Bioenergy recovery and carbon emissions benefits of short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment on low organic sewage sludge anaerobic digestion: A pilot-scale study.

Sewage sludge in cities of Yangzi River Belt, China, generally exhibits a lower organic content and higher silt contentdue to leakage of drainage system, which caused low bioenergy recovery and carbon emission benefits in conventional anaerobic digestion (CAD). Therefore, this paper is on a pilot scale, a bio-thermophilic pretreatment anaerobic digestion (BTPAD) for low organic sludge (volatile solids (VS) of 4%) was operated with a long-term continuous flow of 200 days. The VS degradation rate and CH4 yield of BTPAD increased by 19.93% and 53.33%, respectively, compared to those of CAD. The analysis of organic compositions in sludge revealed that BTPAD mainly improved the hydrolysis of proteins in sludge. Further analysis of microbial community proportions by high-throughput sequencing revealed that the short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment was enriched in Clostridiales, Coprothermobacter and Gelria, was capable of hydrolyzing acidified proteins, and provided more volatile fatty acid (VFA) for the subsequent reaction. Biome combined with fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that the number of bacteria with high methanogenic capacity in BTPAD was much higher than that in CAD during the medium temperature digestion stage, indicating that short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment could provide better methanogenic conditions for BTPAD. Furthermore, the greenhouse gas emission footprint analysis showed that short-term bio-thermophilic pretreatment could reduce the carbon emission of sludge anaerobic digestion system by 19.18%.

Effect of lysozyme combined with hydrothermal pretreatment on excess sludge and anaerobic digestion.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is widely employed for sludge stabilization and waste reduction. However, the slow hydrolysis process hinders methane production and leads to prolonged sludge issues. In this study, an efficient and eco-friendly lysozyme pre-treatment method was utilized to address these challenges. By optimizing lysozyme dosage, hydrolysis and cell lysis were maximized. Furthermore, lysozyme combined with hydrothermal pretreatment enhanced overall efficiency. Results indicate that: (1) When lysozyme dosage reached 90 mg/g TS after 240 min of pretreatment, SCOD, soluble polysaccharides, and protein content reached their maxima at 855.00, 44.09, and 204.86 mg/L, respectively. This represented an increase of 85.87%, 365.58%, and 259.21% compared to the untreated sludge. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy revealed the highest fluorescence intensity in the IV region (soluble microbial product), promoting microbial metabolic activity. (2) Lysozyme combined with hydrothermal pretreatment significantly increased SCOD, soluble proteins, and polysaccharide release from sludge, reducing SCOD release time. Orthogonal experiments identified Group 3 as the most effective for SCOD and soluble polysaccharide release, while Group 9 released the most soluble proteins. The significance order of factors influencing SCOD, soluble proteins, and polysaccharide release is hydrothermal temperature > hydrothermal time > enzymatic digestion time.(3) The lysozyme-assisted hydrothermal pretreatment group exhibited the fastest release and the highest SCOD concentration of 8,135.00 mg/L during anaerobic digestion. Maximum SCOD consumption and cumulative gas production increased by 95.89% and 130.58%, respectively, compared to the control group, allowing gas production to conclude 3 days earlier.

Synergistic integration of hydrothermal pretreatment and co-digestion for enhanced biogas production from empty fruit bunches in high solids anaerobic digestion.

