manufacturing and supports future translational applications. Full article

Freshwater scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions, coupled with increased population density, leads to greater demand and pressure on aquatic ecosystems and limited groundwater resources. This study, conducted using the PRISMA 2020 methodology, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of hybrid technologies that combine advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) with biological filtration in the treatment of urban and industrial wastewater. A systematic review was conducted between 2015 and 2026 using six main databases (Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, PubMed, and Google Scholar). A total of 1248 studies were identified, of which 78 met the eligibility criteria and provided sufficient quantitative data for comparative synthesis. The results showed that hybrid systems, such as ozone biofiltration, Fenton-Membrane Bioreactor (MBR), and photocatalytic biofilm, have higher removal efficiencies for COD (>95%), microorganisms (>90%), and pathogens (>99%), with minimal residual sludge. The environmental assessment also demonstrates the strong potential of these processes when integrated into arid regions such as southwestern Algeria, due to their contribution to conservation of biodiversity and sustainable reuse of treated wastewater. Through this study, our objective is to highlight the role of integrated approaches in circular water management, as well as the urgent need to standardize protocols to assess the magnitude of long-term environmental impacts. Full article

This research investigates the potential for valorizing submerged arc welding (SAW) slag as a partial substitute for Portland cement in eco-efficient mortars. The research focuses on microstructural characterization, mechanical performance, and, innovatively, resistance to microbial adhesion by Escherichia coli. The residue was processed by grinding and incorporated at substitution levels of 5%, 10%, and 15% by weight. The mechanical results demonstrate that the 5% substitution (AM5%) showed the best performance, reaching 47.55 MPa at 28 days, an increase of approximately 20% compared to the reference sample. This improvement is attributed to the pozzolanic effect with the filling and refinement of the pore structure, in the production of the secondary C-A-S-H phase. In the bioreactor biological assay, the AM5% sample demonstrated a significant reduction in bacterial colonization adhering to the material’s surface, with values of 9.4 × 10¹ CFU/cm². Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses revealed that the denser surface, with lower porosity, hindered the anchoring of E. coli and the formation of biofilm. The study concludes that the use of 5% SAW slag not only improves the structural properties of mortars but also increases their durability in environments prone to biological contamination, such as sanitation systems, promoting a sustainable alternative for the management of industrial waste in civil construction. Full article

Lotus corniculatus is a superior leguminous forage with multiple values including forage, ecological, ornamental and medicinal uses. It is also an ideal material for plant bioreactors. As a core technical approach, genetic transformation overcomes the constraints of traditional breeding and facilitates the targeted improvement in stress resistance and agronomic traits in this species. This review summarizes the research progress of the Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of L. corniculatus, focusing on key procedures such as explant selection, strain selection, infection and co-cultivation regimes, basal medium composition, phytohormone regulation, as well as bacteria elimination and transformant screening strategies. We further elaborate on the applications of this transformation system in enhancing tolerance to abiotic stresses (salt, drought and heat), regulating quality-related traits, and developing plant-based vaccine bioreactors. Additionally, this paper critically discusses the major bottlenecks and challenges constraining existing genetic transformation systems in L. corniculatus, and evaluates the prospects for establishing high-efficiency and genetically stable transformation platforms. This review aims to provide theoretical foundations and technical references for germplasm innovation, molecular breeding and comprehensive utilization of L. corniculatus. Full article

To ensure large-scale production of plant-derived polyphenols, efficient and scalable in vitro culture systems are needed that can enable high biomass accumulation and secondary metabolite biosynthesis. The present study evaluates the suitability of transformed Salvia bulleyana shoot and hairy root cultures for biomass growth and phenolic compound production in different bioreactor systems, including two temporary immersion systems (PlantForm™ and RITA^®) and a nutrient sprinkle bioreactor (NSB). A pronounced system- and organ-specific response was observed. In transformed shoot cultures, the RITA^® bioreactor promoted high growth and volumetric productivity, although metabolite accumulation was lowered by partial hyperhydricity. In contrast, the PlantForm™ system provided more stable morphogenesis and higher polyphenol content, although less effective growth. In hairy root cultures, the NSB proved to be the most effective system, combining high biomass productivity with greater phenolic compound accumulation; total polyphenol content reached 65.1 mg/g DW, with rosmarinic acid (RA) constituting up to 78% of total phenolics. The highest volumetric productivity was achieved in NSB-grown hairy roots, reaching 837.9 mg/L total polyphenols and 651.3 mg/L RA. Secondary metabolism was further enhanced by elicitation with 100 μm methyl jasmonate applied under optimized bioreactor conditions. In transformed shoot cultures, elicitation increased RA accumulation by 63%, resulting in final productivity of 1164 mg/L RA, and 1250 mg/L total polyphenols. In hairy root cultures, RA accumulation increased by 44%, leading to final productivity of 795 mg/L RA and 933 mg/L total polyphenols. Our findings indicate that the balance between biomass growth and secondary metabolism in S. bulleyana cultures is determined by bioreactor configuration. The nutrient sprinkle bioreactor represents a highly effective platform for phenolic acid production in hairy root cultures, whereas temporary immersion systems can be successfully applied for transformed shoot cultivation. The combination of tailored bioreactor strategies with methyl jasmonate elicitation provides a promising approach for scalable production of high-value phenolic compounds in plant in vitro culture systems. Full article

