Machine learning for municipal sludge recycling by thermochemical conversion towards sustainability.

The sustainable disposal of high-moisture municipal sludge (MS) has received increasing attention. Thermochemical conversion technologies can be used to recycle MS into liquid/gas bio-fuel and value-added solid products. In this review, we compared energy recovery potential of common thermochemical technologies (i.e., incineration, pyrolysis, hydrothermal conversion) for MS disposal via statistical methods, which indicated that hydrothermal conversion had a great potential in achieving energy recovery from MS. The application of machine learning (ML) in MS recycling was discussed to decipher complex relationships among MS components, process parameters and physicochemical reactions. Comprehensive ML models should be developed considering successive reaction processes of thermochemical conversion in future studies. Furthermore, challenges and prospects were proposed to improve effectiveness of ML for energizing thermochemical conversion of MS regarding data collection and preprocessing, model optimization and interpretability. This review sheds light on mechanism exploration of MS thermochemical recycling by ML, and provide practical guidance for MS recycling.

Robust Estimation of Heterogeneous Treatment Effects: An Algorithm-based Approach.

Heterogeneous treatment effect estimation is an essential element in the practice of tailoring treatment to suit the characteristics of individual patients. Most existing methods are not sufficiently robust against data irregularities. To enhance the robustness of the existing methods, we recently put forward a general estimating equation that unifies many existing learners. But the performance of model-based learners depends heavily on the correctness of the underlying treatment effect model. This paper addresses this vulnerability by converting the treatment effect estimation to a weighted supervised learning problem. We combine the general estimating equation with supervised learning algorithms, such as the gradient boosting machine, random forest, and artificial neural network, with appropriate modifications. This extension retains the estimators' robustness while enhancing their flexibility and scalability. Simulation shows that the algorithm-based estimation methods outperform their model-based counterparts in the presence of nonlinearity and non-additivity. We developed an R package, RCATE, for public access to the proposed methods. To illustrate the methods, we present a real data example to compare the blood pressure-lowering effects of two classes of antihypertensive agents.

Genome-centric metagenomics provides new insights into metabolic pathways of polyhydroxyalkanoates biosynthesis and functional microorganisms subsisting on municipal organic wastes.

The microbial community of a sequencing batch reactor operated under feast and famine conditions for production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) was characterized through high-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis. The fermented food waste and chemically-enhanced primary sludge was fed in this bioreactor. After acclimation, the PHA yield achieved as high as 0.60-0.69 g CODPHA/g CODS. The complete changes of microbial community structure were found during shifts of feedstock. A synthesis of SCL/MCL-PHAs pathway was established for PHA-producing bioreactor in this mixed-culture system. The structure-performance relationship of PHA-producing microbial community and feedstock composition was investigated. The results showed that microbial community tends to be decentralized and prefer team work for PHA synthesis to consume the multiple substrates and digest inevitable non-VFA contents in fermented liquor. This study also discovered unreported potential PHA producers (e.g., genera Tabrizicola, Nannocystis, Ga0077539, Ga0077559, JOSHI-001, SNC69-320 and UBA2334) subsisting on municipal organic wastes and expands the current knowledge about mixed-culture system that the PHA synthesis pathway is widely existed in activated sludge.

Deep learning-assisted automated sewage pipe defect detection for urban water environment management.

A healthy sewage pipe system plays a significant role in urban water management by collecting and transporting wastewater and stormwater, which can be assessed by hydraulic model. However, sewage pipe defects have been observed frequently in recent years during regular pipe maintenance according to the captured interior videos of underground pipes by closed-circuit television (CCTV) robots. In this case, hydraulic model constructed based on a healthy pipe would produce large deviations with that in real hydraulic performance and even be out of work, which can result in unanticipated damages such as blockage collapse or stormwater overflows. Quick defect evaluation and defect quantification are the precondition to achieve risk assessment and model calibration of urban water management, but currently pipe defects assessment still largely relies on technicians to check the CCTV videos/images. An automated sewage pipe defect detection system is necessary to timely determine pipe issues and then rehabilitate or renew sewage pipes, while the rapid development of deep learning especially in recent five years provides a fantastic opportunity to construct automated pipe defect detection system by image recognition. Given the initial success of deep learning application in CCTV interpretation, the review (i) integrated the methodological framework of automated sewage pipe defect detection, including data acquisition, image pre-processing, feature extraction, model construction and evaluation metrics, (ii) discussed the state-of-the-art performance of deep learning in pipe defects classification, location, and severity rating evaluation (e.g., up to ~96 % of accuracy and 140 FPS of processing speed), and (iii) proposed risk assessment and model calibration in urban water management by considering pipe defects. This review introduces a novel practical application-oriented methodology including defect data acquisition by CCTV, model construction by deep learning, and model application, provides references for further improving accuracy and generalization ability of urban water management models in practical application.