This study investigates the co-digestion of hydrothermally pretreated empty fruit bunches (EFB) at 190 °C for 5 min (HTP190-EFB) with decanter cake (DC) to improve biogas production in high solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD). The HTP190-EFB exhibited a 67.98 % reduction in total solids, along with the production of 0.89 g/L of sugar, 2.39 g/L of VFA, and 0.56 g/L of furfural in the liquid fraction. Co-digestion of HTP190-EFB with DC at mixing ratios of 5, 10, and 15 %w/v demonstrated improved methane yields and process stability compared to mono-digestion of HTP190-EFB. The highest methane yield of 372.69 mL CH4/g-VS was achieved in the co-digestion with 5 %w/v DC, representing a 15 % increase compared to digestion of HTP190-EFB (324.30 mL CH4/g-VS) alone. Synergistic effects were quantified, with the highest synergistic methane yield of 77.65 mL CH4/g-VS observed in the co-digestion with 5 %w/v DC. Microbial community analysis revealed that co-digestion of hydrothermally pretreated EFB with decanter cake promoted the growth of Clostridium sp., Lactobacillus sp., Fibrobacter sp., Methanoculleus sp., and Methanosarcina sp., contributing to enhanced biogas production compared to mono-digestion of pretreated EFB. Energy balance analysis revealed that co-digestion of HTP190-EFB with DC resulted in a total net energy of 599.95 kW, 52 % higher than mono-digestion of HTP190-EFB (394.62 kW). Economic analysis showed a shorter return on investment for the co-digestion system (0.86 years) compared to the mono-digestion of HTP190-EFB (1.02 years) and raw EFB (2.69 years). The co-digestion of HTP190-EFB with 5 %w/v DC offers a promising approach to optimize methane yield, process stability, and economic feasibility, supporting the palm oil industry for producing renewable energy and sustainable waste management.

Exploring the promoting behavior of weak electric mediation on indole and pyridine biodegradation under anaerobic condition.

Indole and pyridine, which are highly produced refractory compounds in the industrial wastewater, exhibit poor degradation capabilities in natural environments. In this study, we developed an anaerobic digestion system coupled with weak electric mediation (ED), and investigated the promoting effect of weak electricity on indole and pyridine biodegradation. The degradation characteristics were systematically explored, and the results showed that the degradation rate and mineralization of indole and pyridine were significantly enhanced, the production of CH4 was increased 1.4-fold, and the optimal voltages were 1.0 V and 0.8 V in the ED, respectively. Moreover, simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen was achieved. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis verified the transformation products, and possible pathways were proposed. Several byproducts of indole and pyridine were identified, with oxindole and glutaric dialdehyde being the main metabolites, respectively. Additionally, density functional theory (DFT) analysis was performed to investigated the radical indices and stabilities of the molecules to further confirm the degradation pathway. Microbial structure analysis demonstrated that the electrically mediated enhanced metabolism and activity of functional microbes, led to the promotion of indole and pyridine mineralization. Moreover, such species as degrading bacteria (Alicycliphilus, Shinella) and electroactive bacteria (Achromobacter), anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (SM1A02), and denitrifying bacteria (Thiobacillus) coexisted. This study demonstrates that weak electric mediation is a promising methodology for enhancing the removal of indole and pyridine from wastewater under anaerobic conditions.

Investigation of the link between first-order kinetic models of the in vitro digestion of native starches and the accompanying changes in their crystallinity and structure.

Starch is the main source of dietary energy for humans. In order to understand the mechanisms governing native starch in vitro digestion, digestion data for six starches [wheat, maize, (waxy) maize, rice, potato and pea] of different botanical sources were fitted with the most common first-order kinetic models, i.e. the single, sequential, parallel and combined models. Parallel and combined models provided the most accurate fits and showed that all starches studied except potato starch followed a biphasic in vitro digestion pattern. The biological relevance of the kinetic parameters was explored by determining changes in crystallinity and molecular structure of the undigested starch residues during in vitro digestion. While the crystallinity of the undigested potato starch residues did not change substantially, a respectively small and large decrease in their amylose content and chain length during in vitro digestion was observed, indicating that amylose was digested slightly preferentially over amylopectin in native starch. However, the molecular structure of the starch residues changed too slowly and/or only to an insufficient extent to relate it to the kinetic parameters of the digested fractions predicted by the models. Such parameters thus need to be interpreted with caution, as their biological relevance still needs to be proven.