Heterotrophic denitrification is increasingly used in land-based recirculating aquaculture systems (RASs) to remove nitrate and minimise new-water demand, but the carbon sources traditionally used—methanol and acetic acid—raise safety, corrosion, and cost concerns. This study evaluated glycerol as an alternative external carbon source in a commercial land-based Atlantic salmon RAS in Norway. Trials in two identical post-smolt systems with integrated denitrification bioreactors compared glycerol (80%) against acetic acid for denitrification performance, nitrite accumulation, pH stability, carbon-source consumption, cost, and hazard profile. Glycerol achieved similar or higher apparent total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) removal than acetic acid and, once the biofilm had acclimated, was completely consumed. It maintained a stable outlet pH (≥6.5), avoiding the enzyme inhibition seen when acetic acid depressed pH, and proved about 1.5 times more cost-effective (≈NOK 66 vs. 97 per kg TDN removed). A standardised hazard assessment ranked glycerol as the safest option for flammability, toxicity, and corrosiveness. TDN removal correlated strongly with dissolved nitrogen gas saturation at the bioreactor outlet (r² = 0.79–0.82), indicating that total gas pressure monitoring is a promising, low-cost proxy for performance. Nitrite accumulation per unit of nitrogen removed was, however, about three times higher under glycerol (≈1 mg NO₂-N per mg TDN) than under acetic acid (≈0.3 mg NO₂-N per mg TDN), and the nine-day glycerol phase was too short to establish whether this resolves or persists as the biofilm matures. Subject to routine nitrite monitoring in the fish tanks, glycerol is a cost-effective, low-hazard, and pH-stable alternative to acetic acid for nitrate removal in salmon RASs. Full article

The integration of coupled dark fermentation (DF) and photofermentation (PF) systems represents a promising approach for concurrent H₂ production and organic load reduction in carbohydrate–rich wastewater. However, their behavior under non–optimized, continuous industrial operation remains inadequately characterized, hindering practical implementation. This case study evaluated an integrated DF–PF system treating a synthetic sugar mixture mimicking acidic fruit and dairy processing wastewater. The system presented herein (5-L reactors) serves as an initial prototype to facilitate scaling to both pilot (40-L reactors) and, ultimately, industrial (600-L) scales using real effluents within the framework of a research project. The bioreactors were operated continuously with a 10 h hydraulic retention time and an organic loading rate of 2.5 g COD L⁻¹ d⁻¹. The pH and temperature were monitored but intentionally left uncontrolled. The DF stage facilitated by hydrogen–producing bacteria achieved H₂ concentrations of up to 57% (v/v) and a maximum production rate of 177 mL H₂ L⁻¹ d⁻¹; however, it demonstrated notable process instability due to the absence of controls. In contrast, the PF stage exhibited negligible H₂ production (1.8% v/v) attributable to the displacement of Rhodopseudomonas species by microbial competition, thereby functioning predominantly as a polishing step. Overall, the coupled system achieved an average COD removal of 34%, highlighting the functional differentiation between stages and identifying microbial competition as the primary constraint under suboptimal conditions. Full article

Transforming traditional membrane bioreactors (MBRs) into forward osmosis membrane bioreactors (OMBRs) is a highly challenging yet promising technological upgrade. Although both combine biological treatment and membrane separation, their core driving forces and operating mechanisms are completely different (an MBR is pressure-driven, while an OMBR is osmosis-driven). In this paper, a novel OMBR with an integrated fixed biofilm (BF-OMBR) was tested for the treatment of synthetic rural wastewater using fertilizer potassium chloride (KCl) as the draw solution (DS) and a commercial aquaporin Inside^TM forward osmosis (FO) membrane. A bench-scale investigation was conducted to compare the BF-OMBR with traditional OMBRs and MBRs. The experimental data suggested that the reactor with aquaporin membranes contributed to a higher water flux than traditional TFC membranes, while immobilized biofilms improved the total nitrogen removal rate compared to normal OMBRs. The integration of these two technologies in the BF-OMBR system appears to leverage these individual benefits. Its TOC and ammonia nitrogen removal efficiencies were also better than those of the other two bioreactors. Meanwhile, the BF-OMBR successfully controlled the salinity build-up to a level not exceeding 2.5 mS/cm over 90 days of operation. This novel osmotic bioreactor may represent a possible alternative approach to overcoming the challenges of low-temperature and low-C/N-ratio rural sewage treatment. Full article