A new high parallel-field spectrometer at TRIUMF's ß-NMR facility.

A new high field spectrometer has been built to extend the capabilities of the ß-detected nuclear magnetic resonance (ß-NMR) facility at TRIUMF. This new beamline extension allows ß-NMR spectroscopy to be performed with fields up to 200 mT parallel to a sample's surface (perpendicular to the ion beam), allowing depth-resolved studies of local electromagnetic fields with spin polarized probes at a much higher applied magnetic field than previously available in this configuration. The primary motivation and application is to allow studies of superconducting radio frequency (SRF) materials close to the critical fields of Nb metal, which is extensively used to fabricate SRF cavities. The details of the design considerations and implementation of the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) system, ion optics, and beam diagnostics are presented here. Commissioning of the beamline and spectrometer with radioactive ions are also reported here. Future capabilities and applications in other areas are also described.

Phosphate interactions with iron-titanium oxide composites: Implications for phosphorus removal/recovery from wastewater.

Understanding the interactions between phosphate (P) and mineral adsorbents is critical for removing and recovering P from wastewater, especially in the presence of both cationic and organic components. To this end, we investigated the surface interactions of P with an iron-titanium coprecipitated oxide composite in the presence of Ca (0.5-3.0 mM) and acetate (1-5 mM), and quantified the molecular complexes and tested the possible removal and recovery of P from real wastewater. A quantitative analysis of P K-edge X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) confirmed the inner-sphere surface complexation of P with both Fe and Ti, whose contribution to P adsorption relies on their surface charge determined by pH conditions. The effects of Ca and acetate on P removal were highly pH-dependent. At pH 7, Ca (0.5-3.0 mM) in solution significantly increased P removal by 13-30% by precipitating the surface-adsorbed P, forming hydroxyapatite (14-26%). The presence of acetate had no obvious influence on P removal capacity and molecular mechanisms at pH 7. At pH 4, the removal amount of P was not obviously affected by the presence of Ca and acetate. However, acetate and high Ca concentration jointly facilitated the formation of amorphous FePO4 precipitate, complicating the interactions of P with Fe-Ti composite. In comparison with ferrihydrite, the Fe-Ti composite significantly decreased the formation of amorphous FePO4 probably by decreasing Fe dissolution due to the coprecipitated Ti component, facilitating further P recovery. An understanding of these microscopic mechanisms can lead to the successful use and simple regeneration of the adsorbent to recover P from real wastewater.

Machine learning-assisted exploration for carbon neutrality potential of municipal sludge recycling via hydrothermal carbonization.

In the context of advocating carbon neutrality, there are new requirements for sustainable management of municipal sludge (MS). Hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) is a promising technology to deal with high-moisture MS considering its low energy consumption (without drying pretreatment) and value-added products (i.e., hydrochar). This study applied machine learning (ML) methods to conduct a holistic assessment with higher heating value (HHV) of hydrochar, carbon recovery (CR), and energy recovery (ER) as model targets, yielding accurate prediction models with R2 of 0.983, 0.844 and 0.858, respectively. Furthermore, MS properties showed positive (e.g., carbon content, HHV) and negative (e.g., ash content, O/C, and N/C) influences on the hydrochar HHV. By comparison, HTC parameters play a critical role for CR (51.7%) and ER (52.5%) prediction. The primary sludge was an optimal HTC feedstock while anaerobic digestion sludge had the lowest potential. This study provided a comprehensive reference for sustainable MS treatment and industrial application.

Magnesium(II)-ATP Complexes in 1-Ethyl-3-Methylimidazolium Acetate Solutions Characterized by 31 Mg ß-Radiation-Detected NMR Spectroscopy.