Simulated human digestion and fermentation of a high-molecular weight polysaccharide from Lentinula edodes mushroom and protective effects on intestinal barrier.

Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) is an important edible mushroom and polysaccharides are its major constituents with proven health benefits. The study was to investigate the gut bacterial fermentation and subsequent effects on gut barrier function of a glucan-rich polysaccharide, LePS40 precipitated from the mushroom water extract with 40 % (v/v) ethanol. LePS40 consisted of a ß-(1→3)-glucan main chain with substitution in the C-6 position with side chains mainly composed of (1 → 6)-linked ß-Glcp residues, (1 → 6)-linked α-Galp residues and terminal residues of ß-Glcp. LePS40 was found highly resistant to digestive enzymes and gastric acid in simulated human gastrointestinal tract, but highly fermentable during in vitro human fecal fermentation. The fecal fermentation degradation of LePS40 appeared to selectively break the glucoside linkage in view of the dramatic decrease in the glucose molar ratio (12.68 to 1.07). Compared with the prebiotic reference FOS, LePS40 led to much higher levels of butyric, and propionic acid and a lower level of acetic acid. Moreover, LePS40 enhanced the abundance of some beneficial bacterial populations, but decreased the bacteria possibly linked with fatty-liver disease and colorectal cancer. Furthermore, the fecal fermentation products of LePS40 showed a potential protective effect on intestinal barrier function against inflammatory damage in Caco-2/Raw264.7 co-culture model. These findings suggest the potential of LePS40 for improvement of gut health through modulation of gut microbiota.

The galactomannan-EGCG physical complex: Effect of branching degree and molecular weight on structural and physiological properties.

Polysaccharides and polyphenols are bioactive components that co-exist in many plant foods. Their binary interaction in terms of the structure-function relationships, however, has not been well clarified. This study elucidated the correlation between the structural and physiological properties of galactomannan (GM) -catechin monomer complexes and GM with different branching or molecular weight (Mw). Results indicated that locus bean gum with lower branching degree (Gal/Man is 0.259) bound more readily to EGCG with adsorption rate of 19.42 %. EGCG and ECG containing galloyl groups were more inclined to form hydrogen bonds with GMs, significantly improving the adsorption by GMs. The introduction of EGCG could enhance the antioxidant activity and starch digestion inhibition of GM, which positively correlated with the adsorption capacity of EGCG. The guar gum (GG) with higher Mw (7384.3 kDa) could transport 71.51 % EGCG into the colon, while the retention rate of EGCG reaching the colon alone was only 46.33 %. Conversely, GM-EGCG complex with lower Mw (6.9 kDa) could be readily utilized by gut microbiota, and increased production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This study elucidated the structure-properties relationship of GM-EGCG complexes, and provide a new idea for the development and precision nutrition of polysaccharides-polyphenol complexes fortified functional foods.

Coenzyme Q10-loaded microcapsules stabilized by glyceryl monostearate and soy protein isolates-flaxseed gum: Characterization, in vitro release and digestive behavior.

This study aimed to stabilize microcapsules with core materials of glyceryl monostearate (GMS) and octyl and decyl glycerate, and wall materials of soy protein isolates (SPI) and flaxseed gum (FG) by complex coacervation method to overcome the drawbacks of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10). It was demonstrated by the study that the obtained microcapsules were irregular aggregates. Differential scanning calorimetry and x-ray diffraction patterns indicated that CoQ10 was entrapped inside the disordered semisolid cores of microcapsules. The CoQ10 loading and encapsulation efficiency analysis revealed that GMS and FG helped CoQ10 better encapsulated inside the microcapsules. The in vitro release curve showed a "burst" release of CoQ10 absorbed on the surface of microcapsules for the first 180 min, followed by a sustained release of the encapsulated CoQ10. GMS and FG contributed to the sustained release and the release mechanism of the microcapsules was Fickian diffusion. The in vitro simulated digestion demonstrated that the constructed microcapsules improved the bio-accessibility of CoQ10. Finally, due to the protection of GMS and FG, microcapsules had good storage stability. In conclusion, this study emphasized the potential of using new microcapsules to deliver and protect lipophilic ingredients, providing valuable information for developing functional foods with higher bioavailability.