The industrial use of non-Saccharomyces yeasts offers a robust bioprocess strategy for modulating volatile biochemical profiles and reducing climate-driven ethanol production in fermented beverages. This study explores the metabolic diversity of indigenous non-Saccharomyces, with a particular focus on Starmerella bacillaris MI151, selected for sequential inoculation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae MI118. Pilot-scale bioreactor fermentations (25 L) of two Romanian matrix-specific aromatic grape cultivars, Busuioacă de Bohotin and Tămâioasă Românească, exhibited clear strain-dependent carbon flux changes. The sequential culture actively triggered the glycerol-pyruvic pathway, which consistently reduced the final ethanol concentration to up to 0.94% (v/v) and maintained a balanced profile of volatile compounds. GC-MS-based metabolomic profiling revealed substantial changes in the esterification kinetics and glycosidic precursor cleavage. The sequential fermentation resulted in a synergistic increase in n-hexyl acetate (up to 2310.01 µg/L) and bypassing of the standard enzymatic repression, freeing highly volatile monoterpenes (β-citronellol and β-geraniol) in the analyzed matrices. This targeted microbial system successfully modulated the organic acid–phenolic balance, neutralizing harsh structural finishes, as confirmed by quantitative sensory mapping. Finally, these specific local yeast strains exhibit strong bioprocess scalability, offering a predictable, non-engineered strategy to lower the ethanol yield while driving targeted flavor enhancement in climate-vulnerable viticultural regions. Full article

Phenolic compounds are important plant secondary metabolites with broad biological activity and potential applications in pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic, nutraceutical, and veterinary sectors. Conventional production from field-grown plants is limited by environmental variability, seasonality, and difficulties in standardizing metabolite composition. Plant in vitro cultures provide controlled systems for modulating secondary metabolism and producing phenolic compounds under defined conditions. This review summarizes current advances in plant in vitro platforms for phenolic production and discusses regulation through elicitation, metabolic modulation, molecular approaches, and bioreactor cultivation. The distinctive focus of this review is the critical evaluation of how culture type, production stability, metabolite composition, and structural variation affect biological performance and functional equivalence. Current evidence indicates that increased metabolite accumulation alone does not ensure preserved biological properties or translational applicability. Functional equivalence is therefore considered as a framework integrating chemical profiling, batch-to-batch reproducibility, biological validation, bioavailability, and application-oriented evaluation of in vitro-derived phenolics. Future progress will depend not only on increasing yield but also on achieving stable production, predictable composition, reproducible biological performance, and translational reliability. Full article

Dairy wastewater is an agro-industrial effluent characterized by elevated concentrations of organic matter, nutrients and suspended solids, posing environmental risks when inadequately treated. This study assessed the feasibility of a simultaneous Scenedesmus obliquus–Lemna minor co-cultivation system within a single, shared bioreactor for the treatment of modified dairy wastewater, comparing its performance against the two individual monocultures. Raw dairy wastewater was subjected to sequential heat treatment, ultrasound and filtration, which significantly altered its physicochemical composition (p < 0.05) prior to cultivation. Experiments were conducted in parallel laboratory-scale open reactors over 14 days with periodic sampling. The mixed system achieved the highest removal efficiencies (95.3% COD, 91.3% TOC, 97.1% NO₃-N and 94.6% PO₄-P), with rapid pollutant reduction during the first 3–6 days followed by a slower stabilization phase. Despite these high removal efficiencies, the final COD concentration remained relatively high in absolute terms, indicating that the system is best suited as an on-site pretreatment step at the dairy facility, reducing the organic and nutrient load prior to discharge into the municipal sewerage network for further treatment at a municipal WWTP. The recovered microalgal biomass was nutrient-rich and exhibited preliminary biofertilizer potential, as reflected in the positive growth trends observed in two of the three tested Lactuca sativa L. cultivars, although these did not reach statistical significance relative to controls. Overall, the integrated system represents an effective, low-impact approach combining pollutant removal, biomass valorization and circular bioeconomy principles. Full article

This study established a continuous in vitro propagation system for Cibotium barometz encompassing spore germination, liquid proliferation of gametophytes, air-lift bioreactor culture, and sporophyte induction. An L9(3⁴) orthogonal design was used to screen combinations of NAA, TDZ, and GA₃, and an L16(4⁵) design was used to estimate the main effects of MS salt strength, sucrose, 6-BA, and IAA on gametophyte proliferation. Biomass, total flavonoids, total phenolics, soluble sugars, and electrical conductivity (EC) were monitored in a 5 L air-lift bioreactor. Treatment S-5 produced the highest 75 d germination rate (78.91%) and gametophyte longest-axis length (68.00 μm). M-6 yielded the greatest fresh biomass, whereas M-5 provided a more balanced dry-matter and metabolite yield. At 45 d, fresh weight, dry weight, and total flavonoid yield reached 35.02 g L⁻¹, 2.79 g L⁻¹, and 74.73 mg L⁻¹, respectively. EC was negatively correlated with biomass and phenolic yields, and the first two principal components explained 97.48% of the variation. The best sporophyte-induction treatment achieved a conversion rate of 63.02% and an acclimatization survival rate of 91.77%. This system provides a methodological basis for ex situ conservation and scalable propagation of C. barometz. Full article