The complexation of MgII with adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) is omnipresent in biochemical energy conversion, but is difficult to interrogate directly. Here we use the spin- 1/2 ß-emitter 31 Mg to study MgII -ATP complexation in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate (EMIM-Ac) solutions using ß-radiation-detected nuclear magnetic resonance (ß-NMR). We demonstrate that (nuclear) spin-polarized 31 Mg, following ion-implantation from an accelerator beamline into EMIM-Ac, binds to ATP within its radioactive lifetime before depolarizing. The evolution of the spectra with solute concentration indicates that the implanted 31 Mg initially bind to the solvent acetate anions, whereafter they undergo dynamic exchange and form either a mono- (31 Mg-ATP) or di-nuclear (31 MgMg-ATP) complex. The chemical shift of 31 Mg-ATP is observed up-field of 31 MgMg-ATP, in accord with quantum chemical calculations. These observations constitute a crucial advance towards using ß-NMR to probe chemistry and biochemistry in solution.

Poverty, Comorbidity, and Ethnicity: COVID-19 Outcomes in a Safety Net Health System.

Objective: To determine if race-ethnicity is correlated with case-fatality rates among low-income patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Research Design: Observational cohort study using electronic health record data. Patients: All patients assessed for COVID-19 from March 2020 to January 2021 at one safety net health system. Measures: Patient demographic and clinical characteristics, and hospital care processes and outcomes. Results: Among 25,253 patients assessed for COVID-19, 6,357 (25.2%) were COVID-19 positive: 1,480 (23.3%) hospitalized; 334 (22.6%) required intensive care; and 106 (7.3%) died. More Hispanic patients tested positive (51.8%) than non-Hispanic Black (31.4%) and White patients (16.7%, P<.001]. Hospitalized Hispanic patients were younger, more often uninsured, and less likely to have comorbid conditions. Non-Hispanic Black patients had significantly more diabetes, hypertension, obesity, chronic kidney disease, and asthma (P<.05). Non-Hispanic White patients were older and had more cigarette smoking history, COPD, and cancer. Non-Hispanic White patients were more likely to receive intensive care (29.6% vs 21.1% vs 20.8%, P=.007) and more likely to die (12% vs 7.3% vs 3.5%, P<.001) compared with non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic patients, respectively. Length of stay was similar for all groups. In logistic regression models, Medicaid insurance status independently correlated with hospitalization (OR 3.67, P<.001) while only age (OR 1.076, P<.001) and cerebrovascular disease independently correlated with in-hospital mortality (OR 2.887, P=.002). Conclusions: Observed COVID-19 in-hospital mortality rate was lower than most published rates. Age, but not race-ethnicity, was independently correlated with in-hospital mortality. Safety net health systems are foundational in the care of vulnerable patients suffering from COVID-19, including patients from under-represented and low-income groups.

Environments and situations as correlates of eating and drinking among women living with obesity and urban poverty.

Objective: One path to improving weight management may be to lessen the self-control burden of physical activity and healthier food choices. Opportunities to lessen the self-control burden might be uncovered by assessing the spatiotemporal experiences of individuals in daily context. This report aims to describe the time, place, and social context of eating and drinking and 6-month weight change among 209 midlife women (n = 113 African-American) with obesity receiving safety-net primary care. Methods: Participants completed baseline and 6-month weight measures, observations and interviews regarding obesogenic cues in the home environment, and up to 12 ecological momentary assessments (EMA) per day for 30 days inquiring about location, social context, and eating and drinking. Results: Home was the most common location (62%) at times of EMA notifications. Participants reported "yes" to eating or drinking at the time of nearly one in three (31.1% ± 13.2%) EMA notifications. Regarding social situations, being alone was significantly associated with less frequent eating and drinking (OR = 0.75) unless at work in which case being alone was significantly associated with a greater frequency of eating or drinking (OR = 1.43). At work, eating was most common late at night, whereas at home eating was most frequent in the afternoon and evening hours. However, eating and drinking frequency was not associated with 6-month weight change. Conclusions: Home and work locations, time of day, and whether alone may be important dimensions to consider in the pursuit of more effective weight loss interventions. Opportunities to personalize weight management interventions, whether digital or human, and lessen in-the-moment self-control burden might lie in identifying times and locations most associated with caloric consumption.Clinical trial registration: NCT03083964 in clinicaltrials.gov.