Protein oxidation affected the encapsulation properties of rice bran protein fibril-high internal phase pickering emulsions: Enhanced stability and bioaccessibility of ß-carotene.

Rice bran protein fibril (RBPF)-high internal phase Pickering emulsions (HIPPEs) loaded with ß-carotene (CE) were constructed to enhance stability and bioavailability of CE. Rice bran (RB) protein with varying oxidation degrees was extracted from RB with varying storage period (0-10 days) to prepare RBPF by acid-heating (90 °C, 2-12 h) to stabilize HIPPEs. The influence of protein oxidation on the encapsulation properties of RBPF-HIPPEs was studied. The results showed that CE-HIPPEs could be stably stored for 56 days at 25 °C. When RB storage time was the same, the average particle size, lipid hydroperoxide content, and malondialdehyde content of CE-HIPPEs and the CE degradation rate initially fell, and then grew as the acid-heating time prolonged, while the ζ-potential value, viscosity, viscoelasticity, free fatty acid (FFA) release rate, and bioaccessibility first rose, and subsequently fell. When acid-heating time of RBPF was the same, the average particle size, lipid hydroperoxide content, and malondialdehyde content of CE-HIPPEs initially fell, and subsequently increased with RB storage time extended, while the ζ-potential value, viscosity, viscoelasticity, FFA release rate, and bioaccessibility initially increased, and then decreased. Overall, Moderate oxidation and moderate acid-heating enhanced the stability as well as rheological properties of CE-HIPPEs, thus improving the stability and bioaccessibility of CE. This study offered a new insight into the delivery of bioactive substances by protein fibril aggregates-based HIPPEs.

In vitro digestion and fermentation characteristics of soluble dietary fiber from adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Staft) bran modified by steam explosion.

Adlay bran is known for its nutrient-rich profile and multifunctional properties, and steam explosion (SE) is an emerging physical modification technique. However, the specific effects of SE on the activity composition and antioxidant capacity of adlay bran soluble dietary fiber (SDF) during in vitro digestion, as well as its influence on gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation, remain inadequately understood. This paper reports the in vitro digestion and fermentation characteristics of soluble dietary fiber from adlay bran modified by SE (SE-SDF). Compared with the untreated samples (0-SDF), most of the phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were significantly increased in the SE-SDF digests. Additionally, SE was beneficial for adlay bran SDF to increase the content of acetic acid, propionic acid and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in fermentation broth during in vitro fermentation. SE-SDF could promote the growth of beneficial bacteria while inhibiting the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. Our research indicates that SE-SDF shows strong antioxidant properties after in vitro digestion and plays a pivotal role in regulating gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation, ultimately enhancing human intestinal health.

Comparison of intestinal absorption of soybean protein isolate-, glutenin- and peanut protein isolate-bound Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a heterogeneous compound existed in processed foods, are related to chronic diseases when they are accumulated excessively in human organs. Protein-bound Nε-(carboxymethyl) lysine (CML) as a typical AGE, is widely determined to evaluate AGEs level in foods and in vivo. This study investigated the intestinal absorption of three protein-bound CML originated from main food raw materials (soybean, wheat and peanut). After in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, the three protein-bound CML digests were ultrafiltered and divided into four fractions: less than 1 kDa, between 1 and 3 kDa, between 3 and 5 kDa, greater than 5 kDa. Caco-2 cell monolayer model was further used to evaluate the intestinal absorption of these components. Results showed that the absorption rates of soybean protein isolate (SPI)-, glutenin (Glu)-, peanut protein isolate (PPI)-bound CML were 30.18%, 31.57% and 29.5%, respectively. The absorption rates of components with MW less than 5 kDa accounted for 19.91% (SPI-bound CML), 22.59% (Glu-bound CML), 23.64% (PPI-bound CML), respectively, and these samples were absorbed by paracellular route, transcytosis route and active route via PepT-1. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that all three protein-bound CML digests with different MW can be absorbed in diverse absorption pathways by Caco-2 cell monolayer model. This research provided a theoretical basis for scientific evaluation of digestion and absorption of AGEs in food.

