| Title | Towards resource recovery-oriented solutions in agriculture exploiting structural extracellular polymeric substances (sEPS) extracted from aerobic granular sludge (AGS) |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 14335 |
| Authors | Pagliaccia, B; Campo, R; Carretti, E; Severi, M; Lubello, C; Lotti, T |
| Title | Towards resource recovery-oriented solutions in agriculture exploiting structural extracellular polymeric substances (sEPS) extracted from aerobic granular sludge (AGS) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | In aerobic granular sludge (AGS) for wastewater treatment, microorganisms are embedded in a matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). A fraction of EPS, the so-called structural EPS (sEPS), can be extracted through physical-chemical methods and form hydrogels. AGS-derived sEPS might be converted into value-added biomaterials, thus contributing to a circular economy-based wastewater sector. This paper aimed to evaluate the feasibility of applying sEPS extracted from AGS and their hydrogels in agriculture. The extraction and hydrogelforming methods were fine-tuned in terms of chemicals applied and the obtained sEPS and hydrogels were comprehensively characterized for their agronomic properties. It was observed that the chemicals used in the recovery processes influenced the elemental composition of sEPS and derived hydrogels, without significantly modifying the sEPS extraction yield and gelling capacity. Chemical reagents such as K2CO3 (thermo-alkaline extraction) and Ca(NO3)2 & sdot;4H2O (ionic cross-linking) promoted a K- and N-enrichment of sEPS and hydrogels, with benefits on their agronomic valorization. sEPS hydrogels can store up to 99.5 wt% of water into their 3D structure, exhibiting properties of interest in agriculture. The 50 degrees C-dehydrated sEPS hydrogels can swell in both water and KNO3 aqueous solution, absorbing up to about 12 g H2O/g TSHydrogel (TS: Total Solids) and behaving similarly to superabsorbent polymer (SAP)-based hydrogels. After swelling in KNO3, they evidenced high K+/ NO3- release capacities (133 mg K+ and 187 mg NO3- per g TSHydrogel). Freeze-dried sEPS hydrogels reversibly absorbed and desorbed water under controlled relative humidity conditions. These properties suggested that AGS-derived sEPS might be converted into valuable biomaterials to improve water-holding capacity and nutrient retention of soils, with advantages for both agricultural and wastewater sectors. |
| https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2024.149819 |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
8484
|
Li, SM; Chen, G Agricultural waste-derived superabsorbent hydrogels: Preparation, performance, and socioeconomic impacts(2020) | |
| 22197
|
Piccoli, I; Camarotto, C; Squartini, A; Longo, M; Gross, S; Maggini, M; Cabrera, ML; Morari, F Hydrogels for agronomical application: from soil characteristics to crop growth: a review(2024)Agronomy For Sustainable Development, 44.0, 2 | |
| 13516
|
Pagliaccia, B; Durieux, S; Bessiere, Y; Bounouba, M; Sarkis, AB; Girbal-Neuhauser, E; Carretti, E; Lubello, C; Lotti, T; Paul, E Insights on the hydrogel-forming ability and post-gelling mechanical properties of structural extracellular polymeric substances (sEPS) from aerobic granular sludge (AGS): A comparison with model biopolymers(2022) | |
| 22241
|
Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, A Biopolymers in Aerobic Granular Sludge-Their Role in Wastewater Treatment and Possibilities of Re-Use in Line with Circular Economy(2021)Energies, 14.0, 21 | |
| 21464
|
Traina, F; Corsino, S; Torregrossa, M; Viviani, G Biopolymer Recovery from Aerobic Granular Sludge and Conventional Flocculent Sludge in Treating Industrial Wastewater: Preliminary Analysis of Different Carbon Routes for Organic Carbon Utilization(2023)Water, 15.0, 1 | |
| 21610
|
Feng, CJ; Lotti, T; Canziani, R; Lin, YM; Tagliabue, C; Malpei, F Extracellular biopolymers recovered as raw biomaterials from waste granular sludge and potential applications: A critical review(2021) | |
| 29361
|
Zeng, RG; Shi, C; Hao, LT; Huang, A; Yuan, T; Zhang, N A review of alginate-like extracellular polymers from excess sludge: Extraction, characterization, and potential application(2023) | |
| 12892
|
Oliveira, AS; Amorim, CL; Ramos, MA; Mesquita, DP; Inocêncio, P; Ferreira, EC; van Loosdrecht, M; Castro, PML Variability in the composition of extracellular polymeric substances from a full-scale aerobic granular sludge reactor treating urban wastewater(2020)Journal Of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 8.0, 5 | |
| 16567
|
Gusiatin, MZ; Kulikowska, D; Bernat, K Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Resource in the Circular Economy(2024)Energies, 17, 11 | |
| 11132
|
Swiatczak, P; Cydzik-Kwiatkowska, A; Zielinska, M Treatment of Liquid Phase of Digestate from Agricultural Biogas Plant in a System with Aerobic Granules and Ultrafiltration(2019)Water, 11, 1 |