A ß-NMR study of the depth, temperature, and molecular-weight dependence of secondary dynamics in polystyrene: Entropy-enthalpy compensation and dynamic gradients near the free surface.

We investigated the depth, temperature, and molecular-weight (MW) dependence of the γ-relaxation in polystyrene glasses using implanted 8Li+ and ß-detected nuclear magnetic resonance. Measurements were performed on thin films with MW ranging from 1.1 to 641 kg/mol. The temperature dependence of the average 8Li spin-lattice relaxation time (T1 avg) was measured near the free surface and in the bulk. Spin-lattice relaxation is caused by phenyl ring flips, which involve transitions between local minima over free-energy barriers with enthalpic and entropic contributions. We used transition state theory to model the temperature dependence of the γ-relaxation, and hence T1 avg. There is no clear correlation of the average entropy of activation (Δ‡S̄) and enthalpy of activation (Δ‡H̄) with MW, but there is a clear correlation between Δ‡S̄ and Δ‡H̄, i.e., entropy-enthalpy compensation. This results in the average Gibbs energy of activation, Δ‡G, being approximately independent of MW. Measurements of the temperature dependence of T1 avg as a function of depth below the free surface indicate the inherent entropic barrier, i.e., the entropy of activation corresponding to Δ‡H̄ = 0, has an exponential dependence on the distance from the free surface before reaching the bulk value. This results in Δ‡G near the free surface being lower than the bulk. Combining these observations results in a model where the average fluctuation rate of the γ-relaxation has a "double-exponential" depth dependence. This model can explain the depth dependence of 1/T1 avg in polystyrene films. The characteristic length of enhanced dynamics is ∼6 nm and approximately independent of MW near room temperature.

Age-specific rates of hospital transfers in long-stay nursing home residents.

INTRODUCTION: hospital transfers and admissions are critical events in the care of nursing home residents. We sought to determine hospital transfer rates at different ages. METHODS: a cohort of 1,187 long-stay nursing home residents who had participated in a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid demonstration project. We analysed the number of hospital transfers of the study participants recorded by the Minimum Data Set. Using a modern regression technique, we depicted the annual rate of hospital transfers as a smooth function of age. RESULTS: transfer rates declined with age in a nonlinear fashion. Rates were the highest among residents younger than 60 years of age (1.30-2.15 transfers per year), relatively stable between 60 and 80 (1.17-1.30 transfers per year) and lower in those older than 80 (0.77-1.17 transfers per year). Factors associated with increased risk of transfers included prior diagnoses of hip fracture (annual incidence rate ratio or IRR: 2.057, 95% confidence interval (CI): [1.240, 3.412]), dialysis (IRR: 1.717, 95% CI: [1.313, 2.246]), urinary tract infection (IRR: 1.755, 95% CI: [1.361, 2.264]), pneumonia (IRR: 1.501, 95% CI: [1.072, 2.104]), daily pain (IRR: 1.297, 95% CI: [1.055,1.594]), anaemia (IRR: 1.229, 95% CI [1.068, 1.414]) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (IRR: 1.168, 95% CI: [1.010,1.352]). Transfer rates were lower in residents who had orders reflecting preferences for comfort care (IRR: 0.79, 95% CI: [0.665, 0.936]). DISCUSSION: younger nursing home residents may require specialised interventions to reduce hospital transfers; declining transfer rates with the oldest age groups may reflect preferences for comfort-focused care.

AMOTL2­knockdown promotes the proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma by regulating ß­catenin nuclear localization.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most prevalent type of malignant cancer in the adult central nervous system; however, its mechanism remains unclear. Angiomotin­like 2 (AMOTL2) is a member of the motin family of angiostatin­binding proteins. It has been reported as an oncogene in cervical and breast cancer, but its association with glioma remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate AMOTL2­regulated processes in glioma cell lines using extensive in vitro assays and certain bioinformatics tools. These results revealed that AMOTL2 was downregulated in high­grade glioma cells and tissues, with patients with glioma exhibiting a high AMOTL2 expression having a higher survival rate. The results of the glioma cell phenotype experiment showed that AMOTL2 suppressed GBM proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, immunoblotting, co­immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that AMOTL2 could directly bind to ß­catenin protein, the key molecule of the Wnt signaling pathway, and regulate its downstream genes by regulating ß­catenin nuclear translocation. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that AMOTL2 inhibited glioma proliferation, migration and invasion by regulating ß­catenin nuclear localization. Thus, AMOTL2 may serve as a therapeutic target to further improve the prognosis and prolong survival time of patients with glioma.