Changes in polyphenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of Japanese pickled apricot with salted red perilla leaf during pickling and digestion process.

Japanese pickled apricot, called "umeboshi", is a traditional food that has experientially been consumed as a folk medicine. The main variation of umeboshi is called "shiso-zuke umeboshi", meaning pickled with red perilla leaves to add a colorful appearance. This study investigated changes in phenolics and antioxidant potential of shiso-zuke umeboshi during pickling processes and simulated digestion. Results showed that the red perilla pickling (PP; 1338.12) had 13 times higher phenolics than salt pickling (SP; 101.99) in µg/g DW, and the formation of rosmarinic acid was enhanced. The simulated digestion showed a gradual increase in antioxidant content and activity from the stomach to small intestine, with TPC and TFC being rapidly released in the intestinal environment. The study concluded that shiso-zuke umeboshi provides higher health benefits due to the excellent antioxidant compounds produced through the perilla pickling process.

Effect of ozone oxidation on gastrointestinal digestion and absorption characteristics of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) surimi gels in vitro.

To investigate the quality of different ozone-oxidized surimi gels and their in vitro digestion and absorption characteristics, surimi rinsed with different concentrations of ozonated water (0, 8, 26 mg/L) were prepared. Then, the degree of oxidation and gel structure of surimi were determined, the in vitro digestion and absorption of the gels were simulated, and the digestion and absorption products were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The results showed that the quality of surimi gels was improved after proper ozone oxidation. After ozone water rinsing, the dry matter digestibility, peptide, and amino acid content increased, and the changes of all three were in line with the Logistic kinetic model (R2 = 0.95-0.99). Caco-2 cell absorption experiments showed that the absorption rate of peptides and amino acids decreased after ozone water rinsing. In summary, ozone oxidation can promote the digestion of surimi gels, but it also reduces the absorption of peptides and amino acids by Caco-2 cells. This study provides a reference for the application of ozone in the food field.

Se and Hg in processed fish-derived products and their fish raw materials: Occurrence, Se:Hg molar ratio, HBVSe index, bioaccessibility and Caco-2 cells toxicity.

Processing conditions applied during food production could affect food component contents and bioaccessibility. Here, possible changes in Hg and Se total and species contents and bioaccessibility have been tracked in each stage of the production chain of processed fish-derived products. Therefore, Se:Hg molar ratio and Selenium Health Benefit Value (HBVSe) were calculated for final products and raw materials, resulting favorable in all cases, suggesting the safety of surimi-based products regarding mercury. Speciation studies revealed the presence of SeMeSeCys and SeMet in all samples. Thus, the integrity of the selenium species seems to be maintained. Moreover, in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model evidenced that Se bioaccessibility ranged between 20-39 % for all samples, while in case of Hg was between 8-37 %. Additionaly, SeMeSeCys and SeMet were also identified in the gastrointestinal extracts. Finally, no cytotoxicity was observed after exposure of Caco-2 cells to the gastrointestinal extracts.

In vivo absorption, in vitro simulated digestion, and fecal fermentation properties of Imperata cylindrica polysaccharides and their effects on gut microbiota.

