Engineering in Life Sciences 

About: Engineering in Life Sciences is an academic journal published by Wiley-Blackwell. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Fermentation & Medicine. It has an ISSN identifier of 1618-0240. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 1597 publications have been published receiving 38213 citations.

Effects of anaerobic digestion on digestate nutrient availability and crop growth: A review

Abstract: Anaerobic digestion (AD) for biogas production leads to several changes in the composition of the resulting digestates compared to the original feedstock (ammonia content, pH, carbon to nitrogen ratio, etc.), which are relevant for the plant availability of macro- and micronutrients after field application. Increased NH4+-N content in digested slurries compared to undigested slurries does not guarantee improved uptake efficiency of slurry nitrogen and increased savings in fertilizer nitrogen. AD of crop residues and cover crops leads to an increase in the total amounts of mobile organic manures within the farming system, resulting in a higher nitrogen use efficiency and an increased scope for target-oriented nitrogen application in time and space, when needed by the crop, as an alternative to the site-bound soil incorporation as green manures. AD of dairy manure appears to reduce the fraction of immediate plant available phosphorus and micronutrients. This does, however, not affect short-term crop availability under field conditions. More studies are needed to improve current knowledge on sulfur losses during AD and fertilizer value of digestates.

Design principles of photo-bioreactors for cultivation of microalgae.

Abstract: The present hype in microalgae biotechnology has shown that the topic of photobioreactors has to be revisited with respect to availability in really large scale measured in hectars footprint area, minimization of cost, auxiliary energy demand as well as maintenance and life span. This review gives an overview about present designs and the basic limiting factors which include light distribution to avoid saturation kinetics, mixing along the light gradient to make use of light/ dark cycles, aeration and mass transfer along the vertical or horizontal main axis for carbon dioxide supply and oxygen removal and last but not least the energy demand necessary to fulfil these tasks. To make comparison of the performance of different designs easier, a commented list of performance parameters is given. Based on these critical points recent developments in the areas of membranes for gas transfer and optical structures for light transfer are discussed. The fundamental starting point for the optimization of photo-bioprocesses is a detailed understanding of the interaction between the bioreactor in terms of mass and light transfer as well as the microalgae physiology in terms of light and carbon uptake kinetics and dynamics.

Removal of heavy metals from the environment by biosorption

Abstract: The pollution of the environment with toxic metals is a result of many human activities, such as mining and metallurgy, and the effects of these metals on the ecosystems are of large economic and public-healthsignificance. This paper presents the features and advantages of the unconventional removal method of heavy metals – biosorption – as a part of bioremediation. Bioremediation consists of a group of applications, which involvethe detoxification of hazardous substances instead of transferring them from one medium to another, by means of microbes and plants. This process is characterized as less disruptive and can be often carried out on site, eliminating the need to transport the toxic materials to treatment sites. The biosorption (sorption of metallic ions from solutions by live or dried biomass) offers an alternative to the remediation of industrial effluents as well as the recovery of metals contained in other media. Biosorbents are prepared from naturally abundant and/or waste biomass. Due to the high uptake capacity and very cost-effective source of the raw material, biosorption is a progression towards a perspective method. The mechanism by which microorganisms take up metals is relatively unclear, but it has been demonstrated that both living and non-living biomass may be utilized in biosorptive processes, as they often exhibit a marked tolerance towards metals and other adverse conditions. One of their major advantages is the treatment of large volumes of effluents with low concentrations of pollutants. Models developed were presented to determine both the number of adsorption sites required to bind each metal ion and the rate of adsorption, using a batch reactor mass balance and the Langmuir theory of adsorption to surfaces or continuous dynamic systems. Two main categories of bioreactors used in bioremediation – suspended growth and fixed film bioreactors – are discussed. Reactors with varying configurations to meet the different requirements for biosorption are analyzed considering two major groups of reactors – batch reactors and continuous reactors. Biosorption is treated as an emerging technology effective in removing even very low levels of heavy metal.

Fate of Pesticides in the Environment and its Bioremediation

Abstract: The present paper is an overview of the presence and fate of pesticides as persistent organic pollutants in the environment as well as of the potential for their detoxification, also combined with chemical and physical treatment. It contains information gathered from a range of currently available sources. The fate of pesticides in the environment is analyzed considering the processes that determine their persistence and mobility, grouped into transport, transfer and transformation processes. Few pesticide characteristics such as persistence, mobility and biodegradability are emphasized. The fate of a pesticide and the potential for its persistence and mobility from the site of application are considered to be affected by the chemical and physical properties of the pesticide, site characteristics such as soil and groundwater individuality, climate and local weather conditions, biological population, and the handling practices of the pesticide user. Bioremediation, as one of the most environmentally-sound and cost-effective methods for the decontamination and detoxification of a pesticide-contaminated environment is discussed especially considering the factors affecting the biodegradability of pesticides such as biological factors and the characteristics of the chemical compounds. In situ and ex situ bioremediation as possible types of bioremediation activities are weighted up. Also, the paper includes some considerations for developing strategies regarding the choice of bioremediation technology, as well as advantages and disadvantages of the bioremediation of environmental components polluted with pesticides.

Nitrogen removal in constructed wetland systems

Abstract: Since the mid 1990s, constructed wetlands have been increasingly used as a low-energy ‘green’ technique, in the treatment of wastewater and stormwater, driven by the rising cost of fossil fuels and increasing concern about climate change. Among various applications of these wetlands, a significant area is the removal of nitrogenous pollutants to protect the water environment and to enable effective reclamation and reuse of the wastewater. This paper provides a review of the current state of nitrogen removal technology, focusing on existing types of wetlands, the mechanisms of nitrogen removal, major environmental factors relative to nitrogen removal, and the operation and management of the wetlands.