Robust estimation of heterogeneous treatment effects using electronic health record data.

Estimation of heterogeneous treatment effects is an essential component of precision medicine. Model and algorithm-based methods have been developed within the causal inference framework to achieve valid estimation and inference. Existing methods such as the A-learner, R-learner, modified covariates method (with and without efficiency augmentation), inverse propensity score weighting, and augmented inverse propensity score weighting have been proposed mostly under the square error loss function. The performance of these methods in the presence of data irregularity and high dimensionality, such as that encountered in electronic health record (EHR) data analysis, has been less studied. In this research, we describe a general formulation that unifies many of the existing learners through a common score function. The new formulation allows the incorporation of least absolute deviation (LAD) regression and dimension reduction techniques to counter the challenges in EHR data analysis. We show that under a set of mild regularity conditions, the resultant estimator has an asymptotic normal distribution. Within this framework, we proposed two specific estimators for EHR analysis based on weighted LAD with penalties for sparsity and smoothness simultaneously. Our simulation studies show that the proposed methods are more robust to outliers under various circumstances. We use these methods to assess the blood pressure-lowering effects of two commonly used antihypertensive therapies.

Transformation of Fe-P Complexes in Bioreactors and P Recovery from Sludge: Investigation by XANES Spectroscopy.

The transformation of Fe-P complexes in bioreactors can be important for phosphorus (P) recovery from sludge. In this research, X-ray absorption near-edge structure analysis was conducted to quantify the transformation of Fe and P species in the sludge of different aging periods and in the subsequent acidogenic cofermentation for P recovery. P was readily removed from wastewater by Fe-facilitated coprecipitation and adsorption and could be extracted and recovered from sludge via acidogenic cofermentation and microbial iron reduction with food waste. The fresh Fe-based sludge mainly contained fresh ferrihydrite and amorphous FePO4 with sufficient accessible surface area, which was favorable for Fe-P mobilization and dissolution via microbial reaction. Ferric iron dosed into wastewater underwent rapid hydrolysis, clustering, aggregation, and slow crystallization to form hydrous iron oxides (HFO) with various complicated structures. With the aging of sludge in bioreactors, the HFO densified into phases with much reduced surface area and reactivity (e.g., goethite), which greatly increased the difficulty of P release and recovery. Thus, aging of P-containing sludge should be minimized in wastewater treatment systems for the purpose of P recovery.

Investigation of ionic and anomalous magnetic behavior in CrSe2 using 8Li ß-NMR.

We have studied a mosaic of 1T-CrSe2 single crystals using ß-detected nuclear magnetic resonance of 8Li from 4 to 300 K. We identify two broad resonances that show no evidence of quadrupolar splitting, indicating two magnetically distinct environments for the implanted ion. We observe stretched exponential spin lattice relaxation and a corresponding rate (1/T 1) that increases monotonically above 200 K, consistent with the onset of ionic diffusion. A pronounced maximum in 1/T 1 is observed at the low temperature magnetic transition near 20 K. Between these limits, 1/T 1 exhibits a broad minimum with an anomalous absence of strong features in the vicinity of structural and magnetic transitions between 150 and 200 K. Together, the results suggest 8Li+ site occupation within the van der Waals gap between CrSe2 trilayers. Possible origins of the two environments are discussed.

Characterization and mitigation of the fouling of flat-sheet ceramic membranes for direct filtration of the coagulated domestic wastewater.