Recently we have investigated polysaccharide from Imperata cylindrica (ICP) for its physicochemical structure and biological activities. However, the digestion characteristics have yet to be understood. This study investigated the digestion and metabolism characteristics of ICP through in vivo fluorescence tracking, in vitro simulated digestion, fecal fermentation experiments, and microbial sequencing. The results showed that ICP significant distribution in the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys. ICP underwent slight degradation during simulated gastric and intestinal digestion. During fecal fermentation, the utilization degree of ICP and the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) increased. ICP promoted the increase of beneficial microbial abundance. To understand the impact of ICP on the integrity and health of intestinal tissues, molecular docking was employed to preliminarily predict the interaction between ICP and key proteins. The results revealed that ICP could recognize and bind to key proteins through high-affinity targeting binding sites.

Insight into the performance and microbial community of anaerobic digestion treating cow manure with a novel iron-functionalized activated biochar.

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the impacts of FeCl3-activated biochar (FA-BC) on anaerobic digestion (AD) treating cow manure. The study focused on improving AD performance and understanding microbial community structure with the addition of FA-BC, while comparing FA-BC with other conductive additives, such as pristine biochar (P-BC), NaOH-activated biochar (NA-BC), and magnetite. Key findings indicated that FA- BC significantly enhanced the AD performance, supported by an increase in CH4 yield of 11-16% and a reduction in the lag phase by 51%. The high surface area and electrical conductivity of FA-BC synergistically facilitated direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET), leading to these improvements. On contrast, P-BC and NA-BC were not efficient in enhancing the AD performance due to relatively low electrical conductivity. P-BC also improved the CH4 yield, but less effectively than FA-BC. The effects of NA-BC varied with its dosage, showing inhibition at higher dosages due to excessive surface area. Magnetite, despite its high conductivity, made the limited enhancement in CH4 yield owing to its low surface area. Additionally, the statistical analyses revealed that each additive differently affected specific bacterial and archaeal groups depending on their physical and chemical properties. Thus, these findings suggest that FA-BC would be a highly promising additive for enhan cing AD systems, with potential applications in waste management and renewable energy production.

The dynamics of the midgut microbiome in Aedes aegypti during digestion reveal putative symbionts.

Blood-feeding is crucial for the reproductive cycle of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, as well as for the transmission of arboviruses to hosts. It is postulated that blood meals may influence the mosquito microbiome but shifts in microbial diversity and function during digestion remain elusive. We used whole-genome shotgun metagenomics to monitor the midgut microbiome in 60 individual females of A. aegypti throughout digestion, after 12, 24, and 48 h following blood or sugar meals. Additionally, ten individual larvae were sequenced, showing microbiomes dominated by Microbacterium sp. The high metagenomic coverage allowed for microbial assignments at the species taxonomic level, also providing functional profiling. Females in the post-digestive period and larvae displayed low microbiome diversities. A striking proliferation of Enterobacterales was observed during digestion in blood-fed mosquitoes. The compositional shift was concomitant with enrichment in genes associated with carbohydrate and protein metabolism, as well as virulence factors for antimicrobial resistance and scavenging. The bacterium Elizabethkingia anophelis (Flavobacteriales), a known human pathogen, was the dominant species at the end of blood digestion. Phylogenomics suggests that its association with hematophagous mosquitoes occurred several times. We consider evidence of mutually beneficial host-microbe interactions raised from this association, potentially pivotal for the mosquito's resistance to arbovirus infection. After digestion, the observed shifts in blood-fed females' midguts shifted to a sugar-fed-like microbial profile. This study provides insights into how the microbiome of A. aegypti is modulated to fulfil digestive roles following blood meals, emphasizing proliferation of potential symbionts in response to the dynamic midgut environment.

Elucidating the effects of precooked treatments on the quality attributes of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkia): Insights from water boiling vs. microwaving.

Precooked treatments are essential in food processing, extending beyond mere sterilization to include the enhancement of nutritional value, flavor profile, and digestibility. This research scrutinizes the effects of water boiling and microwaving on red swamp crayfish, two distinct precooked methodologies. A comparative analytical framework has been employed to assess the efficacy of two precooked methods across a spectrum of quality indicators, including aerobic plate counts, texture, nutrient composition, volatile compound characterization, protein oxidation, and digestive properties. The findings revealed that both water boiling and microwaving effectively reduced bacterial counts to a safe level of 500 CFU/g. Microwave precooking facilitated a moderate oxidation of lipids in crayfish, preferentially liberating flavor compounds, thereby enhancing their sensory attributes. The boiling process imparted a pronounced denaturation to proteins, consequently augmenting the hardness of the crayfish. Notably, the enhanced digestibility of boiled crayfish proteins results from the denaturing action of boiling, promoting efficient protein digestion.

Occurrence of 40 sanitary indicators in French digestates derived from different anaerobic digestion processes and raw organic wastes from agricultural and urban origin.

This study investigated the sanitary quality of digestates resulting from the mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) of urban and agricultural organic wastes (OWs). 40 sanitary indicators, including pathogenic bacteria, antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factor genes, and mobile genetic elements were evaluated using real-time PCR and/or droplet digital PCR. 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 13 pharmaceutical products (PHPs) were also measured. We assessed agricultural OWs from three treatment plants to study the effect of different AD processes (feeding mode, number of stages, pH), and used three laboratory-scale reactors to study the effect of different feed-supplies (inputs). The lab-scale reactors included: Lab1 fed with 97% activated sludge (urban waste) and 3% cow manure; Lab2 fed with 85% sludge-manure mixture supplemented with 15% wheat straw (WS); and Lab3 fed with 81% sludge-manure mixture, 15% WS, and 4% zeolite powder. Activated sludge favored the survival of the food-borne pathogens Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus, carrying the toxin-encoding genes cpe and ces, respectively. Globally, the reactors fed with fecal matter supplemented with straw (Lab2) or with straw and zeolite (Lab3) had a higher hygienization efficiency than the reactor fed uniquely with fecal matter (Lab1). Three pathogenic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex), a beta-lactam resistance gene (bla TEM), and three mobile genetic elements (intI1, intI2, and IS26) were significantly decreased in Lab2 and Lab3. Moreover, the concentrations of 11 PAHs and 11 PHPs were significantly lower in Lab2 and Lab3 samples than in Lab1 samples. The high concentrations of micropollutants, such as triclosan, found in Lab1, could explain the lower hygienization efficiency of this reactor. Furthermore, the batch-fed reactor had a more efficient hygienization effect than the semi-continuous reactors, with complete removal of the ybtA gene, which is involved in the production of the siderophore yersiniabactin, and significant reduction of intI2 and tetO. These data suggest that it is essential to control the level of chemical pollutants in raw OWs to optimize the sanitary quality of digestates, and that adding co-substrate, such as WS, may overcome the harmful effect of pollutants.

Smart Lanceolate Surface with Fast Fog-Digesting Performance for Triboelectric Energy Harvesting.

Utilizing the ubiquitous fog in nature to create decentralized energy-harvesting devices, free from geographical and hydrological constraints, presents an opportunity to foster sustainable power generation. Extracting electrical energy from fog relies heavily on fog-digesting performance. Improving the efficiency of fogwater utilization remains a formidable challenge for existing fogwater energy-harvesting technologies. Inspired by the water-harvesting behavior of Tillandsia leaves, a smart lanceolate surface is developed to harvest triboelectric energy by rapidly digesting fog. Such a surface exhibits capabilities in fog management, encompassing precise fog capture, transportation, and critical droplet separation. Specifically, fog droplets condense at hydrophilic sites of acylated cellulose ester, subsequently migrating toward the rear under Laplace pressure, thereby producing energy as they traverse through the tail end. Such architecture yields a brief voltage restoration period (with an average of 9.36 s), can rush the capacitor to 11.59 V within 20 s, and achieves a water-digestion rate of up to 71.05 kg/m2 h. This biomimetic approach enhances the water-digestion efficacy of the atmospheric water energy apparatus and offers perspectives on mitigating deficiencies in power resources.