Ceramic membranes allow a high filtration flux with a low fouling propensity. Direct filtration of municipal wastewater using flat-sheet ceramic membranes (FSCM) is an attractive and promising technology for wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Urgent need is to determine the fouling behavior of FSCM and its optimal cleaning strategy in direct filtration applications. This study was conducted on pre-coagulation of sewage with FeCl3 (20 mg Fe/L) or polyaluminum chloride (15 mg Al/L), followed by FSCM filtration at around 1.0 m/d (as high as 41.7 L/m2-h in flux). The results showed that the coagulation-FSCM filtration removed chemical oxygen demand and total phosphorus by up to 90.0% and 99.9%, respectively. The pollutants (organics and nutrients) in the sewage influent were concentrated into the sludge for potential resource recovery. Without pre-coagulation, foulants easily entered the membrane pores, causing rapid membrane fouling. Chemically enhanced coagulation greatly decreased the membrane fouling rate by aggregating various foulants into flocs. Fouled membranes were effectively renewed by physical means, such as water flushing and sonication, or a short period of chemical backwashing with NaOH, HCl or oxidizing agents. The study revealed the fouling mechanisms of FSCM in sewage filtration and developed effective cleaning strategies for its long-term operation.

Performance and bacterial community of moving bed biofilm reactors with various biocarriers treating primary wastewater effluent with a low organic strength and low C/N ratio.

A laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and two moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs) with different types of biocarriers were operated to treat the effluent of chemically enhanced primary sedimentation (CEPS). Due to the low organic strength and low carbon/nitrogen ratio of the CEPS effluent, COD and NH4+-N were effectively removed by the MBBRs but not by the SBR. Of the two MBBRs, MBBR2 filled with LEVAPOR biocarrier cubes performed even better than MBBR1 filled with K3 polystyrene biocarriers. The continuous decline of the sludge concentration in the SBR and the high and stable biomass content in MBBR2 contributed to their performances. High-throughput sequencing analysis showed that the reactors had selective effects on the bacterial community structure. Principal coordinate analysis indicated the different dynamic successions in the three reactors. Network analysis showed different community composition and diversity that were highly suggestive of different bacterial interactions among the three bioreactors.

Acidogenic phosphorus recovery from the wastewater sludge of the membrane bioreactor systems with different iron-dosing modes.

A novel acidogenic phosphorus recovery (APR) process was developed in combination with Fe(III)-based chemical phosphorus removal and a membrane bioreactor (MBR) for enhanced wastewater treatment and effective P recovery. Two different system configurations were evaluated: Fe-dosing MBR (Fe-MBR), with the Fe-dosing into the MBR, and Fe-enhanced primary sedimentation followed by the MBR (FeP-MBR). The results show that both systems performed well for enhanced nutrient (N and P) removals and P recovery, with approximately 50% of the total P recovered from the municipal wastewater in the form of vivianite. Compared to the Fe-MBR system, FeP-MBR achieved more efficient P recovery under low food-waste loading conditions, maintained a higher ratio of biomass in activated sludge and experienced a slower rate of membrane fouling. Important functional bacteria were identified, including Prevotella and Selenomonas, which are active in hydrolysis and acidogenesis of sludge, and Aeromonas and Sulfurospirillum, which are involved in dissimilatory iron reduction.

Direct filtration for the treatment of the coagulated domestic sewage using flat-sheet ceramic membranes.

Direct membrane filtration (DMF) is considered as a promising technology for municipal wastewater treatment. We utilized an innovative application of flat-sheet ceramic membranes (FSCM) for DMF for the rapid treatment of domestic sewage. Coagulation was applied before FSCM filtration to increase the pollutant removal and to mitigate membrane fouling. This coagulation-FSCM filtration can significantly reduce the pollutant load on the downstream treatment and concentrate organics and nutrients into sludge to facilitate resource recovery. Using polyaluminum chloride (PACl) based FSCM filtration, approximately 90.0% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 99.0% of the phosphorus (P) were removed from the sewage influent and retained in the concentrated sludge, with less than 25.0 mg/L COD left in the effluent. Long-term operation of the PACl-based FSCM filtration stably maintained a high flux of 41.7 L/m2-h (LMH, or 1.0 m/d). The fouled membranes were cleaned chemically every 3-5 d, and the membrane permeability could almost be completely recovered using chemical backwash for only 10 min with a diluted acidic, alkaline, chlorine or H2O2 solution. The novel FSCM process will fundamentally advance wastewater treatment technology. It can be readily modularized and installed as simple add-on units to upgrade and retrofit existing wastewater treatment systems.